Americans Spend an Average of 17,600 Minutes Driving Each Year

By Anderson, Cummings & Drawhorn, LLP on October 06, 2016

cars in traffic

Spending a lot of time behind the wheel increases your risk of getting into a car accident. That is why the new survey from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety should serve as a wake-up call to all Americans who drive.

The American Driving Survey found that Americans drive for more than 17,600 minutes, or 290 hours, each year, the equivalent of seven 40-hour work weeks. Americans travel roughly 10,900 miles in those 290 hours.

Other findings from the AAA survey include:

  • Those between the ages of 30 and 49 drive more than any other age group, with approximately 13,506 miles driven each year.
  • Those who live in rural areas drive more than those who live directly in cities or towns, but only by 3,000 miles on average.
  • More than 50 percent of miles driven by Americans was done in cars, while 20 percent was done in SUV’s, 17 percent was done in pickup trucks and 7.9 percent was done in vans.
  • Compared to men, women are 24 percent more likely to have a passenger in their vehicle on any given road trip.
  • More than 86 percent of households have at least one car for every driver in the home. Some homes (28 percent) report having more cars than drivers.
  • Americans spend the most time driving in the fall and the least in the winter.
  • More than two-thirds of driving trips are done without a passenger in the vehicle.

This is the second year the AAA foundation has conducted The American Driving Survey. This year’s survey consisted of responses from 5,774 drivers who provided information about how much time they spend on the road.

The survey shows that there is a high risk of getting into an accident on American roads. Fortunately, victims of these crashes may be entitled to compensation for the damages they have suffered.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a car crash, contact a Fort Worth auto accident attorney at our law firm today, to discuss your options.

Call (817) 920-9000 or chat live with a legal representative.

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This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive guidelines. This page was approved by attorney Seth Anderson, whose team has more than 50 years of combined legal experience in helping victims of personal injury seek justice.

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