Skip to main content

US driving distances seeing increase

Web Headline US driving distances seeing increase Main Site Taxonomy WH12, ITS16 Sub Taxonomy Image supplied Needs XSP WH & ITS A recent study from the University of Michigan highlights key diverging trends in the amount of urban and rural driving. The study into Sustainable Worldwide Transportation was carried out jointly by experts in the field, Michael Sivak and Brandon Schoettle. The focus of the study was on changes in the distances being driven in urban and rural areas of the US. This study
July 12, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
A recent study from the 5186 University of Michigan highlights key diverging trends in the amount of urban and rural driving. The study into Sustainable Worldwide Transportation was carried out jointly by experts in the field, Michael Sivak and Brandon Schoettle. The focus of the study was on changes in the distances being driven in urban and rural areas of the US. This study examined data estimating annual distances driven in urban and rural environments. The research also took into account whether the driving was carried out on interstate highways, arterial routes or other roads. The study covered the period from 2000 to 2016 and uncovered two key facts. The overall distance being driven/year in the US grew 15% between 2000 and 2016. In this time, the total distance driven in the urban cycle increased 33% while conversely, the total distance driven in rural areas dropped by 12%. It is clear that the growth in the overall distance driven in the US between 2000 and 2016 is broadly aligned with the increase in population during the same period. However the trends towards increases in urban driving and decreasing rural driving do not entirely match the shifts in the populations of urban and rural areas in the US and a further study may be required to explain this phenomenon.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Defective eyesight, a road safety concern?
    February 16, 2012
    Failing eyesight presents safety problems for Europe's older drivers. A new report highlights substantial variation in the assessment of drivers' vision across Europe, and recommends that Member States make moves to better assess drivers' vision. Checking the vision of drivers plays a valuable role in the EU's target of halving road deaths across the EU by 2020. The aim is to achieve this road safety improvement by legislative means that change driver behaviour, raise the technical standards of vehicles and
  • India’s longest tolled expressway is open to traffic
    January 2, 2013
    Earlier this year, a new expressway was opened to traffic in India, adding connectivity to the country’s road network - Mike Woof reports. India’s economic growth has fuelled a massive construction boom in the country. Road building has been set as a priority by the Indian Government to help ensure continued economic development and improve connectivity between major population centres. One major new expressway has recently opened to traffic, having been designed to international standards and provides insi
  • Increasing climate change resilience through effective maintenance
    January 30, 2020
    IRF spoke to Valerio Molinari from Ecogest SpA about maintenance as an effective means for increasing infrastructure resilience.
  • China plans important construction machinery show in Changsa for May 2019
    January 8, 2019
    An important construction machinery exhibition for the global equipment market is being planned for the Chinese city of Changsha in May 2019.