Traffic Guy - Driving in the Green

May 22, 2008

Another week goes by and gasoline prices go up another twenty cents per gallon, taking away more of our "green". We ask questions and we complain but the only changes are the price signs at the gas pumps. Complaining might not be the answer, but it is the popular thing to do right now. The question has been asked, "How will we continue?" The obvious answer is, we will continue to do as we have in the past until we can’t anymore. We will consume as long as we have the funds to do so.
To illustrate the careless attitude of motorists, think about driving habits. They continue to speed, drive gas-guzzlers, rarely carpool, accelerate like drag racing from every stoplight, and sit in the drive-thru for fifteen minutes or longer at the bank or restaurant. If the price of gas doubled again it may cure some of these careless attitudes.
Just in case you are thinking about the cost of driving and what you can do to reduce this drain on your green think about small and large habits and actions to cut back on consumption. Also check out our last article with a lot of good ideas. Cutting consumption is the feasible way to slow down the drain on your wallet.
If, however, you don’t think there is a big problem personally, look over the following chart. It is a very simply designed comparison chart (at today’s gas prices) for people who have to drive a distance to work. The numbers can be chilling.
Marianna – Sneads- Marianna
5 Times Weekly
Approx. 40 Miles Daily
200 Miles
10 MPG = 20 gal
20 MPG = 10 gal
30 MPG = 7.5 gal
$75.80
$37.90
$28.43
Marianna – Graceville - Marianna
5 Times Weekly
Approx. 54 Miles Daily
270 Miles
10 MPG = 27 gal
20 MPG = 13.5 gal
30 MPG = 9 gal
$102.33
$51.17
$34.11
Marianna – Panama City - Marianna
5 Times Weekly
Approx.110 Miles Daily
550 Miles
10 MPG = 55 gal
20 MPG = 27.5gal
30 MPG = 18.34 gal
$208.45
$104.23
$69.51
Marianna – Dothan- Marianna
5 Times Weekly
Approx. 90 Miles Daily
450 Miles
10 MPG = 45 gal
20 MPG = 22.5gal
30 MPG = 15 gal
$170.55
$85.28
$56.85