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Drop In Driving A Record For U.S.

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By RICH SHOPES | The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 27, 2008

Americans are curbing their driving at a historic rate as gas prices reach new highs.

A study by the U.S. Department of Transportation shows the sharpest decline ever for March.

As compared with the same month a year ago, U.S. motorists drove 11 billion fewer miles.

That 4.3 percent decline was the sharpest year-to-year drop for any month since the agency started reporting on estimated travel in 1942.

On Monday, the nationwide average for a gallon of regular hit $3.937. That's about the same in Florida, which marked $3.935 a gallon Tuesday.

"I think the data shows that driving behavior is a function of price," AAA's Gregg Laskoski said. "The longer we see rising gas prices the more likely we will see Americans trying to reduce their discretionary travels."

Pockets of the state have already strayed into $4-a-gallon territory, according to AAA.

Over the weekend, West Palm Beach-Boca Raton averaged $4.034 a gallon for regular, Miami hit $4.015 and Gainesville recorded an average of $4.009.

Some Tampa-area stations eclipsed $4 a gallon Tuesday, but the average for Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater stuck to $3.865.

The DOT's Federal Highway Administration, which conducted the study, said Americans started curbing their driving in November of last year and that Floridians have been hitting the road less frequently since September.

Except for one month – December – Florida motorists have driven fewer miles than drivers nationally.

Laskoski said one reason might be that seniors on fixed incomes are staying home or making fewer long trips to save gas.

Another could be that drivers of all stripes are curbing weekend trips, consolidating their errands and, in general, looking to spend less time in the car and at the pump, he said.

"We've got a winning baseball team in Tampa Bay and they have the best record in baseball … but they're still not filling that stadium. I can't help but think that [gas prices] is part of this reason," he said.

Reporter Rich Shopes can be reached at (813) 259-7633 or rshopes@tampatrib.com.

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