Vehicles excluding buses, motorcycles and construction equipment traveled some 54.5 billion miles during the third quarter of 2007, down 3.9 percent compared with the same quarter of 2006.

Among the provinces, drivers in Manitoba were the heaviest users of light vehicles, driving an average of 3,346 miles per vehicle. Drivers in British Columbia drove the least, at 2,075 miles per vehicle, Statistics Canada said.

Light vehicle fuel consumption was measured at 22.8 miles per gallon in the third quarter of 2007, and 22.2 miles per gallon in the third quarter of 2006, representing an improvement of 3 percent.

In an earlier report, the agency said consumer purchases of new and used motor vehicles were down a sharp 2.6 percent in the third quarter, and spending was also down on motor vehicle parts, repairs and motor fuels.