Americans are Driving Less

To commuters, it may seem like traffic is at an all-time high, but motorists in the U.S. logged fewer miles last year, according to the Federal Highway Administration. In fact, 2011 marked the lowest level measured since 2003. The agency, an arm of the U.S Department of Transportation, continuously monitors traffic at 4,000 locations nationwide. Data released by the government shows that U.S. motorists drove 2.96 trillion miles last year, down 1.2% from 2010. That's the lowest number of miles since U.S. drivers logged 2.89 trillion miles in 2003. Why the drop-off? Rising gas prices and a weak economy have prompted people to pinch pennies, putting the brakes on driving. It's not just happening in cities, either. According to the study, travel on rural roads declined more than travel on city streets, but urban driving makes up two-thirds of all driving in the U.S. So tell us, are you trying to drive less often? from KickingTires http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/

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