U.S. DOT News – March 2, 2011
WASHINGTON – Americans drove three trillion miles in 2010, the most vehicle miles traveled since 2007 and the third highest ever recorded, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced this week. The increase in traffic volume comes as the U.S. in 2009 posted its lowest number of traffic fatalities and injuries since 1950.
“More driving means more wear and tear on our nation’s roads and bridges,” said Secretary Ray LaHood. “This new data further demonstrates why we need to repair the roads and bridges that are the lifeblood of our economy.”
LaHood noted that Americans drove .7 percent more, or 20.5 billion additional vehicle miles traveled (VMT), in 2010 than the previous year.