Because gas is so expensive, we continue to drive less and even less. In June, North Carolinians drove an estimated 8.381 billion miles -- 477 million miles or 5.4 percent less than in June 2007.*
That's the eighth straight month that saw a drop in driving in North Carolina and across the country, according to the Federal Highway Administration.
Nationally, the June decline was estimated at 4.7 percent. From November through June, Americans drove 53.2 billion miles less than during the same eight-month period a year earlier.
Gas prices were still rising in June -- we hit the $4 mark in the middle of the month. As we drive less, we buy less gas and pay less state and federal gas tax.
Now that prices are dipping a bit in August, will we start joy-riding again -- and making separate runs to the store for every bunch of bananas and gallon of milk?
-- *corrected NC numbers posted at 9:55 am 8/14/8
Bruce Siceloff reports on traffic and transportation. A News & Observer reporter, editor and blogger since 1976, he took over the