xpost: Driving is down again

[phantom power]

Driving continues to decline in most of the country, including Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

The recession, not high gas prices, is the most likely reason.

"Clearly, economic conditions are having a prolonged effect on our driving habits," said AAA spokeswoman Catherine L. Rossi. "Some people aren't commuting because they no longer have jobs."

Less money also means fewer trips for shopping, entertainment and vacations.

Americans drove 7 billion fewer miles this January than in January the year before, according to a new report from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Pennsylvanians drove 353 million fewer miles - a drop of about 4.5 percent.

New Jerseyans racked up 363 million fewer miles, a decline of 6.5 percent, despite having some of the lowest gas prices in the nation.

Nationally, driving has been declining since December 2007.

During this 14-month span, motor vehicles have gone 122 billion fewer miles compared to the same period a year earlier (December 2006 to January 2008).

Bucking the trend were 13 Western states, including Alaska and Hawaii. Overall, they posted a slight increase - 0.2 percent.

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20090320_Drivings_down_again_in_Pa___N_J_.html

[taterguy]

1. Am I the only one who had no idea we even drove 122 billion miles?

Where the hell is everybody going?

[gratuitous]

2. Sky high gas prices changed people's habits

It's a tough thing moving people from mindless consumerism to mindful consumerism, but gas at $4.00-plus a gallon surely got most people's attention. Some very ingrained habits changed, and a number of people began paying attention to things like driving everywhere or planning ahead to transform multiple trips into one single trip.

These little economies have been reinforced by sagging consumer confidence and the Bush recession. If you can cut some expenses and stretch your budget a little further, and feel a little more secure month by month, new habits have a chance to develop.

We’ll probably get back to mindless consumerism before too long, and mileage will return to its former levels; too much of our society depends too heavily on people spending money without thinking about it. But it’s nice to see that we can have an effect given a sufficient jolt to the system.

[FarLeftRage]

3. I have no job to drive to

and no money to spend...

[SoCalDem]

4. and no reason to make trips to the mall, or to the movies , etc

My husband has noticed a steep decline in morning traffic on the freeways..good for HIM, bad for retailers

[dkofos]

5. My driving has been down for the last 8 years.