Drive Alone to Work - Female in United States
United States
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United States Value:
66.9%
Percentage of female workers age 16 and older who drive alone to work
Drive Alone to Work - Female in depth:
Additional Measures:
Appears In:
Drive Alone to Work - Female by State
Percentage of female workers age 16 and older who drive alone to work
Drive Alone to Work - Female in
Data from U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2022
<= 63.5%
63.6% - 68.1%
68.2% - 71.8%
71.9% - 74.6%
>= 74.7%
Drive Alone to Work - Female: Female
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2022
About Drive Alone to Work - Female
US Value: 67.3%
Top State(s): New York: 46.4%
Bottom State(s): Alabama, Mississippi: 78.3%
Definition: Percentage of female workers age 16 and older who drive alone to work
Data Source and Years(s): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2023
Suggested Citation: America's Health Rankings analysis of U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, United Health Foundation, AmericasHealthRankings.org, accessed 2024.
Commuting is a daily necessity for many people, and driving alone is the most common mode of transportation to work in the United States. Environmental and individual health concerns are associated with driving: Motor vehicles contribute to air pollution, noise pollution, and, in many cases, transportation congestion. Congestion, common in large cities, creates concentrated air and noise pollution areas that disproportionately affect those of lower socioeconomic status. Long commutes can also increase the risk of high blood pressure, obesity and physical inactivity.
After housing expenses, vehicle maintenance (including purchasing, upkeep and operation) represents the second-largest expenditure for the average American household. By using public transportation and reducing the number of privately owned vehicles, a household can save about $13,000 a year. Additionally, switching from driving alone to using public transit to commute can reduce an individual's CO2 emissions by 20 pounds per day, more than 48,000 pounds per year. However, 45% of Americans have no access to public transportation, creating a gap in mobility and access. Studies have shown that improved public transportation access can increase employment opportunities, expand overall economic activity and decrease the amount of money households spend on transportation.
According to the American Driving Survey, populations that spend more time driving include:
- Non-Hispanic white drivers.
- Those with a bachelor’s degree or higher. The proportion of respondents who report driving at least occasionally increases with each level of education.
- Married couples or cohabiting partners compared with single adults.
- Adults living in the Midwest compared with those in other regions. The proportion of respondents who reported driving at least occasionally was lowest in the Northeast, but was still 90%.
Strategies to promote modes of transportation other than driving, particularly driving alone, include:
- Building pedestrian- and cycling-friendly infrastructure.
- Increasing access and reducing the distance to public transportation.
- Encouraging local health departments and health care providers to raise awareness of the health issues associated with driving alone.
- Expanding telecommuting and flexible/remote work options for employees wherever possible.
Healthy People 2030 has an objective to increase the percentage of trips to work made by mass transit.
Giles-Corti, Billie, Anne Vernez-Moudon, Rodrigo Reis, Gavin Turrell, Andrew L. Dannenberg, Hannah Badland, Sarah Foster, et al. “City Planning and Population Health: A Global Challenge.” The Lancet 388, no. 10062 (December 2016): 2912–24. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(16)30066-6.
Henning-Smith, Carrie, Katy Kozhimannil, and Alex Evenson. “Addressing Commuting as a Public Health Issue: Strategies Should Differ by Rurality.” Policy Brief. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center, July 2018. https://rhrc.umn.edu/publication/addressing-commuting-as-a-public-health-issue-strategies-should-differ-by-rurality/.
Hoehner, Christine M., Carolyn E. Barlow, Peg Allen, and Mario Schootman. “Commuting Distance, Cardiorespiratory Fitness, and Metabolic Risk.” American Journal of Preventive Medicine 42, no. 6 (June 2012): 571–78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2012.02.020.
Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark J. “Urban and Transport Planning, Environmental Exposures and Health-New Concepts, Methods and Tools to Improve Health in Cities.” Environmental Health 15 (December 2016): S38. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-016-0108-1.
Steinbach, Rebecca, and Brian C. Tefft. “American Driving Survey: 2022.” Research Brief. Washington, D.C.: AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, 2023. https://aaafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/202309_2022-AAAFTS-American-Driving-Survey-Brief_v3.pdf.
van Schalkwyk, M. C. I., and J. S. Mindell. “Current Issues in the Impacts of Transport on Health.” British Medical Bulletin 125, no. 1 (March 1, 2018): 67–77. https://doi.org/10.1093/bmb/ldx048.
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