slngsht Posted June 18, 2008 Share Posted June 18, 2008 http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/06/18/driving.cutbacks/index.html WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Americans drove 1.4 billion fewer highway miles in April than they did in April 2007, the Department of Transportation said Wednesday. Americans have driven 20 billion fewer miles overall this year, the Transportation Department says. That marks the sixth consecutive monthly drop and coincides with record gas prices and an increase in transit ridership, Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said. April's drop is more than three times larger than the drop from March 2007 to March of this year, which was 400 million fewer highway miles. Peters said vehicle miles traveled on all public roads for April fell 1.8 percent from April 2007. Americans have driven nearly 20 billion fewer miles overall this year and nearly 30 billion fewer miles since November, the department said. Peters expressed concern that the cutbacks have resulted in the collection of fewer taxes on gasoline. Such taxes are funneled to the federal Highway Trust Fund, which gets 18.4 cents per gallon from gasoline and 24.4 cents per gallon from diesel fuel. "History shows that we're going to continue to see congested roads while gas tax revenues decline even further," she said. In addition to driving less, Americans are buying smaller vehicles. Peters said sales of midsize SUV dropped 38 percent last month compared with May of last year as Americans increasingly choose to drive cars, the department said hmmm... so Mary Peters claims despite people driving less and using more mass transit, the traffic situation will continue to worsen and we will need more tax revenue. I wonder which "History" of sustained vehicle miles traveled she is referring to. 70's perhaps?? I'm sure the solution is always to raise taxes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjslutz Posted June 19, 2008 Share Posted June 19, 2008 Many citys are raising the cost of a speeding ticket to help recover the gas costs of the local crime fighters (speed enforcement). Now the talk of nationalizing the oil companies, what is happening to us in the USA? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowss7 Posted June 19, 2008 Share Posted June 19, 2008 Alright Gary, which way is Ohio going? I think Pa is going to reverse course and go for McCain. Tell me which way you think Ohio is leaning. (do it before they lock this thread):leaving: Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slngsht Posted June 19, 2008 Author Share Posted June 19, 2008 Alright Gary, which way is Ohio going? I think Pa is going to reverse course and go for McCain. Tell me which way you think Ohio is leaning. (do it before they lock this thread):leaving: Tom No need to lock the thread as long as the discussion stays civil and rational. :thumbs: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowss7 Posted June 19, 2008 Share Posted June 19, 2008 :flag: :flag: :flag: God Bless America! (and Mazda) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mondo Posted June 19, 2008 Share Posted June 19, 2008 I don't see how they would need to raise gas tax as it's a percentage of the cost (not amount of gas purchased).... with the current prices, they should be having a similar "windfall" as profits from oil companies.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winston Posted June 19, 2008 Share Posted June 19, 2008 I don't see how they would need to raise gas tax as it's a percentage of the cost (not amount of gas purchased).... with the current prices, they should be having a similar "windfall" as profits from oil companies.... Not true, federal gas taxes are a flat rate per gallon -- not a percentage. Some states have a flat rate tax per gallon, and some have it as percentage-based. Since the article refers to the federal highway funds, and Ms. Peters is the U.S. Transportation secretary, her comment regarding reduced (federal) highway funds from taxes is a valid one if gasoline consumption drops. Not so sure about the increased congestion comment, however. (Although I can see a scenario where the total number of cars on the road continues to increase, but each car burns less gas gasoline per mile, and therefore your federal highway funds are fewer on a $ per car basis.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjslutz Posted June 19, 2008 Share Posted June 19, 2008 I sure don't know what all of Ohio thinks, but I run with a very right leaning crowd. That being said, our new Dem. Gov. is doing a much better job than our last Rep Gov. he replaced, all of my friends share this view. Speaking of "change", I hope Pa. & Ohio can all go for McCain, even though we are not close to being 100% happy with some of his views. We don't live in a perfect country, but I think it is the best place to live in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobDrye Posted June 19, 2008 Share Posted June 19, 2008 I spent Monday thru Wednesday in Long Island, NY running cars on a dine checking fuel consumption. If people would just inflate their tires, replace filters and do a little PM it would make a great difference. :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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