Ray Charles may have told Jack to hit the road, but it seems everyone else did, too. The days of pandemic-empty streets are long gone. According to StreetLight Data, driving levels and traffic jams have not only bounced back but surpassed pre-COVID figures across most US metro areas. From 2019 to 2024, total vehicle miles traveled (VMT) in the US shot up 12%, reaching an all-time high.

• In New York City, daily VMT per capita spiked 14.7%, and traffic congestion rose by 1.8% — the highest jumps among the top 25 metro areas analyzed.
• Meanwhile, only 10 of the 100 largest metros managed to keep driving below 2019 levels, with Los Angeles seeing the biggest decline in average daily VMT at 17%.

Driving the change: The rise in VMT and congestion doesn’t just affect the environment — it also impacts the economy and our quality of life. While remote work initially seemed like a solution to reduce driving, Brookings Metro’s Adie Tomer warns, “A hybrid work environment, along with a general rise in telecommuting, could result in increased VMT.” To tackle this, local governments will need to focus on policies and urban planning that help cut down car use.