DOT: Vehicle Miles Fell 4.3% in March

[phantom power]

Americans drove less in March 2008, continuing a trend that began last November, according to estimates released today from the Federal Highway Administration.
...
The FHWA’s “Traffic Volume Trends” report, produced monthly since 1942, shows that estimated vehicle miles traveled (VMT) on all U.S. public roads for March 2008 fell 4.3 percent as compared with March 2007 travel. This is the first time estimated March travel on public roads fell since 1979. At 11 billion miles less in March 2008 than in the previous March, this is the sharpest yearly drop for any month in FHWA history.

[whistle]

1. Great I have limited my driving to 450 miles per month during the past 12 months

[angstlessk]

2. so that would mean consumption fell by at least that amount???

MPG and all???

[phantom power]

4. these data suggest not:

http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/twip/twip_gasoline.html

The decline in actual fuel usage was less than miles traveled, not more. I can't explain that.

[oldhippie]

5. Possibly because ......

..... people are avoiding longer trips because of the fuel costs. I know I am. I think twice about running down to Austin (140 miles RT) to do some shopping. So more miles being driven around town doing grocery shopping and the like, rather than longer road trips. Shorter trips around town get worse milage than long highway miles.

[phantom power]

6. that seems plausible.

[angstlessk]

7. agree with phantom power, seems plausable..it is the trips that a person has control over

vacations, long drives for shopping trips, visiting people who are not close, but the local driving has not changed and maybe even increased.

[depakid]

3. Impressive. I wonder what May will look like

That will be interesting, because it will incorporate Memorial Day.

[jpak]

8. Peal Oil, Peak VMT

funny how that works

[kestrel91316]

9. I probably drive under 300 miles a month on average.....