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National
High Fuel Costs Changing Driving Habits for Some Americans
According to three national polls this month -- USA Today-Gallup, May 4-6; AP-Ipsos, May 15-17; and Washington Post-ABC News, May 17-21 -- Americans have begun to reassess their driving costs, needs, and habits, cutting miles or trips if such cuts are economically unavoidable, geographically feasible or psychologically bearable; the first (A) finding that 70 percent of respondents have ''consolidated errands or taken other steps to reduce driving,'' and the other two (B and C) that showing that 70 and 58 percent, respectively, see high gas prices as a financial hardship, with (B) 46 percent expecting severe financial problems.
At the same time, a USA Today analysis of federal data found that in contrast to the average 2.7 percent annual increase in Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) in the 1980-2005 period, the increase stopped at 0.3 percent between March 2006 and March 2007.
With the population and workforce having grown by slightly more than 1 percent a year, which put more drivers on the roads, note USA Today writers Paul Overberg and Larry Copeland, the annual 0.3 percent VMT addition actually means a decrease in miles per person.
''You have demographic shifts, traffic congestion and increased gas prices,'' explains Urban Land Institute Senior Research Fellow Ed McMahon, pointing out that all this induces ''subtle'' changes in individual attitudes toward driving. ''For the first time in recent history, the rate of vehicle miles traveled is not increasing at the rate it was for 25 years.''
Transit expansion also plays a role, especially in the suburbs, adds American Public Transportation Association President William Millar, saying transit systems are ''expanding into areas that never thought they needed transit because they could do everything by car.''
Still, the polls (B and C) reveal mixed and ambivalent public approaches to driving problems and hardships this summer.
The number of those considering purchase of a more fuel-efficient car went up from 39 to 47 percent over the past 12 months (B), reports Associated Press writer Alan Fram, but the numbers ready to reduce their driving, change vacation plans or cut other expenses declined from 66 to 62 percent, from 49 to 42 percent, and from 66 to 60 percent, respectively.
Although the 44 percent jump in gas prices left 48 percent of respondents ''dissatisfied'' and 43 percent ''angry'' (C), report Washington Post writers Steven Mufson and Jon Cohen, ''only 11 percent said that soaring prices would curtail their driving habits in the coming weeks.''
To make drivers cut back significantly on their driving, the average gas price would have to reach $4.38 a gallon and even $5.12 a gallon in the Western states, where the price is typically higher than elsewhere.
''People used to think the
tipping point was $3 a gallon. It wasn't,'' comments Center for Strategic and International Studies senior energy associate Frank Verrastro. ''People at the bottom end of the income scale are making other choices. The ones with discretionary income are upset but are buying the gasoline along with their lattes.'' -- USA Today, Washington Post 5/17/2007
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