RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes said: “While the number of miles travelled on our roads hardly changed in 2018 compared to the previous year, interestingly the forms of transport used have.

“Van traffic, despite experiencing slower growth in 2018, still saw a slight increase which sets a new record high. Cycling miles also rose and are now 34% above what they were 25 years ago, but there has been a continued decline in the number of miles travelled by buses and coaches which is particularly worrying in an age when, as a society, we are trying to get people to use public transport more.

“Car traffic, while stable, is at an all-time high, as is use of the Strategic Road Network which now carries more than a third of all motorised traffic in England despite only accounting for 2.4% of all roads, highlighting just how valuable it is to Britain’s economy.

“This also serves to emphasise just how important the Government’s promised Road Investment Strategy and ring-fenced funding will be in providing extra capacity and more reliable journeys.

“And, it won’t come as a surprise to many who have experienced the western half of the M25 that this is the busiest stretch of road on our network. In peak hours, this often looks more like a car park than it does a motorway.”