Traffic Predict
Are Gas Prices Making Us Drive Less?
Only a little. Since 1991, each 10% rise in gas prices went with 0.13% less driving than a year earlier, on average (a weak link: correlation -0.13).
In the 79 months when gas cost at least 20% more than a year before, Americans still drove 0.7% more miles than a year earlier, against 1.6% more in ordinary months and 1.8% more when gas was at least 10% cheaper. Higher prices trim the growth in driving, but people still have to get to work.
Latest: in August 2026 Americans drove 294.1 billion miles, 0.6% fewer than a year earlier, with regular gas averaging $4.06 (+30% on the year).
Miles driven and gas prices, year over year
Year by year
| Year | Miles driven | Change | Average gas price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 3.01 trillion | +0.8% | $2.57 |
| 2007 | 3.03 trillion | +0.5% | $2.80 |
| 2008 | 2.97 trillion | -1.9% | $3.25 |
| 2009 | 2.96 trillion | -0.6% | $2.34 |
| 2010 | 2.97 trillion | +0.4% | $2.78 |
| 2011 | 2.95 trillion | -0.6% | $3.52 |
| 2012 | 2.97 trillion | +0.6% | $3.62 |
| 2013 | 2.99 trillion | +0.7% | $3.51 |
| 2014 | 3.03 trillion | +1.3% | $3.36 |
| 2015 | 3.10 trillion | +2.3% | $2.42 |
| 2016 | 3.17 trillion | +2.6% | $2.15 |
| 2017 | 3.21 trillion | +1.2% | $2.42 |
| 2018 | 3.24 trillion | +0.9% | $2.72 |
| 2019 | 3.26 trillion | +0.7% | $2.60 |
| 2020 | 2.90 trillion | -11.0% | $2.17 |
| 2021 | 3.14 trillion | +8.1% | $3.00 |
| 2022 | 3.20 trillion | +1.8% | $3.96 |
| 2023 | 3.25 trillion | +1.6% | $3.52 |
| 2024 | 3.29 trillion | +1.5% | $3.31 |
| 2025 | 3.32 trillion | +0.9% | $3.10 |
By city
Our own road sensors show how freeway traffic in each city changed next to its local gas prices and unemployment:
- Orange County: In October 2026, weekday freeway traffic in Orange County was 5.5% lower than a year earlier.
- Inland Empire: In October 2026, weekday freeway traffic in the Inland Empire was 9.2% lower than a year earlier.
- Los Angeles: In August 2026, weekday freeway traffic in Los Angeles was about the same as a year earlier, with gas at $5.62 a gallon (+25% on the year) and unemployment at 4.7% (-0.7 points).
- San Diego: In October 2026, weekday freeway traffic in San Diego was about the same as a year earlier.
- Bay Area: In October 2026, weekday freeway traffic in the San Francisco Bay Area was 1.6% higher than a year earlier.
- Sacramento: In October 2026, weekday freeway traffic in Sacramento was 0.9% higher than a year earlier, with gas at $5.73 a gallon (+37% on the year).
- Fresno: In October 2026, weekday freeway traffic in Fresno was 6.1% higher than a year earlier, with gas at $5.73 a gallon (+37% on the year).
- Bakersfield: In October 2026, weekday freeway traffic in Bakersfield was about the same as a year earlier, with gas at $5.73 a gallon (+37% on the year).
How this is measured
Miles driven: Federal Highway Administration, Traffic Volume Trends (monthly vehicle-miles on all U.S. public roads, from thousands of permanent counters). Gas: U.S. Energy Information Administration weekly average for regular gasoline, averaged by month, not adjusted for inflation. Each month is compared with the same month a year earlier, so seasons cancel out. The pandemic months (March 2020 through 2021) are left out of the statistics. Data via FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.