TRAFFIC in 1998 was 1% higher than 1997 according to Department of the Environment, Transport and Regions provisional figures in its latest statistical bulletin.

This is about the same as the rise for the previous year. Goods vehicle traffic grew by just 1%, much lower than the rises of 3% and 4% in the previous two years. Motorway traffic rose by just 2%, the smallest year-on-year rise since 1992.