When compiling data on the average amount number of miles driven per year, the states of California, Utah, Kansas, and New Jersey deploy different procedures, different ways of calculating and estimating the metric, and different methods of reporting the data. Does that matter when making comparisons between the states? When compiling data on the average amount number of miles driven per year, the states of California, Utah, Kansas, and New Jersey deploy different procedures, different ways of calculating and estimating the metric, and different methods of reporting the data. Does that matter when making comparisons between the states? Maybe - it depends on the type of comparisons being made with the data. Yes - it will always matter regardless of the type of comparisons being made with the data. Yes - it will matter because the states are each in a different time zone. No - it will never matter regardless of the type of comparisons being made with the data