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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
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US Driving Continues to Brake

Americans drove 29.8B fewer miles through May '08 than same span in '07

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(Newser) – Driving in the United States continued to drop, the Washington Post reports, with May marking the steepest dip in vehicle-miles traveled for that month in the 66 years statistics have been tallied. Americans drove 9.6 billion fewer miles in May 2008 than May ’07; in the first five months of 2008, they drove 29.8 billion fewer miles than the same period in 2007.

Public-transportation use is increasing, workers are turning to telecommuting, bicycle-riding is up, and gas-tax revenues are so low the government is exploring other ways to raise revenue to maintain highways. “By driving less and using more fuel-efficient vehicles, Americans are showing us that the highways of tomorrow cannot be supported solely by the federal gas tax,” the Transportation Secretary said.

Americans drove 9.6B fewer miles in May 2008 than in May 2007, and in the first five months of 2008, people drove 29.8B fewer miles than the same period in 2007.
Americans drove 9.6B fewer miles in May 2008 than in May 2007, and in the first five months of 2008, people drove 29.8B fewer miles than the same period in 2007.
Americans drove 9.6B fewer miles in May 2008 than in May 2007, and in the first five months of 2008, people drove 29.8B fewer miles than the same period in 2007.
Americans drove 9.6B fewer miles in May 2008 than in May 2007, and in the first five months of 2008, people drove 29.8B fewer miles than the same period in 2007.
Driving in the United States continues to drop as May marked the steepest dip in vehicle miles traveled for any May in the 66 years statistics have been tallied.
Driving in the United States continues to drop as May marked the steepest dip in vehicle miles traveled for any May in the 66 years statistics have been tallied.
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