A car-addicted nation

Road traffic has increased nearly 25% in the last 15 years despite government attempts to get people to drive less, legal targets to slash carbon emissions and a major increase in rail use, new figures show.

The figures were released as English regional bodies announced plans to spend more than £4bn in the next five years on 92 major road-building schemes, which are expected to further increase traffic levels and carbon dioxide emissions.

Campaigners said they were dismayed by the regions' lack of sustainable transport plans . "They are still wedded to road building. They had the option to ask central government for different kinds of transport schemes, including rail, cycling and trams, but they have overwhelmingly chosen road building.