After more than two years of declines in American driving patterns, the amount of driving seems to be on the rise.
"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.
Thanks to GOOD
FULL STORY: U.S. driving decline is in reverse
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