Have your driving habits changed NOW?

[azsnowman]

I know Azskyman did this not too long ago, when the price of gas was still in the low 1.70's. Now that it's hit 2.00 nationwide, has the prices affected your driving habits NOW? Us......no, since we bought the Exlporer, we're actually driving MORE! The 2 "gas pigs" are sitting idle, waiting for the price to fall again "YEAH RIGHT DENNIS...you think the oil companies will EVER drop the price of gas again knowing that we'll pay ANY AMOUNT NOW "

Dennis

[Stephanie]

I'm not driving any differently. Fortunately, I have alot of vacation time to take between now and the end of August and I'll be home, so that should save on some gas. I still generally make pit stops on the way home from work. That's always been my norm and not just to save gas, but time in general. I definately won't be doing any extra driving, that's for sure!

[coriolis]

No, We don't have much room to cut down. Still need to get to work, shopping, etc.

[HurricaneGirl]

Yes, I have slowed down driving on I-95 because I don't want Hurricanedude to pull me over and write me a speeding ticket.

[Miss Mary]

Well, I have noticed that our gas consumption is the same but the price has doubled on our monthly visa bill! My car is economical, 30-32 MPG. Hubby's upper 20s. Used to be we could spend say $50-60 a month. Now it's over $120! Since we have monthly bills for braces and a piano now, I announced the other day it's as if we have a gas account now. LOL Yes our budget is being stretched tighter.

That said, we are still driving the same amount. Mainly because my husband is still driving to and from work and I'm still doing all the chauffering I do for the kids. Their activities are still going strong, even more so with end of the school year parties/banquet dinner/meetings. And we do not live in a walking community! If my kids have a school meeting, they have to be driven, it's miles away from home. But I do think once school is over and our schedule eases up some, I will try to limit my driving. I won't just run up to Target for one item, I'll wait until I'm out for something else.

My sister-in-law lives in an old Cincinnati neighborhood, with sidewalks everywhere. She can come home from work and her car stays in the garage. They can walk to nearly every activity her children have! I have been envious of that over the years. But now it would really help to be able to walk places - we'd be getting exercise and not using up expensive gas!

Mary

[azskyman]

My driving habits changed when the price of gas moved up from $.50 a gallon. Less driving around for the sake of "taking a ride." That was, hmm, more than a couple years ago.

I tend to plan my trips better and make two stops on the same general path when I can.

I don't believe the price of oil will drop significantly from where it is...and the $3 a gallon mark is not out of the question down the road.

[azsnowman]

I worked at a *Filling Station* when I was a teenager after school and during the summer. I pumped gas (back when full service was standard) cleaned the bays etc. I can remember the price being .28 a GALLON! Can you IMAGINE, 28 CENTS a gallon....."Sheeesh!"

Dennis

[Miss Mary]

Dennis - I remember $.34 a gallon, in the early 70s. Friends tossing you a buck or two to chip in on gas, got you pretty far. Unless you were driving one of those old gas guzzlers. LOL

Mary

[GalvestonDuck]

Heck, I remember when the lowest it got was $0.69 per gallon shortly after I moved here. It didn't last long and usually jumped between $0.73 and $0.83 for a few months in late '98. I thought it was just because gas was so much cheaper in TX than in KY.

[JQ Public]

I try but i'm still driving just as much as i used to.

[Pburgh]

Nope, my driving habits have not changed. I still have to drive almost 80 miles a day to and from work. The Subaru gets about 27 mpg which is good. I'm not quite as pessimistic about gas prices. I think they'll go back down to $1.49 by the middle to end of next month.

[therock1811]

I walk everywhere OR ride the bus! If I'm heading to the hospital or court as I did today thats something else entirely!

[Guest]

I try to limit my driving. I wait until I have a few errands to run on the same outing. I was driving 60 miles round trip to school 2x a week, but now that's over for the summer, so that'll save me some money. If the prices keep rising, I'm going to pester Chad about moving to a more urban area with public transportation.

I know we have our own oil here in the U.S. I think it's time we start using it. Forget those monopolistic price gougers in the Arab world. I don't want them earning any more of my money. I think the govt doesn't use our own oil because they want to save it for later use. But with the way technology is evolving (i.e. hybrid cars), we won't be running on oil for much longer. And we will have saved our own oil for nothing. Time to tap into our resources!
...Jennifer...

[breeze]

My little habit of letting the car RUN while I jump
out and run into my after-work "haunts" has
definitely ceased - I turn that engine OFF, now!
I don't care HOW hot it is when I get back in!

Taking the "short" way definitely out-weighs taking
the "long" scenic drive, now, also!