ESTONIAN ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW 2009

2.4. Transport
Transport gives people the possibility of moving and
transporting goods over land and water and by air, and has
a decisive importance for socioeconomic development.
In recent years, the number of vehicles – primarily
passenger vehicles – has grown (figure 2.7). In five years,
about 100,000 passenger vehicles have been registered
while the number of trucks and buses has remained fairly
stable. Whereas in 1990, there were 154 cars per 1000
people and in 2003, 321; there were 412 cars in 2008. The
increase in automobiles has been caused by a number
of factors: economic growth, the consumer spending
boom, sprawl, inefficient public transport systems in
cities, especially in rural areas, underemployment in
the countryside and the resulting commuting between
countryside and city.
Of registered vehicles, old ones – over 10 years in age
— are in the majority. The percentage of over 10-yearold
motorcycles, passenger cars and trucks is between
50–60%, but 70% in the case of buses. With each year,
the share of new vehicles under 2 years old grows – in
2005, the share of new vehicles was 7%, and in 2008, it
had risen to 10%.
About 70% of motor vehicles run on petrol and 30%
on diesel fuel; types of vehicles that consume more fuel,
such as buses and trucks mainly use diesel.
Passenger and freight numbers increased from 2003–
2007 — in 2007 freight and passenger volumes were,
respectively 15% and 37% higher than they were in 2003
(figure 2.8).
Traffic has decreased slightly along with the recession
— according to the Road Administration, traffic had
decreased by 4% throughout the national road network
compared to 2007.
Road transport pollutes the air and soil, creates noise
and disrupts ecosystems, while building roads destroys
or fragments habitats. Road transport is one of the greatest
sources of air pollution, apart from the energy sector.
Improved fuel quality, use of catalytic converters
and more efficient motor vehicles have helped reduce
amounts of emissions (CO, CO 2
, NO x
) as well as heavy
metals (lead in particular) at the same time that the
number of vehicles has grown.
800
700
600
automotive petrol, thousands of tonnes
diesel fuel, thousands of tonnes
number of vehicles, thousands
trend in the use of petrol
trend in the use of diesel fuel
trend in the number of vehicles
500
400
300
200
thousands
100
0
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Figure 2.7. Number of registered motor vehicles (passenger vehicles and trucks, buses and motorcycles) use of petrol and diesel fuel
in road transport. Note: The number of vehicles decreased in 2001, as cars not re-registered by 1 July 2001 were omitted from the
calculation in the course of reorganization of the Motor Vehicle Registry database. Data: ARK, Statistics Estonia.
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