Driving continues to decline as Americans change habits

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Americans drove 12.2 billion miles less in June from a year ago as high gasoline prices cut the number of highway miles traveled during the month by 4.7 percent, the U.S. Transportation Department said Wednesday.

Since last November, U.S. drivers have driven 53.2 billion fewer miles than they did over the same period a year earlier, topping the 1970s total drop in U.S. miles traveled of 49.3 billion miles that was caused by several recessions and spikes in gasoline prices during the decade.

The downside for the government is less money to pay for highway projects and public transportation, which is funded by an 18.4 cent-per-gallon gasoline tax and a 24.4 cent-per-gallon diesel fuel tax.

"Advances in higher fuel-efficiency vehicles and alternative fuels are making the gas tax an even less sustainable support for funding roads, bridges and transit systems," said Transportation Secretary Mary Peters.

MY TAKE

The lower your fuel efficiency the more tax dollars the government receives ---did somebody just say conspiracy?