Travel on all roads and streets increased slightly in September 2017, increasing .3 percent, or .8 billion vehicle miles, compared to September 2016, according to the latest figures from the Federal Highway Administration. Month-over-month miles driven decreased by 7.3 percent.
Travel for the month is estimated to be 262.5 billion vehicle miles. Cumulative travel for the year is up 1.3 percent, or 31.4 billion vehicle miles, to an estimated 2,410.3 billion vehicle miles of travel.
On a year-over-year basis, three regions showed growth, with the North Central representing the strongest growth, up .7 percent. The North East region stayed stagnant with no increase nor decrease in travel. The region representing a decrease was the South Atlantic, down .5 percent.
Comparing month-over-month figures, travel decreased in all regions. The region representing the strongest decrease was the West, down 11 percent. The North Central experienced the slightest decrease in travel of 5 percent.
Year-over-year figures in millions:
Region | Sept. 2017 | Sept. 2016 | Percent Change |
North East | 38,314 | 38,330 | 0.0 |
South Atlantic | 54,405 | 54,686 | -0.5 |
North Central | 60,001 | 59,591 | 0.7 |
South Gulf | 52,918 | 52,605 | 0.6 |
West | 56,903 | 56,546 | 0.6 |
Total | 262.5
(billions) |
261.8
(billions) |
0.3 |