For years, people wondered whether travel would bounce back after the pandemic. The latest FHWA data, along with other new research, gives a clearer answer. Growth has slowed. In 2024, total vehicle miles traveled (VMT) finally inched past its 2019 peak, but by only 0.5%. On a per capita basis, Americans are still driving less, down 2.3% since 2019.
decline in driving
Factors affecting the decline in VMT: A new SSTI report
SSTI has released a paper outlining factors contributing to the recent decline in American driving and the implications for transportation planning.
Factors affecting the decline in VMT: A new SSTI report
SSTI has released a paper outlining factors contributing to the recent decline in American driving and the implications for transportation planning.
Moving Off the Road: State-by-State Analysis of the National Decline in Driving (USPIRG, 2013)
The decline in both per capita and total VMT has been noted in many contexts, but some have doubted that the decline will last once the economy recovers. This study finds that declining rates of driving do not correspond with how badly states suffered economically in recent years. The evidence suggests that the nation’s per-capita decline in driving cannot be dismissed as a temporary side effect of the recession.