By Nathalie Voit
According to survey results released March 10 from transportation analytics company AAA, gasoline prices are too high for the average American.
When polled by AAA between Feb. 18 and 21, two-thirds of respondents said current gas prices were too expensive. Over half of respondents (59%) said they would change their daily driving habits or lifestyle if the cost of gas climbed over $4. If gas prices breached $5.00 (which they already have in some parts of the country like California), three-quarters of participants said they would make lifestyle changes to offset soaring prices at the pumps.
Among those who signaled they would make changes in response to higher gas prices, a majority (80%) said they would opt to drive less, according to survey data.
Additionally, respondents between the ages of 18 to 34 were nearly three times more likely than those 35 and over to consider carpooling (29% vs. 11%). Those aged 35 and older were more likely to favor combining trips and errands (68% vs. 52%) and to reduce shopping or eating out (53% vs. 43%).
The survey results came in when the price of a regular gallon of unleaded gasoline was $3.53. Since then, the national average for a gallon of gas has ballooned to $4.33, according to data released March 11 from the Orlando-based firm. The spike in oil prices was driven by the Russian invasion of Ukraine in late February, which helped push the national average over 70 cents in the first two weeks of the conflict, AAA said.
Now with gas prices easily beating a 14-year high set in the 2008 financial crisis, the survey results suggest many Americans may have reached a tipping point.
The company offered a series of useful tips to help drivers ease some of the pain they’re feeling from “Putin’s price hike,” including making sure your vehicle tires are properly inflated, pre-mapping your driving route to minimize unnecessary backtracking and turnarounds, and avoiding peak traffic times.
The company suggests using the AAA Mobile App for the best gas prices.
