Despite the rise of remote work, electric scooters, and ride-hailing apps, the United States remains a nation obsessed with the automobile. On average, Americans drive over 13,000 miles per year, spending nearly an hour each day behind the wheel. The question is: why are we still driving so much?
Urban sprawl is a major culprit. Decades of car-centric city planning have created sprawling suburbs with long commutes and limited public transit. Outside a few major cities, walking or biking to work is often impractical. Even with telecommuting on the rise, many jobs still require a physical presence, and the infrastructure for alternative transportation lags far behind.
Psychological factors also play a role. The car symbolizes freedom, independence, and status. For many, the daily commute is a private bubble—a transition space between home and work. Changing that mindset is as challenging as changing infrastructure.
Add to that the entrenched interests of the auto and oil industries, which have lobbied for highways over public transit for decades. The result is a self-reinforcing cycle: more driving means more roads, which encourages more driving.
To break out of car dependency, the US would need a massive shift in investment, policy, and culture. Until then, we'll likely keep our hands on the wheel, wondering why we can't stop.