Americans drove 36.5 billion fewer miles june20 compared to june19

[Demovictory9]

https://www.advisorperspectives.com/dshort/updates/2020/08/21/americans-driving-habits-as-of-june-2020


American's Driving Habits as of June 2020
by Jill Mislinski, 8/21/20

The Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Commission has released the latest report on Traffic Volume Trends, data through June.

"Travel on all roads and streets changed by -13.0% (-36.5 billion vehicle miles) for June 2020 as compared with June 2019. Travel for the month is estimated to be 244.7 billion vehicle miles." The 12-month moving average was down 1.22% month-over-month and down 7.6% year-over-year. If we factor in population growth, the 12-month MA of the civilian population-adjusted data (age 16-and-over) was down 1.27% month-over-month and down 8.0% year-over-year.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

1. How astonishing.

Although not completely surprising.

At the very beginning of this year I put a small notebook in my glove compartment so I could keep track of gas purchases. My thought at the time was to simply keep track of how often I bought gas, the amount of gas purchased, and what it cost. So far what's noticeable is how rarely I purchase gas.

I expect this is the case with nearly everyone.

My original intention was simply to keep track of gas purchases, but now it's an exercise in how rarely I need to get gas.

[GoCubsGo]

8. Same here.

I don't keep notes, but I was normally refueling about once a month before this. Now, I don't take my daily trip to the gym, I have cut back the number of times I go to the grocery store, and I tend to avoid going to any other stores. I last put gas in my car two months ago. I have just under half a tank now, and that's with a couple of long drives to keep my battery charged up.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

14. Too many people are just letting their cars sit for very long periods of time, which

simply isn't good for them. Just get in the car once a week or so, take a bit of a drive, and it will save you a lot of grief down the road.

[GoCubsGo]

16. Yeah, I learned that the hard way.

I had to call AAA to give me a jump a while back. I won't be letting that happen again.

[oasis]

2. Astounding. For sure I cut down. nt

[kurtcagle]

3. I filled up in March.

I have about a quarter tank left.

[Demovictory9]

4. Wow

[Sherman A1]

5. No surprise

I rotate the the 3 vehicles we own each week and run them across town with a mix of surface roads and highways about a 50 mile round trip just to keep the cobwebs out of the system. My little Yaris is using about 2.5 gallons per month now.

This will have a major impact on gasoline taxes for roads, auto sales, auto repairs and general maintenance going forward. Companies and governments are really going to have to rethink how they do things.

[Bigredhunk]

9. Cool

We have the same situation. Unfortunately I don't get around to driving all 3 often enough, esp not with Covid out there. Now it's time to get the one which is currently running in for an oil change and a couple of little fixes. The other two -- one needs an oil change and a battery, the other needs some kind of antifreeze hose or something.

With respect to so many fewer miles driven during Covid, none of the oil changes are mileage related. They're all like a year or two (or more) past the 3 month recommended change date. They're not even remotely close to needed oil changes based on mileage driven.

[Sherman A1]

10. I base my oil changes on mileage and not the date

Driving across town or wherever really doesn't expose me to much opportunity for catching the virus. I get to listen to the radio a bit and listen for any possible odd sounds that the vehicles might make. It also just gets me out of the house some for a bit of a change of scenery.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

15. My car, a 2017 Honda Fit

tells me where my oil is in terms of needing it changed. It goes a good 10,000 or more miles between changes.

[leftyladyfrommo]

6. KCMO. Our streets are still pretty empty compared

to before COVID.

[Klaralven]

7. Bought a new car back in January. About 1500 miles so far

Over half of that was a single round trip to see the kids in July.

CO2 emissions should be down a bit this year.

[RazzleCat]

13. Same here,

Purchased in December, 2200 total miles, 500 were a go to family event. I live in an area with nothing walkable so any need, involves using a car. (can't walk to a store, library, etc).

[eppur_se_muova]

11. Why the big difference in just one day ?

Oh, wait ...

[Johnny2X2X]

12. Not surprising

I've been WFH since March, I've filled my gas tank once since then and still have a half of a tank. I'll put maybe 800 miles on my car in a year if this holds.

And that's great for me, means my car will last that much longer and have less repairs, I might not even need an oil change until 2022 at this rate. My car sits in the garage, I drive it to the store a couple times a week, we use my wife's vehicle to get around town in or go on trips.

Great for me, bad for the auto industry as many people like me will put off buying a new vehicle now. Bad for the oil change business and bad for auto garages.

I'd honestly consider selling my car, but I don't owe all that much on it, so paying it off seems to be smart, I'll still have a low mileage vehicle when it's totally paid off.