(08/15/11) -

Seven-in-Ten Americans Driving Less Due to High Gas Prices

One-in-twenty respondents have decided to acquire a more fuel efficient vehicle.

The high cost of fuel is affecting people all across the United States, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative sample of 1,005 American adults, 68 per cent of respondents acknowledge that recent price increases in gasoline have caused financial hardship for themselves and others in their household.

Respondents in the South (71%) appear to be the most affected, followed by those in the Midwest (68%), the West (67%) and the Northeast (63%).

When asked if they have taken any measures to deal with recent gas price increases, seven-in-ten Americans (69%) say they are driving less than usual, while two-in-five (38%) are filling up their cars with less fuel than they would normally do.

One-in-five Americans (20%) are walking to destinations more often than they used to, while fewer respondents are choosing to carpool more (12%) or take public transit (10%).

Across the country, five per cent of Americans say they have sold their car to buy a more fuel efficient vehicle. This course of action is more prevalent among respondents aged 18-to-34 (7%) and people in the West (8%).

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Angus Reid Public Opinion
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Methodology: From August 4 to August 5, 2010, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 1,005 American adults who are Springboard America panelists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1%. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of the United States. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.