Vehicle miles traveled (VMT) is one of the best indicators of automobile use and its impacts on transportation infrastructure and the environment. From the early 1970s to 2004, driving by U.S. residents grew substantially; VMT per capita increased 60%. Then, three years before the recession, the trend reversed. National VMT per capita declined between 8 and 10%. That trend continued until 2014 when it began to once again increase fueled by a strengthening economy and lower gas prices.
