Scottish Government Criticized for Failing to Meet Car Use Reduction Goals

Audit Scotland warns that the 2030 target to cut car use by 20% is unlikely to be achieved due to minimal progress and lack of leadership.

Audit Scotland reports that car use in Scotland has returned to near pre-pandemic levels, with little progress toward the 2030 target of reducing car travel by 20%.
The watchdog cites a lack of leadership, a fragmented approach, and the absence of a clear, costed delivery plan as key reasons for the failure.
Meeting the target would require reducing car travel by 7.3 billion kilometers, a level not seen since 1994, but public transport use has declined and active travel investments show limited impact.
The Scottish government continues to face criticism for prioritizing announcements over actionable policy, with opposition parties labeling its approach 'government by press release.'
Transport Scotland plans to invest £263 million in sustainable travel for 2025-26, but achieving the target will require significant behavioral changes and cross-government collaboration.