A recent report by Audit Scotland indicates that the Scottish Government is unlikely to achieve its ambitious goal of reducing car kilometers driven by 20% by 2030. report attributes this shortfall to a lack of leadership and the absence of a clear, costed delivery plan. Dee setting this target in 2020 as part of efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions, minimal progress has been made. Car fic levels have returned to near pre-pandemic figures, public transport usage has declined, and there has been no significant increase in walking or cycling.
To meet the 20% reduction target, car traffic would need to decrease by billion kilometers, bringing it down to 29.3 billion kilometers—the lowest level since 1994. Audit Scotland emphasizes that without comprehensive delivery plan and measurable milestones, achieving this target is improbable. The report also highlights that spending by councils and Scottish Government on reducing car use is complex, fragmented, and lacks transparency. Critics have accused the government of “government by press release,” pointing to grand announcements with limited follow-through. The current state of public transport and infrastructure s done little to encourage a shift away from car use. More