1. Handbook on traffic volume
Chapter 2
Users’ needs
Marly Odekerken-Smeets Luxemburg, 12th December 2006

2. Content of presentation
Traffic and transport today and tomorrow
Request for information
Main users
Problems in relation to data collection
Additional variables of interest
Basic needs

3. Traffic and transport today
Liberalisation of markets
Growing volume of traffic and transport
Congestion
Accidents
Pollution

4. Traffic and transport tomorrow
Maintain economic growth by
sustainable and safe
mobility and transport
with fewer negative effects

5. Need for information International comparable figures
Data exchanges to: - improve quality - increase scope - widespread use

6. Different users need different figures
policy-making at national and international level;
infrastructure management and planning;
traffic and transport management;
spatial planning;
accidents;
environmental issues (including safety and scrap).

7. Main data users Ministries Statistical offices' internal users
Regional and local authorities
Road authorities
International (EC, UNECE, ECMT, EEA)
Research institutes
Vehicle industry and car companies
Insurance companies
Road construction industry
Safety organisations
Freight transport associations
Private transport associations

8. Problems
No common practice for collecting information on traffic movements
Main variable is the distance travelled
Methods depend on available and usable data sources
Additional information to distance should be collected

9. Variables related to the vehicle
type of vehicle (passenger car, van, lorry, road tractor, bus, motorbike, others);
age;
fuel type (petrol, diesel, LPG);
gross vehicle weight (unladen vehicle weight plus loading capacity);
engine power;
fuel consumption/fuel efficiency;
nationality of the owner and of the vehicle.

10. Variables related to use of the vehicle
reasons for use (private or business/own account or hire and reward);
actual fuel consumption.
For national vehicles this information could be available from the vehicle register (name of user: private or business, lease identity, economic sector

11. Variables related to user of the vehicle
age;
gender;
driving experience;
provisional or full driving licence;
driving licence by vehicle type;
income group.
This information will be available only in the case of mobility surveys.

12. Variables related to infrastructure
type of road (motorway, main roads, other roads).
In most countries information on the main road network (length, volume of traffic, etc.) is available from network databases. However, information on minor/local roads will often be sparse.

13. Variables related to the location
Inside or outside built-up areas/urban or rural
NUTS 0, 1 or 2
This information could also be available from network information. Sometimes there is even information about the maximum speed limits for vehicles in some areas. If not, a classification of roads as urban or rural could be used.

14. Basis needs from several users

15. Thank you for your attention