How Many Miles Does the Average Person Drive in the U.S.?
There’s nothing like hitting the open road when you know there’s not a care in the world. Your windows down, the wind hitting your face, the music blaring your favorite song, and the sunset shining through the rearview mirror. A guy can dream, can’t he?
The reality is, most people drive out of necessity: Commuting to and from work, running errands, visiting family and friends. But, regardless of the reasoning, there’s no denying the fact that U.S. drivers drive the most out of any other countries. That’s right, U.S. citizens hold the trophy for stacking on the most miles driven per year compared to any other country.
So, just how far do we drive each year?
U.S. Miles Traveled Compared to Other Countries
First, let’s take a look at recent global statistics to give this claim some context.
The Federal Highway Administration under the U.S. Department of Transportation has put out a semi-annual report dating back to 1997 which shows that the U.S. leads other first world countries in total “miles of travel” per year. Here’s a snapshot of the latest statistics, last modified May 31, 2022:
As we see, the U.S. leads the way when it comes to traveling and therefore putting on the miles. This typically results in more maintenance requirements, and naturally, more fuel consumption and subsequent environmental impacts.
Policy Advisor released a study showing some pretty alarming statistics, including the fact that U.S. citizens drive approximately 13,476 miles per year. That’s roughly 4,000 miles more per year than the next nation in the study, Canada, coming in at 9,562 miles.
Nonetheless, it’s pretty clear that the U.S. is obsessed with driving. While other nations lead the way in miles cycled, the U.S. is the clear leader in miles driven compared to other leading countries. Whether it’s business, pleasure, or necessity, the data suggests we won’t be slowing down anytime soon.
Sources
PolicyAdvice.net
https://policyadvice.net/insurance/insights/how-much-do-americans-drive/
Florida Highway Administration
https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ohim/onh00/bar4.htm