If you live in New York State, there’s a good chance you’ve complained at least once today about being stuck in traffic, circling for parking, or racing from one end of town to the other. Between work, errands, appointments, and school drop-offs, it feels like we practically live behind the wheel. But here’s the twist… we actually don’t.
New Yorkers Drives Less Than Any Other State
According to a new report, New York ranks #1 for the shortest distance traveled by drivers. We are the only state in the entire country where people drive less than 10,000 miles per year on average. So while it may feel like we’re constantly on the road, the numbers say otherwise. Compared to everyone else, New Yorkers barely put any miles on the odometer.
New York Isn’t Lacking Drivers, Just Long Drives
Now, don’t get it twisted, we’re not short on licensed drivers. New York has 12,314,191 registered drivers. That’s more than most states! Only California, Texas, and Florida have more than 15 million licensed drivers, which means there are still plenty of us hitting the road here, just not as far or as often as we think.
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Why New Yorkers Don’t Need to Drive as Much
The report makes it clear: driving habits aren’t the same everywhere. In states with little to no public transportation, residents have no choice but to rack up the miles. But here in New York? Whether you’re in the city hopping on the subway, in the suburbs sharing rides, or in rural areas planning your trips more efficiently, we’re just not doing the long haul daily driving like other states.
New York Driving Isn’t Long, It’s Just Intense
Maybe it’s not the mileage, maybe it’s the mental load. Ten minutes in New York traffic can feel like an hour anywhere else. Or maybe it’s because even if we drive less, we multitask more, rushing through crowded streets, dodging pedestrians, timing lights, and squeezing into parking spots designed during the horse and buggy era.
So the next time you sigh and say, “I feel like I’ve been in the car all day,” remember that statistically, you probably haven’t. We’re not road warriors, we’re strategic drivers. We get where we need to go, we do it quickly, and then we get out. And that’s the most New York thing ever.
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