The Northern Ireland Roads Department has published its latest transport figures, which highlight the key statistics and trends that affect, and reflect, Ulster drivers and commuters.

Some of the details in the Northern Ireland Road and Rail Transport Statistics bulletin, published by the Central Statistics Officer, for January to March 2008, include the fact there was 22,460 new cars registered during the quarter.

The most popular car make with NI drivers was Ford, with 13%. Over half of the 888 newly registered heavy goods vehicles were reused vehicles.

-- Advertisement --

There were 18.33-million bus passenger journeys made in NI in the first quarter of this year. This was a weekly average of 1.31 million.

The weekly average rail passenger miles have increased by 8% to 3.27 million from 3.03 million since the corresponding quarter of 2007.

During the same period, weekly average rail passenger receipts rose by 7% to £0.46 million from £0.43 million.

From January to March 2008, 193,316 tonnes of petrol and diesel were delivered for use in Northern Ireland.

This represents a decrease of 3% on the tonnage delivered during the corresponding quarter in 2007.

Over the period April 2007 to March 2008 the pass rate for car 'L' driver tests was 50% for males and 41% for females in Northern Ireland.

(PR/JM)