Gas Prices Change Keystone Drivers' Behaviors But Don't Shake Love of Cars

HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct. 21, 2005 -- A new survey released today by Triad Strategies, LLC, and Susquehanna Polling and Research indicates that Pennsylvania motorists have changed the way they drive in response to high gasoline prices but the pain in the pocketbook hasn't driven many of them onto buses or into carpooling.

In the survey of 700 registered Pennsylvania voters completed on Oct. 1, a total of 57 percent said gasoline prices caused them to "make significant changes in ... driving habits." The poll was conducted for Triad by Susquehanna Polling.

Of those who said they have changed the way they drive (398 of the 700 surveyed) some 93 percent say they are "driving fewer miles a week by eliminating unnecessary trips or joyriding." A total of 84 percent say they are "planning travel routes more carefully to reduce travel miles." About two in five (42 percent) say they have "cancelled travel or vacation plans by auto."

But only about one in nine (12 percent) said they have begun carpooling on a regular basis to save fuel and only one in six (16 percent) say they have ridden public transit or taken a taxicab on one or more occasions since gasoline prices have shot up.

In fact, gasoline prices would have to rise to $5 a gallon or more to make a significant number of motorists consider carpooling or using public transit.

"We asked people what it would take -- $3, $3.50, $4, $4.50 or $5 or more," said Roy Wells, Triad Strategies President and Managing Director. "At $4 a gallon, the number willing to consider a switch rose to 27 percent. The price would have to go to $5 to get it up to 39 percent - or two out of five motorists."

Wells noted that part of the reason why the number was not higher was that one in five motorists felt that public transit or carpooling was not an option because of where they live.

A total of 61 percent of those polled would be willing to try alternate fuel sources to gasoline "even if it means a somewhat higher initial cost for the automobile or having fewer gas stations selling ... (the) alternative fuel."