Travel Down 1.2 Percent in March from Previous Year

Travel Down 1.2 Percent in March from Previous Year
June 5, 2009

U.S. travel decreased 1.2 percent in March 2009 from the previous year-a drop of 3.1 billion vehicle driven miles. In March 2009, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration estimates that 245.1 billion vehicle miles were driven throughout the United States.

Travel actually increased from the previous year in three of the five regions—the Northeast, South-Central and South-Gulf Regions.

Estimated Miles Driven by Region	Total Miles Traveled in March 2008	Total Miles Traveled in March 2009	Percentage Change
Northeast	36,676*	36,856	+0.5
South-Atlantic	54,539	52,697	-3.4
North-Central	53,023	53,169	+0.3
South-Gulf	49,787	49,958	+0.3
West	54,123	52,410	-3.2
Total	248,149	245,090	-1.2

*All figures are in millions except for totals.

Cumulative travel for all of the United States also only shows a 1.7-percent decrease as of the end of March 2009. It is estimated that 695.2 billion vehicle miles were driven by the end of March 2008, compared with 683.7 by the end of March 2009.

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