by Calculated Risk on 1/23/2012 06:58:00 PM
Monday, January 23, 2012
DOT: Vehicle Miles Driven declined 0.9% in November
The Department of Transportation (DOT) reported:
• Travel on all roads and streets changed by -0.9% (-2.1 billion vehicle miles) for November 2011 as compared with November 2010.The following graph shows the rolling 12 month total vehicle miles driven.
• Travel for the month is estimated to be 240.9 billion vehicle miles.
• Cumulative Travel for 2011 changed by -1.4% (-38.3 billion vehicle miles).
![Vehicle Miles](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRhnFTqN4mOcqC5xvlb63I6x_q_fxHdGU1Pp4_N8sNsZmqPKNHQ4t4oIBK2IIuR1hmkinps2wX-qTes9ws3TCd83u5M-zTOMM3A1-GN9WT1iGIaPwORtgYxdOjBvd_Q710_IDQ/s320/Miles12MonthNov2011.jpg)
In the early '80s, miles driven (rolling 12 months) stayed below the previous peak for 39 months.
Currently miles driven has been below the previous peak for 48 months - and still counting! And not just moving sideways ... the rolling 12 month total is still declining.
The second graph shows the year-over-year change from the same month in the previous year.
![Vehicle Miles Driven YoY](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpq1vvD4_RMqF2ixPR1eiQE9o0DzhrtCNBejssG-_wU1NqlPcXg3gtDSc-odKeGHC6IuATp_nv_ifFfVMxT8nM479a1KMmtAAd5Au44-I4L8neOV4t1fV9MnbJDXeBwwSGFCMO/s320/MilesYoYNov2011.jpg)
The decline in miles driven is probably due to a combination of high gasoline prices, a sluggish economy and some changes in driving habits.