Source: Texas Transport Institute.

Factors Contributing to the Growth of Driving in the United States

A set of factors have converged to explain the growth of the usage of the automobile in the United States:

• Demographic increase is a straightforward factor as the more people the more potential drivers.
• The increase in trip length as well as the number of trips often relates to suburbanization as people living in suburbs are more likely to have longer trips.
• A decrease in vehicle occupancy is commonly linked with limited opportunities for car pooling and trip chaining.
• In view of limited alternatives or the low convenience of public transit, many will switch to driving.

Similar factors apply in other countries, but proportions would be different.