People seem to be driving less than they used to

[finehoe]

A growing body of academics cite the possibility that both car ownership and vehicle-kilometres driven may be reaching saturation in developed countriesâ€"or even be on the wane, a notion known as “peak car”.

Recession and high fuel prices have markedly cut distances driven in many countries since 2008, including America, Britain, France and Sweden. But more profound and longer-run changes underlie recent trends. Most forecasts still predict that when the recovery comes, people will drive as much and in the same way as they ever have. But that may not be true.

As a general trend, car ownership and kilometres travelled have been increasing throughout the rich world since the 1950s. Short-term factors like the 1970s oil-price shock caused temporary dips, but vehicle use soon recovered.

The current fall in car use has doubtless been exacerbated by recession. But it seems to have started before the crisis. A March 2012 study for the Australian governmentâ€"which has been at the forefront of international efforts to tease out peak-car issuesâ€"suggested that 20 countries in the rich world show a “saturating trend” to vehicle-kilometres travelled. After decades when each individual was on average travelling farther every year, growth per person has slowed distinctly, and in many cases stopped altogether.



There are different measures of saturation: total distance driven, distance per driver and total trips made. The statistics are striking on each of these counts even in America, still the most car-mad country in the world. There, total vehicle-kilometres travelled began to plateau in 2004 and fall from 2007; measured per person, growth flatlined sooner, after 2000, and dropped after 2004 before recovering somewhat. The number of trips has fallen, mostly because of a decline in commuting and shopping (of the non-virtual variety).

http://www.economist.com/node/21563280

[carpnter]

I didn't need a study to tell me that people are driving less.  I can tell by the amount (or lack) of traffic that is on the roads during rush hour in the mornings over the past few years. 

[thelakelander]

No reason to drive to a job that no longer exists.

[Kiva]

The Economist article above also shows that people are more interested in moving closer to their work, and young people are more likely to take public transport, or bike or walk to work, than previous generations. Good news for downtown and the areas nearby!

[Ernest Street]

I beg to differ..The incredible noise on I-10/95 starts around 3:30AM and is like a roar for the rest of the day.
I was called "Negative" by my neighbors on Ernest St (Stockton Street and 5-Points area)  they positively told me the sound would be less due to the"'Flyover"..I told them the concrete will be like a sounding board. To give you an idea, it sounds like wet tires in the rain..BUT,it is dry out..pretty loud radial tires out there.
I travel all over town and the stupidity driving is just the same.
The last few days the favorite trick is people that pull out several feet farther than is considered polite.
I just keep weaving around the nose of their vehicle and Honk Loudly. 
Does anyone take Drivers ED anymore?

[Overstreet]

I'm currently thinking about driving to Alaska next summer.