US driving miles decline for 15th straight month

Driving down slightly in TX

Steve Hawley, Apr 08, 09.

Americans drove three percent less in January 2009 than in January 2008, according to Federal Highway Administration statistics, marking the 15th straight month of declines. After increasing in December 2008, vehicle miles decreased slightly in Texas in January.

Overall, Americans drove 222 billion miles in January, down from 229 billion miles the year before, while Texans logged 19.3 billion miles, a decrease of 60 million miles. Traffic volume increased by 2.1 percent on the state’s rural roads, but dropped 0.1 percent on urban arterials.

Recently-released statistics show that traffic fatalities dropped by more than 4,000 in 2008, reaching the lowest level since 1961. Last year, 37,313 people died on American roads, with 1.28 deaths per 100 million miles. The drop likely resulted from record gas prices and a steep recession, which encouraged Americans to drive less. Nationwide, vehicle miles traveled decreased by 3.6 percent in 2008, a drop of over 100 billion miles. According to the FHWA, it was the first decrease in vehicle miles traveled since 1980.