Urgently, the global mobility and roadside assistance platform, expects increased miles driven to propel year-over-year growth of mobility and roadside assistance volumes to as much as 130% this summer. The company has been closely tracking traffic volumes and mobility data by state throughout the pandemic and is forecasting miles driven to increase as pandemic restrictions lift and consumers take to the road for leisure travel.
Since bottoming out in April, 41% lower than historic averages, traffic returned to pre-pandemic volumes in early June, one week earlier than previously forecast. Based on current forecasts, Urgently expects traffic to continue to increase, reaching as much as 130% of historic volumes by mid-July.
To verify its internal data modelling, Urgently recently conducted the Summer 2020 Transportation & Travel Intentions Survey, which revealed:
- 1% of US drivers surveyed said they expect to increase use of their own car as stay-at-home orders lift and the economy reopens.
- 8% plan to decrease use of public transportation as they emerge from stay-at-home orders.
- 5% plan to travel for summer vacation or holiday weekends.
- Among those planning leisure travel this summer, 61% will take their own car; 22% will fly; 10% will rent a car; 4% will choose a ride hailing service; and 1% will travel by rail.
- 4% of respondents plan to travel at least 500 miles and 21% plan to travel at least 1,000 miles.
“All indications are that we will see a substantial increase in vehicular travel as the US economy opens, and beyond,” said Chris Spanos, CEO and cofounder, Urgently. “As the number of miles driven increases, Urgently is well positioned to anticipate and respond to the needs of our current and future partners and their customers.”
This article courtesy of Russell Thrall III, publisher CollisionWeek. Check out their website at: www.collisionweek.com.