The number of motorcycles and commercial vehicles has greatly increased

Nearly 72,000 vehicles means almost one car per inhabitant

Maó. The district´s 24,295 vehicles cause frequent traffic jams in the town

With 5,496 vehicles, Es Mercadal is the district with the highest proportion of cars per head of population, 1,300 for every 1,000 citizens of an age to drive

C.M.W..Maó

Menorca has practically one car per inhabitant according to a survey recently carried out by the Menorcan Social Environment Observatory. Last year there were 71,965 vehicles registered on the island, some 2,000 more than the previous year and 20,000 more than in 1995.

Maó is the district with the greatest number of vehicles registered, whilst Es Mercadal has the highest ratio of cars to inhabitants. However, the statistics confirm the continuation of the deceleration which started four years ago.

The study was based on figures provided by the DGT (Traffic Department) as at 31st December 2005 and, when taken in conjunction with the population of the island, give a figure of 0.82 vehicles per inhabitant which is lower than the all-time high in 2001, when the average was 0.93 cars per citizen, and since when the proportion has steadily decreased.

The vast majority of vehicles on the island´s roads are cars, 52,723 which represents 73.26% of the total figure and is 1,000 higher than last year´s figure. The number of motorcycles (6,598 which accounts for 9.17% of the total) and vans and lorries (11,342, or 15.76%) increased significantly last year.

Maó is the district where the most vehicles are registered, with 24,295; followed by Ciutadella (18,694); Alaior (7,517); Es Castell (6,840); Es Mercadal (5,496); Sant Lluís (5,200); Ferreries (3.030); and Es Migjorn Gran at the foot of the table with 893.

Nevertheless Es Mercadal municipal district has the highest proportion of vehicles per inhabitant over the age of 18 years, with 1,300 automobiles for every 1,000 citizens of driving age. This is significantly greater than the figures recorded for the rest of the island´s districts which are: Es Castell (with 919); Sant Lluís (886); Maó (878); Alaior (866); Ciutadella (693); Ferreries (686) and, finally, Es Migjorn Gran (633).