US Drivers Traveled 20 Billion Fewer Miles in April of 2008 than Last Year
by Michael Graham Richard, Gatineau, Canada on 06.20.08
First Significant Reduction in Miles Driven in a Long Time
The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has released its number for highway miles driven for April, and the downward trend is continuing. Drivers in the US traveled 1.4 billion fewer highway miles, and 20 billion miles for all public roads compared to last years, or 1.8% less. Cummulatively, 2008 is down 2.1% from 2007 so far. Not surprisingly, public transit is becoming more popular.
"The Secretary noted that data show mid-size SUV sales were down last month 38% over May of last year; car sales, which had accounted for less than half of the industry volume in 2007, rose to 57% in May. She said past trends have shown Americans will continue to drive despite high gas prices, but will drive more fuel efficient vehicles consuming less fuel." Americans Drove 1.4 Billion Fewer Highway Miles in April of 2008 than in April 2007 While Fuel Prices and Transit Ridership Are Both on the Rise, US Vehicle Miles Traveled Dropped 1.8% in April
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Well this should not be a surprise with the cost of gas (I mean the falsely inflated price tag driven up by speculators)...
I think this article is slightly misleading or appears to be misleading in regards to the increase in public transportation, yes public transportation has certainly increased, but I think the biggest impact is the fact that more people are just driving less out of necessity.
I don't know how the poor are making ends meet, how are they filling up their gas tanks in order to get to their lowly paying jobs and still afford groceries and other of lifes necessities.
Yes, when you live in a state like Texas, we don't have a choice, but to continue to drive. We do not live on top of each other like New York, San Fransisco. We live far apart and often many cities do not have the infrastructure for public transportation.
So thank god the prices of gas have been jacked up to ridiciulous prices, sound odd to you? it might, but the way I see it, these outrageous gas prices are doing us the best favor in the world..... SUV sales are down, economy car sales have increased, the biggest push to the green movement is happening now and we need to ride this momentum and get out and educate each other and the masses, push for more efficient green technology. We can not let this opportunity pass us by like it did during the 1970s "gas shortage".
Thanks Honda, your new hydrogen fuel cell car is one of the best new innovations in a long time and we can wait to see more
What is amazing about that graph is not the teeny-weeny dip at the right but the incredibly steep climb, without letup, over the last 25 years.
"Well this should not be a surprise with the cost of gas (I mean the falsely inflated price tag driven up by speculators)... "
Speculators have very little to do with this. Two wars in the middle east and the US dollar losing almost half of its value because the Fed has been printing it like crazy are much much bigger factors, along with demand from china/india/etc.
"Thanks Honda, your new hydrogen fuel cell car is one of the best new innovations in a long time and we can wait to see more"
What about GM's hydrogen fleet? Talk about green washing, I love how the real innovators get the kick in the nuts when everyone assumes Toyota/Honda does everything better or first.
Back to the article, it does not surprise me. Cost of gas is the obvious big factor. Last year I drove 50,000 miles, while this year I am on track for about 35-40,000. Not because of gas, but because I have been busy with other things.