Cheap gas prices along with a strong economy are encouraging motorists to drive more and traffic on U.S. roads is now growing at the fastest rate since 1997, according to data from the Federal Highway Administration.
The increase in traffic volume means U.S. roadways must handle more vehicles on the road and now larger vehicles. The low price of gasoline has increased consumption and more motorists are now opting for light trucks, including SUVs and crossover utility vehicles.
Traffic volume was up 3.4 percent in September compared with the same month a year earlier after seasonal adjustments. U.S. motorists drove 3.12 trillion miles in the 12 months ending in September 2015, an increase of 3.4 percent from the same period ending September 2014.
