U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Vehicle Technologies Program

Fact #420: April 17, 2006
Driving Less Due to Gasoline Prices

Nearly half of the respondents in a survey conducted March 10-12, 2006, said they had cut back significantly on the amount they drive due to the higher cost of gasoline. Fifty-nine percent of those in households earning less than $50,000 said they had cut back on driving; thirty-six percent of those in households earning $50,000 or more said the same. Also in this survey, 57% of the respondents indicated they would seriously consider buying or leasing a fuel-saving hybrid car.

Have you cut back significantly on the amount you drive because of higher gasoline prices?
Graph showing respondents answer to whether they are driving less because of gasoline prices. 59% of respondents with incomes less than $50,000 and 36% earning $50,000 or more have cut back.

Supporting Information

Have you cut back significantly on the amount you drive because of higher gasoline prices?
  Share of respondents answering "yes"
Households earning less than $50,000 59%
Household earning more than $50,000 36%
All households 48%

Source: CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll conducted March 10-12, N=1,001.

 

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