270 billion miles - we have never driven more. Of course, driving is heavily seasonal and Americans drive more in July and August than any other month.
On the bright side, this probably means the economy is recovering. Also, growth in miles driven has slowed markedly over the last decade, probably due to higher gas prices. Households are now averaging (just?) 69 miles a day which they first reached in 1997. Problem is there are about 15 million more households now and the exurbs we built for them are exceedingly automobile dependent.
Doh!
