This is due to for a huge shift in business practice caused by several factors, including changes in taxation rules, measures to address climate change, and cost-cutting.

The changes are revealed in the  latest National Travel Survey – from the Department of Trasport – a continuous survey designed to monitor long-term trends in personal travel in Great Britain.

We are also walking and cycling less – but there are Fewer overall journeys. Most of the fall in overall trips rates between 1995/97 and 2009 can be accounted for by a fall in shopping, visiting friends at private homes and commuting. The last two years has seen a large fall (9%) in the number of commuting trips, probably due to the recession.

Overall in 2009, we each travelled on average 6,775 miles, with 973 trips per year, with an average length of seven miles.

This compares to 1995/97 when we made an average of 1,086 trips each, travelled 6,981 miles with an average trip length of 6.4 miles.

Of all trips made in 2009, 20% were less than one mile in length and 95% were less than 25 miles. If more of these could be done my foot or cycling, this could make a huge difference to our environmental impact and fitness.

Most of the fall in overall trips rates since 1995/97 is accounted for by a fall in walking – 22% lower in 2009.

In 2009, 63% of all trips were made by car compared to 25% by walking or cycling. In public transport we took more trips by bus and rail, including the tube. However, part of this fall is likely to be due to apparent under-recording of short trips associated with the introduction of a new travel diary in 2007.

All of the increase in bus travel is in London. The number of trips per person per year by bus in London increased by 47% between 1995/97 and 2009, while trips by bus outside of London fell by 9%, although there was an increase in the latest year.  This could be accounted for by the introduction of the Congestion Zone. Trips by London underground increased by 27% between 1995/97 and 2009, while the average distance travelled has increased by 32%.

The average number of trips and distance travelled by surface rail has increased between 1995/97 and 2009, by 41% and 47% respectively.

Between 2006 and 2009, 81% of all long distance trips were made by car, a further 12% by rail, and 4% by bus (both local and non-local).

People are certainly flying more. In 2009, 46% said they had made at least one international flight in the last 12 months, with 11% flying abroad three or more times.