Drivers cut back — a 1st in 26 years

[CatWoman]

The average American motorist is driving substantially fewer miles for the first time in 26 years because of high gas prices and demographic shifts, according to a USA TODAY analysis of federal highway data.

The growth in miles driven has leveled off dramatically in the past 18 months after 25 years of steady climbs despite the addition of more than 1 million drivers to the nation's streets and highways since 2005. Miles driven in February declined 1.9% from February 2006 before rebounding slightly for a 0.3% year-over-year gain in March, data from the Federal Highway Administration show. That's in sharp contrast to the average annual growth rate of 2.7% recorded from 1980 through 2005.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-05-17-gas-prices_N.htm

[Squatch]

1. I wonder what the delta is going to be after this year's summer driving season?

[notadmblnd]

2. Just a litlte more than 3 weeks left of the school year

and I can cut my driving back to almost zero miles per week. Most all of my driving miles now is getting my son back and forth to school.