Like most of you, I recently compiled information for my taxes. And, like most of you, I dread doing it.
As part of the process, I gathered documentation on the business miles I drove in the past year, as well as the personal miles. I seem to average about 14,400 miles total per year. That’s a bit more than the average American, who drives 13,476 per year, according to lookupaplate.com. I use a vehicle quite extensively for work purposes, as I drive between our two offices frequently. But, apparently, others are driving nearly as much for a variety of reasons.
Although I put the pedal to the metal between our offices, my commute from home is quite short — less than 10 minutes. Meanwhile, the average driver is behind the wheel for up to 55 minutes per day. That’s almost an hour. On the road. Every day. Add it up, and that’s two weeks of drive time. Yikes.
Most of you would guess that men drive more than women. And, most of you would be correct. How much more? According to the same data set, men drive an average of 6,000 more miles per year than women. Don't tell my wife, as I actually prefer to have her drive.
Do you ever wonder how many combined miles Americans drive each year? Inquiring minds want to know, and I found the answer — 3.26 trillion miles per year. Trillions sound like a lot, but 3.26 is only about 10% of our national debt, which also sounds like a lot. Meanwhile, the number of miles Americans drive is expected to increase by 22% by 2049. Let’s hope our national debt doesn’t do the same.
Apparently, where you live has a lot to do with how many miles you drive, and the answer may not be what you are thinking. The state with drivers who rack up the most miles? It’s Wyoming, averaging 24,069 miles per driver each year. The question is, are Wyoming residents coming or going? My friend Alan always says, “Take your time going but hurry back.” That must be Wyoming’s state motto.
The state with the lowest average miles driven? Well, it’s not really a state, but Washington, D.C. is the answer, averaging 7,013 miles per driver each year. They have nowhere to go, apparently.
Is age a factor? Absolutely. Those ages 35-54 drive more than any other age group, averaging 15,291 each year. Throw the male vs. female aspect in with age, and it gets even more interesting. Men ages 35-54 drive the most, while females ages 65 or older drive the least.
And 65-year-old women from Wyoming who are concerned about the national debt? You don’t want to know.
Have a great week, and thanks for reading.
Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305 |
