Holiday weekend to see spike in motorists

— -- Americans will get behind the wheel this Labor Day weekend for what AAA forecasts will be the biggest travel holiday of the year — another sign of economic recovery.

Even though the holiday is late this year and many students are back in school, more miles will be driven than over the traditionally busier July 4th holiday, the auto club forecasts.

"That's unusual," says AAA's Geoff Sundstrom. "It bodes well for the economy."

Despite the upturn, it could be a while before motorists hit the road the way they did before the recession curbed their driving. In the 12 months that ended in June, Americans drove 4% fewer miles than in the year that ended in November 2007, when driving peaked. That was the biggest drop in three decades since gas prices soared during the Iranian oil crisis and a recession followed.

The decrease of nearly 10 billion miles a month would be the equivalent of 8 million to 10 million drivers locking their cars in the garage, based on average mileage figures compiled by the federal government. Many of those who stayed home had stopped their daily commutes when they lost their jobs. Others cut back through ride-sharing, online shopping and consolidating errands, government reports show.

Unlike most years, when families with children were the most likely to get away for one last summer vacation, traffic this week will be dominated by solo travelers and couples, Sundstrom says.

The number of miles driven in the recession may have bottomed out in March, according to Federal Highway Administration data. April showed the first uptick in driving in 18 months, and motorists drove slightly more miles in May over the same month in 2008. In June, the latest month for which data are available, travel on roads increased 2% to nearly 257 billion vehicle-miles.

Ed McMahon of the Urban Land Institute, a research group that studies development, says that despite a "fundamental shift in American driving habits" toward mass transit and shorter commutes, more motorists will be on the road in the short term.