THE VOLUME of traffic travelling on Ireland’s roads has fallen by 4 per cent over the last 12 months, according to new statistics from the National Roads Authority (NRA).
In what has been described as "a silver lining" to the economic downturn, the number of traffic jams and tailbacks have fallen considerably.
The NRA figures show that commercial vehicle traffic has decreased by between 10 and 20 per cent across the country in the last year.
They also show that the number of people travelling on buses has fallen by some 4 per cent.
AA Roadwatch said last Thursday afternoon was the busiest on the roads to date this year, but that in general there has been reduced activity on the roads network nationwide.
"There has been less pressure on the major routes into our cities, especially Dublin, in the last few months," AA policy director Conor Faughnan said.
"The first quarter of the year was conspicuously quieter than previous years... It's something of a silver lining to the economic downturn."
Mr Faughnan said much of the reduction was directly attributable to falling numbers of people at work and falling economic activity.
"We may yet come to remember the gridlock of the Tiger era with something akin to nostalgia."
The fall off in activity on the roads is reflected by a reduction of around 5 per cent in the volume of petrol and diesel sold.
