Quarantine Saved US Drivers $22B — And Saved Society Far More
A massive shift to remote work during national COVID-19 lockdowns saved commuters as much as $22 billion in direct commuting costs — and it saved society nearly as much money in avoided car crashes and carbon outputs. But that's only the tip of the iceberg.
By
Kea Wilson
5:30 PM CDT on September 11, 2020
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