Fewer Americans on the road

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By The Associated Press

Story Published: Aug 13, 2008 at 8:49 AM MST

Story Updated: Aug 14, 2008 at 6:21 AM MST

WASHINGTON - The Federal Highway Administration says driving by Americans dropped sharply in June, just as the summer travel season was beginning.

Americans drove 12.2 billion fewer miles in June 2008 than they did in June of last year. That was the biggest monthly drop in a downward driving trend that began in November, as soaring gas prices started to pinch consumers. Overall, Americans drove 53.2 billion fewer miles November through June than they did over the same eight-month period a year earlier.

Some of the biggest declines in June compared with a year ago were in Western states with wide-open spaces: down 7.7% in Montana, 6.9% in Washington, 6.8% in Wyoming, and 6.7% in Nevada.

Also part of the trend were such popular vacation states as Maine, down 7%, and Florida, down 6%.

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