Canadians driving less, driving smaller
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Canadians drove passenger vehicles (weighing 4.5 tonnes or less) a total of 294.4 billion kilometres in 2008, down 5.8 billion kilometres from 2007 and the first decline in the number of kilometres driven since 2004.
Smaller fuel-efficient body styles gained popularity. From 2007 to 2008, the number of small cars and station wagons increased by 5.0% and the number of larger vehicles (vans, sport utility vehicles and pickups) dropped by 1.3%.
The average distance travelled per vehicle in Canada increased slightly for small cars, whereas larger vehicles travelled 9.0% less.
Manitoba's drivers reduced their distance travelled the most with a decline of 18.1% from 2007, followed by Prince Edward Island, at 11.7%, and Nova Scotia, at 11.3%. Newfoundland and Labrador was the sole province where average distance driven increased, with 21.4% more kilometres travelled.
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