Goals > Vehicle Miles Traveled

Vehicle Miles Traveled

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Photo: Flickr/ Alan Levine
Vehicle miles traveled (VMT, or vehicle kilometers traveled, VKT) is a measure how much an individual or household drives by a private vehicle. Reducing VMT offers many potential benefits:
  • Reduced greenhouse emissions, which contributes to climate change, and reduced air pollution, which contributes to respiratory and cardiovascular disease.
  • If people walk, cycle, or take transit instead of driving, the increase in physical activity reduces the risk of chronic disease.
  • With less space dedicated to vehicles (roadways and parking), public spaces could be used for other purposes, such as greenspaces or housing.
  • In addition, residents may have more social interaction if traffic volumes decrease and/or people walk or bicycle more frequently. 

Proven Strategies

Equity and Inclusion

Reducing VMT also reduces exposure to crashes and reduces the risk of injury and death, particularly for pedestrians who are overrepresented in traffic fatalities and injuries. Building auto-centric environments burdens low-income households with "forced" car ownership. Yet many low-income households currently need a car because they live far from employment or other essential destinations. For example, many low-income women are more likely to commute during off-peak travel hours and incorporate household errands into their commute, making transit infeasible (Blumenberg, 2016). Solutions intended to reduce VMT should also consider the travel needs of low-income households.

Implementation Guidance

Guides & Reports
VMT per capita (Transportation and Health Tool)




US Department of Transportation, 2015
Research Reports & Briefs
Tools
Impact of VMT reduction strategies on selected areas and groups


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Washington State Department of Transportation, 2010
Increasing highway capacity unlikely to relieve traffic congestion



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National Center for Sustainable Transportation, 2015​​
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