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Press Statement

Preasráiteas

10 November 2021

Press Statement Transport Bulletin November 2021

Car traffic volumes remain below pre-COVID-19 levels
  • Latest data available show that car traffic volumes are now at 90% of pre-pandemic October 2019 levels in the Dublin area and 91% of October 2019 levels in regional locations
  • The monthly volume of bicycles during peak hours in October 2021 was 26% higher than October 2020 but still 43% lower than October 2019
  • There were 115 fatalities on Irish roads in the first 10 months of 2021 compared with 127 in the same period in 2020
  • The number of new cars licensed in October 2021 decreased by 307 vehicles compared with October 2020 and rose by 668 vehicles compared with pre-pandemic October 2019

Go to release: Transport Bulletin November 2021

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (10 November 2021) published its latest Transport Bulletin. The bulletin captures the impact of the latest COVID-19 restrictions on traffic volumes and the number of journeys taken on public transport. This bulletin is compiled using data collected by Transport Infrastructure Ireland, the Road Safety Authority, the National Transport Authority, Dublin City Council, the Office of the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Transport.

The bulletin shows that car traffic volumes remain below pre-COVID-19 levels.

Commenting on this latest bulletin, Nele van der Wielen, Statistician, said: “Today’s figures from the CSO show that car traffic volumes have not yet returned to pre-COVID-19 levels. Latest available data for the week beginning 25 October (week 43) show the volumes of private cars in regional locations are still 10% lower than the same week in 2019.

Similarly, the monthly volume of bicycles during peak hours has also not returned to pre-COVID-19 levels. The monthly volume of bicycles during peak hours in October 2021 was 26% higher than October 2020 but still 43% lower than October 2019. It is worth noting that the monthly volume of bicycles during off-peak hours in October 2021 was 4% higher than October 2020 and 5% higher than October 2019.”

Further commenting on the Transport Bulletin, Nele van der Wielen said: “Today’s release also shows that the number of new cars licensed in October 2021 fell by 307 vehicles compared with October 2020 but increased by 688 vehicles when compared with October 2019.”

This bulletin will be updated on a regular basis to measure the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on transport. Future editions will be located on the CSO COVID-19 Information Hub.

For further information contact:

Dr Nele van der Wielen (+353) 21 453 5379

or email transport@cso.ie

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