U.S. drivers drove 3.1 trillion miles in 2015

U.S. drivers drove 3.1 trillion miles in 2015

Millennials may or may not be buying a lot of cars (see –Five Warning Signs for Auto Industry,” pp. 2-3), but Americans are breaking records for the number of miles they drive. Last year, they drove more than 3.1 trillion miles, beating a previous record just above 3 trillion set in 2007.

Figures are from the Department of Transportation, which adds that 3.1 trillion miles is about the same distance as 337 round trips from Earth to Pluto. December also set a record for seasonally adjusted vehicle miles traveled.

All five regions of the U.S. increased their miles traveled last year. But DC showed the largest single-month decrease in December, at 4.6 percent.