Driving in America Is Approaching a 'New Normal'

The Federal Highway Administration recently released U.S. driving data for 2014, and at first glance the numbers call into question the whole notion that America has reached "peak car." Total vehicle miles traveled were up 1.7 percent on the year—surging 2.5 percent in the second half of the year. U.S. driving closed 2014 within a bumper's length of the all-time high reached in 2007, and appears to be trending up.

It's not hard to account for the latest driving spike. The economy has rebounded, gas prices have plunged, and car-reliant suburbs have grown at a faster pace than city centers in some metros. More jobs is great, but that also means more commuters, and the overwhelming majority of Americans still drives to work, whether it's the most convenient travel option or the only one.