Recent Trend in Vehicle Miles Traveled in the U.S. Katie Zadrozny Khaled Al-Menayes September 3, 2009
How Technology Affects Miles Traveled Vehicle owners can drive further on less gas: Better fuel efficiency Design improvements: hybrid engines, low weight body materials, fuel tracking devices, use of synthetic oils Improved roadways allow for more convenient travel. Until the 1990s: poorly- connected roadways with low access to major arterials
Trends General trend: VMT (vehicle travel miles) are decreasing in the U.S. Causes: Public transit ridership continues to increase Vehicle-Miles Traveled: Dec-07 Dec-08 Highway miles (millions) 240, ,152 Percent change: same month previous year
U.S. Highway Vehicle-Miles Traveled SOURCE: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Office of Highway Policy Information, Traffic Volume Trends, available at as of February 2009.
Transit Ridership
Sources technologies/fuel-economy.html /html/table_01_04.html