Drive Less, Live More: How States Can Lead the Way in Climate-Smart Transportation

The report advocates for a strategic shift in US state transportation policy, moving away from highway expansion toward the reduction of vehicle miles traveled (VMT). It highlights that while vehicle electrification is progress, it is insufficient on its own to meet climate goals. RMI analysis suggests that a 20% reduction in per-capita VMT by 2050 could prevent 6,000 annual fatalities, save $259 billion in annual costs, and avoid 2.3 gigatons of carbon dioxide equivalent. The document urges states to utilize funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) for transit, micro-mobility, and 'complete streets' rather than projects that induce more traffic.

• A 20 percent reduction in national vehicle miles traveled (VMT) per capita by 2050 could result in significant safety, financial, and environmental gains, including the avoidance of 6,000 annual fatalities, $259 billion in annual vehicle fuel and maintenance costs, and 2.3 gigatons of carbon dioxide equivalent.
• Transportation pollution remains high because efficiency gains in vehicles are partially offset by an increase in vehicle size and weight, a trend driven by policy loopholes for 'light' trucks and tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act that favor expensive electric SUVs.
• Despite the availability of federal funding through the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), many states continue to prioritize highway expansions that induce more traffic and fail to reduce pollution.
• Reducing VMT is essential for meeting climate targets even with high EV adoption; RMI finds that the US would still require a 20 percent reduction in per-capita VMT to meet these targets even if 70 million electric vehicles were on the road by 2030.
• Investing in pedestrian and biking infrastructure provides high economic returns; a report by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) indicates that every dollar spent on such infrastructure adds $5.20 in value to the regional economy.

APA

RMI (2024). Drive Less, Live More: How States Can Lead the Way in Climate-Smart Transportation. https://rmi.org/resources/drive-less-live-more-how-states-can-lead-the-way-in-climate-smart-transportation/

Chicago

RMI. Drive Less, Live More: How States Can Lead the Way in Climate-Smart Transportation. 2024. https://rmi.org/resources/drive-less-live-more-how-states-can-lead-the-way-in-climate-smart-transportation/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=RMI |title=Drive Less, Live More: How States Can Lead the Way in Climate-Smart Transportation |date=8 January 2024 |url=https://rmi.org/resources/drive-less-live-more-how-states-can-lead-the-way-in-climate-smart-transportation/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rmi2024drive, author = {{RMI}}, title = {{Drive Less, Live More: How States Can Lead the Way in Climate-Smart Transportation}}, institution = {RMI}, year = {2024}, month = jan, url = {https://rmi.org/resources/drive-less-live-more-how-states-can-lead-the-way-in-climate-smart-transportation/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }