British people are travelling less far than they were five years ago, the latest figures reveal.
The average distance travelled per person has fallen from a peak of 7,205 miles per year in the period 1995-97, to 6,775 miles during 2009 - roughly equivalent to four return trips from Land's End to John O'Groats.
And the number of domestic trips each person makes in a year continues to fall, down to an average of 973 last year compared to 1,086 per year in 1995-97 - something which can be explained by a decrease in shopping trips, visiting friends at home, and commuting.
The insights come from the latest release of the National Travel Survey; an annual examination of household transport habits conducted since 1988 by the Department for Transport (DfT).
The survey reveals that the car continues to dominate personal transport, with driver and passenger journeys making up 63% of all trips by number, and 79% by distance. However, since 1995/97 the distance travelled by rail has increased by 44%, accounting for 8% of all distance travelled last year.
Within London, local bus journeys enjoyed even stronger growth over the same period, with the average distance travelled by bus increasing by 66%. Outside of the capital the average annual distance by local bus increased by only 5%.
Other statistics within the release reflect the importance of the car to personal travel. Around 80% of men have a driving licence, with the proportion of women who do so having risen from 57% in 1995/97 to 65% in 2009. Moreover, last year, members of the average car-owning household made 40% more trips than those in non-car-owning households - travelling two-and-a-half times as far in the process.
Meanwhile, the survey found that, while men make slightly fewer trips than women, they travel 19% further on average each year.
The survey includes personal travel by British residents within Britain, along road, rail and air. It considers all forms of transport, excluding walks of less than 50 yards.
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