US drivers set new record with 3.15 trillion miles travelled in 2015
Americans drove a record 3.15 trillion miles in 2015, fuelled by low petrol prices and surging vehicle sales, according to Federal Highway Administration data.
US motorists covered a record 3.15 trillion miles in 2015, according to the Federal Highway Administration, surpassing previous annual figures as low fuel prices and strong new car sales encouraged more travel across the country.
The milestone coincided with a record year for the US auto industry, which saw 17.5 million new vehicles sold. The combination of more vehicles on the road and cheaper petrol, averaging $2.40 per gallon compared to $3.34 the previous year, helped push total mileage to its highest ever level. The only year with lower average fuel prices in recent memory was 2009, at $2.35 per gallon.
Low fuel prices and vehicle ownership trends
Lower running costs made longer trips more affordable for many Americans. The Federal Highway Administration’s data also reflects a growing car parc, with more than 260 million registered vehicles in use. Owners are holding onto their cars for longer, too, with the average vehicle age now at 11.5 years, according to Polk.
The trend towards higher annual mileage has been supported not only by new car sales but also by the durability of existing vehicles. With motorists keeping cars for over a decade on average, the US fleet continues to expand even as older models remain in daily use. Some drivers have demonstrated the potential longevity of classic models, such as the Porsche 356 that has reached one million miles after 52 years of regular use (see Porsche 356 daily driver clocks one million miles after 52 years).
Road safety concerns rise with increased travel
Increased time on the road brought a reversal in a long-term decline in US road fatalities. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated a 9 percent rise in traffic deaths for 2015, following a 1.2 percent decrease the year before. From 2000 to 2014, traffic deaths had fallen by more than 22 percent, but the 2015 data suggests that more miles travelled may be contributing to higher accident rates.
