Driving on the Rise in America

"Using 12-month averages, the study found that driving increased by 0.3% in September, 0.2% in October, 0.3% in November and 0.2% in December over the same periods a year earlier, according to federal data.

Traffic congestion is still about two-thirds of 2007 peak levels but likely to get worse, says Rick Schuman, author of INRIX's 2009 National Traffic Scorecard. He cautions that further softening of the economy or a major hike in gas prices could cut congestion again. 'As the job situation goes, so goes congestion,' he says. 'If we have a recovery and we start seeing employment starting to grow, congestion will grow along with it.'"

Some link the increase in driving to improvements in the economy.