Delawareans drive more miles in 2009
Monday, August 24th, 2009
By: Megan Pinto
mpinto@whyy.org
In June of 2009, Delaware drivers drove a total of 19 million more miles than in June of the previous year, according to the latest federal highway data. This is the second consecutive month which shows Delawareans driving more than the same period last year.
AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesperson Cathy Rossi says she attributes the state's 2.1 percent jump to an increase in summer travel. "People spend more leisure time on the road during the summer," Rossi said in a statement released today, "And the June increase in vehicle miles traveled numbers reflects that"
The Federal Highway Administration is seeing these kinds of increases nationwide. This June, most states posted increases in total numbers of vehicle miles traveled, while only four states posted decreases. Pennsylvania and Maryland were among the majority of states reporting a spike in driving.
Nationally, Americans posted a two percent increase of nearly 5 billion more vehicle miles traveled in 2009.