Proportion of four vehicle types used in the UK over time

The three pie charts illustrate the distribution of four different vehicle categories in the UK across three distinct years: 1965, 1985, and 2005. Overall, it is clear that private cars became the dominant mode of transport, whereas the reliance on other vehicle types fluctuated or decreased.

In 1965, private cars accounted for 40% of all vehicles, followed by public transport at 25%. Lorries and other commercial vehicles made up 20%, while recreational vehicles comprised 15%. By 1985, the share of private cars had risen significantly to 55%. Conversely, the proportion of recreational vehicles dropped sharply to just 5%, while public transport and commercial vehicles both stood at 20%.

By 2005, private cars further increased their lead, reaching 60% of the total. Public transport saw a slight recovery to 22%. In contrast, the use of lorries and other commercial vehicles halved from its 1985 level to 10%. Recreational vehicles saw a minor increase to 8% compared to the 1985 figure. In summary, the data highlights a clear shift towards private car ownership in the UK, with other transport sectors experiencing varying degrees of change over the four decades.