Statistics Canada
www.statcan.gc.ca
Common menu bar links
Canadian Vehicle Survey
Archived Content
Information identified as archived is provided for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. It is not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards and has not been altered or updated since it was archived. Please "contact us" to request a format other than those available.
Canadians drove their vehicles more during the fourth quarter of 2008 than they did the same quarter a year earlier. Total kilometres driven in Canada increased by 1.6% compared with the fourth quarter of 2007. Light vehicles (weighing less than 4.5 metric tonnes) were driven 2.9% more during the quarter compared with the previous year. Heavy vehicles (weighing 4.5 metric tonnes or more) travelled 9.4% less compared with the fourth quarter of 2007.
Nationally, motor vehicle registrations were up by 1.6% for the quarter. Light vehicle registrations also increased by 1.6%, while heavy vehicle registrations were 2.7% higher.
Larger style light vehicles (vans, sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks) were driven 5.0% less in the fourth quarter compared with the same quarter in 2007. This group has now posted negative growth in five of the past six quarters going back to late 2007. Kilometres driven in smaller style light vehicles (cars and station wagons) increased 11.2% compared with the same quarter a year ago.
The average distance travelled per light vehicle saw little change compared with the previous year. Light vehicles were driven, on average, 3,781 kilometres during the fourth quarter of 2008, up 0.4% from the fourth quarter of 2007. Among the provinces, drivers in Prince Edward Island used their light vehicles the most on average, while drivers in British Columbia used theirs the least.
Available on CANSIM: tables 405-0005 to 405-0020, 405-0026 to 405-0036, 405-0039 to 405-0042, 405-0044 to 405-0046, 405-0053, 405-0054, 405-0099 and 405-0101 to 405-0110.
Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 2749.
The October to December 2008 issue of Canadian Vehicle Survey: Quarterly (53F0004X, free) is now available from the Publications module of our website.
For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Réjean Doiron (613-951-5680; rejean.doiron@statcan.gc.ca) or Client Services (toll-free 1-866-500-8400; transportationstatistics@statcan.gc.ca), Transportation Division.
