Eric Sundquist discusses the new information contained in the Federal Highway Administration travel trends data released late last week. Per capita VMT dropped .4 percent in 2012, continuing a trend that began in 2004. "Per capita VMT peaked in 2004 and has declined each year since then for a total decline of 7.5 percent," notes Sundquist. "At 9,363, VMT per capita in 2012 reached its lowest level since 1996."
"A variety of factors have been cited for the decline, including retiring Baby Boomers; less enthusiasm for cars among Millennials; a move in many places toward more compact and mixed-use development; and demand-side policy efforts, including TDM, tolling and market-pricing of parking," he explains. "In addition, some trends that fueled VMT growth in the last century have eased: The transition toward women working outside the home is essentially complete, car-ownership has gone from rare to common, and people’s time budgets for car travel may have reached their maximum."
The continued decline suggests the trend in reduced driving is not an aberration. "As previously noted, fuel prices seem to have little relationship with VMT, and the trend toward lower levels of driving has persisted through economic prosperity, recession and recovery," he adds.
Comments
Conflicting Data As To Whether "Gas Prices Affect Consumption"
Really interesting to note this VMT decline as it's so contrary to what one would expect with the population growing.
However, I think there is data to show that price does matter, notwithstanding Sundquist's claim to the contrary. Take Ron White's February 28, 2013 article in the LA Times, "California gas prices peak; pump pain changes U.S. driving habits": "The high prices were causing big changes in the driving habits of American motorists, with gasoline consumption dropping sharply", he writes - going on to describe record gasoline exports from U.S. refineries.
High gas prices in December may be one reason Americans "consumed 305,000 barrels a day less than the amount consumed in December 2011."