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You Can Affect Gas Prices... You Already Have
   posted 8:49 pm Wed August 13, 2008 - Hoover, AL
   reporter: Ebony Hall      posted by: Jeff Wyatt
ABC 33/40 News - You Can Affect Gas Prices... You Already Have
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For the last eight months, Americans have consistently driven less. The Federal Highway Administration says Americans drove 12.2 billion miles less in June 2008 compared to June 2007.  They are saving at the pump by spending less time behind the wheel.
"I do drive less," says Paulette Middlebrooks of West Blocton. "Cause we have to. We can't eat and drive, too."

"As high as gas done got, you have to," says Camarian Smith. "You got to save all you can."

That in turn has driven gas prices lower. It's all about supply and demand. "It's definitely simple economics," says Dr. Stefan Norrbin, the Chair of Economics at the Brock School of Business. He says if Americans want to keep gas prices low, they will have to change their driving habits permanently. "Have they changed their behavior enough to start carpooling, buying hybrids or walk a few blocks?"

Sharyne Wallace is making a big change with a smaller, Smart Car that gets 40 miles per gallon on the highway. "I think you need to evaluate if it's a smart move for you maybe with one vehicle, start there."

John Cross of Trussville says he can't change much. "I live in Trussville. I'm locked into to driving that 25 mile trip each way."
But he believes we can drive gas prices even lower, by making the current trend of cutting back in some way a real lifestyle.
"You have to make choices. Sometimes they're not easy."


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ABC 33/40 Talkback: You Can Affect Gas Prices... You Already Have
BamaBR549
Amen Stehrster, you're dead on right.  Even just the act of STARTING THE PROCESS will bear downward pressure on the market.  The Saudis (and others) don't want us doing anything to lead us towards independence, they want to be the only game in town and Opec will do most anything to protect that, including reducing prices to placate us.

Those Smart Cars are cute, but there's no way I would drive a car THAT small.  I drive a Honda Fit, which is a subcompact, but at least I can haul the kids and a handful of groceries.  It gets 35mpg on average, but my driving is mostly highway.  The most I've ever pushed it to is 37mpg.  I recently drove to Detroit on 90 dollars gas each way, not too bad.

I have a full size pickup I kept becuase I need a truck quite often, and also because I love to hunt, so I have to haul the atv trailer, etc.  But by God it stays parked in the driveway otherwise...

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