U.S. Vehicle Miles Traveled Fell 1.2% in March

U.S. motorists drove 1.2% fewer miles in March than a year earlier, the Federal Highway Administration said Wednesday.

Vehicle miles traveled fell by 3.1 billion from the same month last year to 245.1 billion, the agency said in a report on its Web site.

Travel declines have corresponded with the U.S. recession that started in December 2007, which has led to reduced leisure and commuting travel, Bloomberg reported.

VMT in the South-Atlantic region fell 3.4%, while travel in the West fell 3.2%. Miles rose by less than 1% in the Northeast, North Central and South Gulf regions, FHWA said.

FHWA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation.