Driving habits (USA)?

Question

Question for anyone living in the US

In the city where I live, our gas prices are typically 5-10 cents above the national average. While the vast majority of people that I come into contact with do a great deal of complaining about high gas prices, it seems that relatively few people are actually doing anything other than just paying the higher prices, and complaining more.

The gas stations in my area are as busy as they were before the prices started to rise so drastically. There is certainly not a decrease in traffic, and I continue to see a large number of cars (and SUVs) with only a driver, and no passengers. There are not more pedestrians or bikes.

Is this the trend in other areas of the US? We love to complain about the high gas prices, but really we don't care enough to change our driving habits?

I don't mean to imply that NO ONE is changing their driving habits, because I'm sure that's not true. But I'm just curious if the trends I've noticed are unique to my area.

Answer 1

I live in the North Dallas area and I have not noticed any real change in the way people drive. There aren't any noticable increases in carpooling and people still drive like it is a life & death situation that they get to their destination within the next 10 seconds.

You're right in that people, in general, are driving less as it was just published that we (the USA) are using 1 million barrels less per day than we were a month ago when we were using over 20 million barrels a day.

Answer 2

My story is the exact same thing as yours. I live in a small rural setting so people have to drive to get where they are going. There is no public transportation. I know a lot of people are cutting there trips to the store and buying in quantity or we will call our family and friends and ride share. I do see more motorcycles on the road now but it is also summer time so that is to be expected here. I have slowed down by about 5 mph when driving to help conserve gas. I think people are cutting down in other ways in order to afford the gas. Eating out once a week is a luxury now and not at expensive restaurants. I can't bear the thought of filling my oil tank 5 times this coming winter.

Answer 3

Seems pretty much the same here in North Carolina. I still use my car to get around, but nowhere near as often. Bikes aren't really a viable option out here in the really rural areas. Me and my friends do carpool a lot more nowadays, and just split the gas bill evenly.

Answer 4

No Edik, that's everywhere.  I've noticed it too.  The problem is, many of us don't have a choice.  

For example:

My husband works on Fire Island, a very popular barrier beach/vacation area off the Southern coast of Long Island.  His commute is slightly less than two hours each way.  Walking to Fire Island in this case is obviously not possible.  You see, it's really not a matter of not caring...  

The fact of the matter is, the US population is so dependent on automobiles for their transportation.  There are those that complain when a person will drive their car instead of walk to the grocery store when it's only a mile away, but time is money.  And people will not sacrifice their time when there are other, more convenient alternatives.    

In the fast paced world that we live in, it's unrealistic for people like my husband to change their driving habits, since that would mean working less hours and bringing home less money to pay for the ridiculous gas prices.  It goes both ways you know...

And the price of food has gone up too.  Not just a little....  A LOT!  Does that mean that we should all eat less just because of higher prices?  Sounds ridiculous right?  Well, people in the US see automobiles as a need, just as much as they see food as a need.  

That is why you are seeing these trends.  It's discouraging...  But have you changed your driving habits?

Edit:

Sorry, I guess my answer came across a little rough...  I didn't mean to direct it toward you, I'm just trying to view the larger picture.  Like I said, it's discouraging, but some people are completely reliant on automobiles.  That's why you're not seeing much change.  And Kudos to you!  I'm glad someone is doing something about it.

Answer 5

people go to work, places and stuff. of course gas stations will be busy

Answer 6

This is true, and few people have slowed down, I'm going 50 on the highway and everyone passes me.

But this is the reason gas keeps going up, people keep taking it, everyone complains but no one really does anything about it, that's the reason things are the way they are.

A lot of hot air but no real action, if you want any real action you have to do something people REALLY care about like change the Coca Cola formula, heeeeey then you'll have a revolution!

Answer 7

I live in an area that is typically 10-15 cents lower than the national average gas price.  I have noticed that there are fewer cars on the roads in the mornings when I go to work, even before school was out for summer.  There are alot of people fixing up their old cars and driving them instead of their costly SUVs and trucks, and there are tons of those SUVs for sale by owner everywhere you look.  I also know some people who have bought motorcycles and scooters.

Still, I don't know of anyone who is carpooling, and I still see people driving aggressively on the highways.  I know that as for my family, we've cut down on trips to town, etc.  We try and combine everything into one trip to as few places as possible.

It's going to take time to see change.  People are stuck in large vehicles that have enormous payoffs, and disposable income is steadily shrinking.  Not all cities have great mass transportation (like the one I live in), and you certainly don't want to get on the buses here unless you want to end up in a bad situation.  Most people have to commute to work because there aren't good jobs available close to them.  I think the whole problem will get better over time...if everyone just does a tiny little bit of change.