Americans are Spending More Hours Driving, New Report Finds
According to the American Automobile Associationʻs American Driving Survey, Americans spend an additional 20 minutes driving each week compared to 2014. The survey also states that Americans are now collectively spending 70 billion hours a year behind the wheel, an 8% rise from four years ago.
“The more time drivers spend behind the wheel, the greater their exposure to risks on the roadway,” AAA director Dr. David Yang said. “Longer time behind the wheel could lead to issues such as fatigue, distraction, and impatience for drivers, which are all contributing factors for vehicle crashes. Drivers need to stay alert and focused on the key task at hand, driving. This can save your life and the lives of your passengers and people with whom you share the road.”
The survey also shows that on average, US drivers spend nearly an hour behind the wheel each day and travel 31.5 miles, a 5% increase since 2014.
“There are several factors contributing to the increases, including higher vehicle ownership, lower gas prices and aging highway infrastructure, which can contribute to more traffic delays,” AAA Hawaiʻi general manager Liane Sumida said.
The AAA conducts the survey to analyze trends in Americans’ driving habits. The survey data are from a sample of 11,804 drivers who provided information on randomly selected days between Jan. 1, 2014 and Dec. 31, 2017. The full American Driving Survey is available online.