Vehicle sales are soaring well past manufacturers' expectations. A seasonally adjusted annual rate of 18 million is being predicted by some for 2000. In January, sales for cars totaled 625,704 and light truck sales reached 583,082.

And, although gasoline prices are averaging between $1.29 and $1.45 an unleaded gallon, people are driving an average of 12,000 to 13,500 miles a year depending on the formula used to determine vehicle miles traveled.

Females are doing more and more driving. Numbers show that females age 20 to 34 drove 12,001 miles in 1995 and are estimated to drive 12,884 in 2000. Females age 35 to 54 are increasing their road travel 8.8 percent, going from 11,463 miles in 1995 to an estimated 12,472 in 2,000. Women age 55 to 64 are also on the roads 8.1 percent more than previous years, spinning their wheels an average of 7,795 miles a year in 1995 and an estimated 8,426 miles in 2000.

Males age 35 to 54 drive the greatest number of miles annually, averaging 18,859 miles in 1995. This amount is estimated to decrease slightly this year to 18,847. Senior males age 65 and over showed the greatest overall increase in driving, increasing their 10,320 road miles in 1995 to an estimated 11,620 in 2000. That's a 12.6 percent increase.

As vehicle miles traveled increases, warranty life decreases and a greater number of consumers become patrons of professional independent repair shops.

Stat Corner is written by Denise Caspersen, ASA's research management specialist. She can be reached at (800) 272-7467, ext. 236.

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