Driven to Extremes: Has Growth in Vehicle Use Peaked

For almost 40 years, auto usage, as measured by vehicle miles travelled (VMT), closely tracked real gross domestic product. VMT dropped during the most recent recession, as it has during previous ones. But unlike after prior recessions, it still hasn't recovered.

In this presentation, Volpe economists Don Pickrell and David Pace cover demographic driving pattersn, why people are driving less, and the impact of reduced vehicle miles travelled.