Analysis of traffic volume seasonality for selected vehicle groups based on data from automatic traffic counting stations

Abstract

Traffic seasonality is an important factor supporting transport planning and management. This article presents the results of a study on traffic seasonality in daily, weekly, and monthly terms for two key vehicle groups, namely passenger cars and vans, and rigid trucks without trailers. The main research question concerned the nature and extent of differences in these patterns over the period 2022–2024. The analysis was based on data obtained from automatic traffic counting stations and employed a comparative analysis of traffic volume changes across different time scales. The results indicate the presence of a regular daily rhythm and a stable traffic profile on weekdays, clearly different from that observed on weekends, in both analysed vehicle groups. In addition, monthly seasonality was found to vary depending on the vehicle category. The main contribution of the authors lies in the presentation of the research method and in conducting a multifaceted analysis of traffic seasonality using empirical data from 2022–2024, which made it possible to identify differences between the analysed vehicle groups that are significant from the perspective of traffic management. The results of the study may be used in the management of traffic flow and the planning of revitalization processes of the road network.