Americans Back on the Road — And It’s Starting to Feel Like Pre-pandemic Again

The modern American’s driving habits have a distinctly familiar feel.

That’s based on data from the 2025 Arity Annual Driving Behavior Report, which analyzes more than 2 trillion miles of driving data, revealing new driving trends that affect safety, business, and city planning.

The analysis, based on telematics data from 45 million vehicles, shows that after years of pandemic disruptions, driving habits for many people are shifting in response to new work patterns, extreme weather, and growing comfort with new driving technologies.

Arity found the average person’s trip length and duration increased steadily through 2024 and early 2025. Even with hybrid work, Americans spent more time on the road, especially during morning rush hour.

But longer trips don’t mean safer roads, and sudden acceleration rates rose sharply in 2025 as stop-and-go congestion began returning to pre-pandemic levels.

On the bright side, distracted driving trended down to 2022–2023 levels after spiking in 2024. Arity defines distraction as phone use at speeds over 10 mph.

Analysts credited safety campaigns, insurance incentives, stricter enforcement in some states, and a growing familiarity with built-in auto technology.

Return-to-office mandates reshape traffic

Return-to-office (RTO) mandates produced the most striking behavioral change. Arity’s analysis shows morning rush-hour traffic hit a three-year high in 2025. At the same time, afternoon commutes became more staggered and flexible.

The report highlights that while the morning commute has resumed familiar patterns, the afternoon commute now reflects greater flexibility. Employees start work at conventional times but leave the office at various intervals.

Seattle, a technology hub, shows this shift clearly. Thursday is now the busiest commuting day, as many hybrid workers stay home Mondays and Fridays to extend weekends.

Nature’s stress tests: Hurricanes and wildfires

Arity’s researchers studied how natural disasters affect mobility. They analyzed Hurricane Helene in Florida and the January 2025 Palisades wildfire in Los Angeles.

In Tampa, despite evacuation orders, drivers seemed unfazed. Trip volume dipped only modestly before landfall, and gridlock was limited. Hyperlocal trip volume rose 30% two days pre-storm — likely for groceries and fuel — then plummeted 64% during the storm. But traffic returned to normal shortly after the storm had passed. “Many people chose not to evacuate despite the order,” Arity noted.

In Los Angeles, drivers responded instantly and anxiously to wildfire evacuation notices on Jan. 7. Average speeds fell 23%, hard braking rose 25%, and phone use increased 29% as 230,000 people fled. Data shows clogged roads, erratic behavior, and high stress.

Even residents outside the evacuation zone had slower traffic and longer trips for weeks. This shows a regional event can have ripple effects beyond its epicenter.

What’s next? Implications for insurers and city planners

Arity, part of the Allstate Corporation, captures more than 1 billion miles daily, allowing insurers, companies, and governments to act on behavioral insights.

“Mobility data is valuable when it leads to action,” Arity said in the report. “By predicting congestion before storms, pricing insurance fairly, or targeting hungry commuters in the moment, those who act on data shape the road ahead.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​”

Insurers use this data for precise pricing of their insurance premiums and scoring drivers’ risk potential. By spotting risky behavior like hard braking or distraction as it happens, insurers fine-tune underwriting and claims strategies. For policyholders, the hope is that price quotes will better match their real, inherent risk.

Cities and transportation agencies use mobility data to guide targeted safety investments and congestion management, as the data reveals when and where hazards are most likely. This, in turn, opens roadways and eases congestion that is once again climbing to pre-pandemic levels as RTOs take effect.

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