October Driving Sets New Record
According to DOT, U.S. driving reached 273.5 billion miles in October 2015.
The U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration, U.S. driving reached 273.5 billion miles in October 2015, the highest of any October on record. This shows the demand for a sound road system across the country, according to the agency, which reported the number adds up to a 3 percent increase over the previous October.
During October 2015, drivers' total mileage rose among all five regions of the United States, with traffic in the West (a 13-state region that includes Alaska and Hawaii) leading the nation with 62 billion unadjusted vehicle miles traveled. With 38.4 billion unadjusted VMT, the Northeast had the least. And at 9.4 percent, Hawaii led the nation with the largest unadjusted single-state percentage increase versus the same month a year earlier, followed by California at 6.5 percent and Florida at 5 percent. North Dakota led the nation with the largest unadjusted single-state traffic decrease for the month.
A study titled "Beyond Traffic" earlier this year projected a 43 percent increase in commercial truck shipments and population growth of 70 million by 2045.