This week, the Federal Highway Administration released its estimates of vehicle-miles traveled (VMT) on a state-by-state basis and broken down by type of road, for the month of May 2020. Total U.S. VMT was up 27 percent in May from April (the peak of coronavirus lockdowns and stay-home orders), but was still 26 percent below May 2019.

The April 2020 estimates showed variation in the levels of reduced VMT (from the April 2019 estimates) based on population density – the highest-density states like Connecticut and Maryland saw their VMT reduced by almost 50 percent from April 2019, while some low-density states were at 25 to 30 percent reduction (Wyoming and Arkansas were down 26.6 percent, Montana down 31.0 percent).

The May numbers show these divergences remaining steady as lockdowns eased and VMT increased from the previous month. Connecticut, Massachusetts, and the District of Columbia were down about 36 to 38 percent from May 2019, while Montana was only down 14 percent and Wyoming and Oklahoma were only down 16 percent.

There are also regional variations that defy density. Michigan and Georgia have almost identical population density (157 and 177 persons per square mile, respectively, in 2015), but their governors have chosen vastly different approaches to coronavirus. In May, Georgia’s VMT was down an estimated 23 percent versus May 2019, but Michigan’s VMT was down 36 percent from a year ago.