Our Nation's Highways: 2008

Figure 4-6. Start Time for Trips by Purpose

National data on travel by U.S. households shows that peak commute periods also include high levels of non-work travel for purposes such as family and personal, school and church, and social activities. Including trips by all modes of transportation, the number of non-work trips occurring in midday actually exceeds the number of commuting trips in peak travel periods. As most of the trips throughout the midday are local, short trips, they potentially have a greater impact on energy use and air quality than on highway congestion.

Data represented in the inset chart
Table in Excel format

Data Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Office of Highway Policy Information, National Household Travel Survey.