TRANSPORTATION AND VEHICLE STATISTICS

As long as we are on the subject of transportation*, let’s look at some other transportation related data. 

   

VEHICLES PER HOUSEHOLD:

This statistic portrays the number of vehicles per household in the United States from 2006 to 2016. In 2006, the number of vehicles per U.S. household stood at 2.05. This figure fell to 1.93 in 2012, reflecting the millennial generation's dwindling interest in car ownership, as well as the high gas prices and high unemployment rates of 2012. Vehicle ownership per household was back to 1.97 in 2016.

https://www.statista.com/statistics/551403/number-of-vehicles-per-household-in-the-united-states/

VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED:

This graph shows the total vehicle miles traveled annually (millions) in the past 10 years.

Percentage increases for the past 5 years are as follows:

2013	0.7%
2014	1.3%
2015	2.3%
2016	2.6%
2017	1.2%

HOUSEHOLDS TAKE FEWER VEHICLE TRIPS IN 2017:

The average number of vehicle trips made by a household in a year’s time was 1,865 in 2017, which translates to an average of 5 household trips per day (one-way).  That is 10% lower than the previous survey year, 2009, and 20% lower than the 1995 survey.  In 2017 there were fewer trips per household for work, shopping, other family/personal errands, and social & recreational purposes.  The rise in internet shopping, telecommuting, and social networking via the internet may be a factor in the decline, as total trips per household has been declining since 1995.

https://louisianacleanfuels.org/blog.php?name=catId/17

SUMMARY:

Between 2011 and 2016, the U.S. as a whole constructed an additional 62,352 miles of public roads. Most states’ total miles of public roads did not significantly increase or decrease over the 5 year time period, but a few states did have somewhat significant increases, while a few others had significant decreases. (*See Blog Post; “Miles of Public Roads by State, 11/25/18).

Vehicle ownership per household has declined in recent years and the average number of vehicle trips per household has also declined in recent years.

However, total miles driven continue to increase yearly as would be expected with a growing population.

CONCLUSION:

Traffic is not going to get any better any time soon.