There may be a common perception that Americans love to hit the open road, but in 2011 that was certainly not the case. Recently-released statistics from the government show that travel on U.S. roads reached its lowest point since 2003, as fears of high gas prices and a struggling economy led drivers to keep their cars in their garages, The Detroit News reports.

The final figures from the Federal Highway Administration  came out to about 2.963 trillion total miles driven in 2011. No small figure, to be sure, but it marks a 1.2 percent decrease from 2010 – or about 35.7 billion fewer miles. While 2011 may have been a down year, there is reason to think American motorists may be more likely to drive in 2012.

Despite an overall downward trend, drivers actually showed a growing tendency to drive in December 2011 compared to 2010. According to the newspaper, Americans drove 3.2 billion more miles in the final month this year compared to last year. That, coupled with a seemingly-improving economy, could point to a more mobile population.

Though the economy may be improving, it hasn't changed drivers' likelihood of holding on to cars longer than ever before. A recent Polk survey found that the average length of car ownership is around six years, a 23 percent increase compared to the third quarter of 2008.

If you're planning on driving a lot more in 2012, you may want to consider buying a fuel-efficient used car from New Jersey State Auto Auction. With a wide variety of makes and models, from the Ford Fusion to the Chevrolet Cruze, there is something for everyone.