MEDIA RELEASE
23 August 2011	Embargoed: 11.30 am (Canberra time)	95/2011

Registered vehicles in Australia travelled an average distance of 14,100 kilometres in the 12 months to 31 October 2010, down from an average distance travelled of 14,600 kilometres in 2006, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The total distance travelled for the 16 million vehicles registered in Australia was almost 227 billion kilometres.

Vehicles in Victoria and the Northern Territory travelled the furthest distance on average (14,600 kilometres), followed by Queensland (14,400 kilometres) and New South Wales (14,200 kilometres). Vehicles in South Australia travelled the least distance on average, at 11,900 kilometres.

Of all registered vehicles in Australia, eight out of every 10 were passenger vehicles. These accounted for 72% of the total distance travelled (163 billion kilometres) at an average of 13,200 kilometres for each vehicle. Articulated trucks travelled an average of 85,000 kilometres; over six times further than passenger vehicles.

Business travel made up over one third of all kilometres (35%) travelled, while travelling to and from work accounted for just under a quarter (24%). Over half (55%) of all travel was within the capital cities.

It is estimated that for the 12 months ending 31 October, all road registered vehicles consumed a total of 31 billion litres of fuel, with an average rate of fuel consumption of 13.8 litres per 100 kilometres. Unleaded petrol accounted for over half of all fuel consumed during the period (18.1 billion litres), at an average consumption of 11.3 litres per 100 kilometres. Diesel use was 11.0 billion litres, at an average consumption of 20.9 litres per 100 kilometres.

Passenger vehicles using petrol consumed on average, 11.1 litres per 100 kilometres. Those using diesel used an average of 11.4 litres per 100 kilometres. Articulated trucks had the highest average fuel consumption of 56.2 litres per 100 kilometres.

Further information is available in Survey of Motor Vehicle Use (cat. no. 9208.0).

Media note:

• Articulated trucks are defined as motor vehicles constructed primarily for load carrying, consisting of a prime mover which has no significant load carrying area, but with a turntable device which is linked to a semitrailer.
• When reporting on these statistics please sight the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or ABS) as the source.