It is safe to say that Icelanders are a car nation, as car ownership in the country is amongst the highest in the world. According to data from the International Association of Automobile Manufacturers (OICA), Iceland is in 9th place on the list of most common car ownership in the world. That is, if small countries such as Monaco are excluded. Other countries that rank high are New Zealand, the United States, Canada and Italy, all of which are characterized by extensive road networks and well above average economic prosperity. Although the distances driven by nationals are different and the means of transport are different, easy and safe transport is a prerequisite for quality of life throughout the country of Iceland.
Average annual driving distance is similar across the country
Looking at data from the Transport Agency, average driving and comparing postcodes (where the number of cars owned by individuals is over a thousand) yields interesting results. In short, it can be said that the average number of cars driven is similar throughout the country, regardless of location, although some degree of variability can certainly be noted between regions.
Changes affect driving habits
Today's society has developed in such a way that people increasingly look to larger areas when it comes to employment than before. Thus, for example, it can be said that the southwest corner, from Borgarnes to Selfoss and out to Suðurnes, has become one continuous business and employment zone. At the same time, a larger group of people now partially does their work remotely and therefore doesn't have to commute to work every day. It will be interesting to observe what the development will be in the coming years.
The size of employment areas affects driving
Business activities are often located in the middle of urban areas, which also have large concentrations of commercial services. An example of this is that in the capital area, the most populated business areas are in the western part of Reykjavík, and the same story can be said about many of the larger urban centers in the country. Those who live near the center or in smaller towns usually travel a shorter distance to get to work. On the other hand, those who for example live in the suburbs of Reykjavík, people east of Reykjanesbraut or in neighboring municipalities have to travel further on average than those who live in the central area in order to access services and employment in the core of the city center.
With the improved transport infrastructure between the capital area and the largest urban centers of Suðurland, Suðurnes and Vesturland, it now only takes about 30-55 minutes to travel between them. The residents of these areas therefore have the advantage of being able to commute to the capital city for work, and a large group does so every day. In figures provided by the Transport Agency, it can be seen that the average driving distance is the highest in these areas, which indicates that the group that goes to work every day in the capital area increases the average.
Our roads to the future
Roads to the Future is an information site concerning the implementation of a new unified system designed to charge for the use of road transport. The website uses data from The Icelandic Transport Authority, Statistics Iceland, the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate, the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration, and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs.