Data from the Federal Highway Administration shows Americans drove 3.5 billion or 1.4% fewer miles in March than they did during the corresponding period in 2010.

The FHA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation, reported that based on preliminary reports from the State Highways Agencies, U.S. drivers traveled an estimated 250.4 billion miles in March. This total includes 80.7 billion vehicle miles on rural roads and 169.7 billion miles on urban roads and streets.

Cumulative travel thus far for 2011 is estimated at 688.9 billion VMT, a decrease of 800 million miles or 0.1% from the comparable 2010 period.

In the U.S. North-East region, total miles traveled during the month reviewed fell 1.5% versus the year prior to 36.9 billion miles. In the South-Atlantic, VMT totaled 56.1 billion miles, a decline of 0.7% from March 2010 levels, while VMT in the West dropped 2.6% on the year to 52.7 billion miles.

The North-Central region registered a 1.9% loss in VMT from the year prior to 55.0 billion miles, while the South-Gulf region VMT was unchanged versus March 2010 at 49.7 billion miles.