Dateline: April 2005

At an nationwide average drive-time of about 24.3 minutes, Americans now spend more than 100 hours a year commuting to work, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey. Yes, that's more than the average two weeks of vacation time (80 hours) taken by many workers during a year.

“This annual information on commuters and their work trips and other transportation-related data will help local, regional and state agencies maintain, improve, plan and develop the nation’s transportation systems,” said Census Bureau Director Louis Kincannon in a press release. “American Community Survey data will provide valuable assistance to agencies offering housing, education and other public services as well.”