Choosing Health in the South East: Road Transport and Health Briony Tatem Senior Public Health Information Analyst

Positive aspects of transport Walking and cycling have the potential to improve health by reducing the risk of obesity, coronary heart disease and diabetes. Transport can also be health promoting by enabling people to: access health and other services. access employment opportunities. get to friends, families and other social networks. help build social capital.

Road Traffic Health Impact Iceberg Source: Davis A. (1992). Liveable streets and perceived accident risk.

Travel in the South East People in the South East travel further on average than people from any other region, mainly by car. There has been little change in the distance travelled in the last ten years. The South East is the region with the highest percentage of all road traffic in the UK and the highest proportion of households with two or more cars. More than three-quarters of those who work in the South East use a car as their usual method to travel to work, spending an average of 24 minutes per day on each journey to and from work. Children across the South East travel the longest distance to school of all regions. More people cycle (and cycle further) in the South East than in England as a whole, but there has been a decline in cycle use in the region since 1995–96. People in the region walk 187 miles per person per year, the second shortest distance of any region. Use of buses is relatively high, the fourth highest region outside London. Use of regional rail has increased by 45% since 1995– 96.

Main Data Sources Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) ONS Mortality STATS 19 Police data National Travel Survey, Department of Transport Active People Survey, Sport England

Adults’ usual method of travelling to work by region of workplace in England and the South East, autumn Source: National Travel Survey, Regional Transport Statistics 2007

People admitted to hospital following a road traffic incident in England and the South East, 2000–01 to 2006–07 Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (2008) NHS Information Centre

Killed or seriously injured casualties resulting from reported road accidents in England & the South East 2000 to 2006 Source: Road accident statistics (STATS19 Returns)

Crude rate of people killed or seriously injured from reported personal injury road incidents, by age and government office region, 2006 Source: Road accident statistics (STATS19 Returns)

Killed or seriously injured casualties resulting from reported personal injury road incidents by age and road user type, South East 2006 Source: Road accident statistics (STATS19 Returns)

Emissions of air pollutants from transport in the UK,1980 to 2005 Source: ‘Health and Environment’ IN Transport Trends 2007: Section 8 (2007) Dept. for Transport.

Regional tranquillity maps for the South East, 1960s to 2007 Early 1960’sEarly 1990’s2007 Source: Intrusion maps South East and London 1960 to 2007 Council for the Preservation of Rural England. Crown Copyright. Land Use consultants Licence no Produced on behalf of CPRE by Land Use Consultants.

Recommended Actions Improving road safety Promoting walking and cycling Improving air quality and reducing noise Reducing greenhouse gas emissions Improving accessibility Reducing congestion Focusing on specific population groups at highest risk

Any questions? Choosing Health in the South East: Road Transport and Health Copies of the report can be downloaded here: