Democrat Business Editor Steve Liner had an article titled “New survey shows pump prices affecting our behavior” in Wednesday’s paper. What I found interesting in the poll results is that there was no response about driving more efficiently, such as slowing down. Folks will cut back on other expenses, but they won’t slow down. Or will they….?

Elsewhere in the business section was a link to an article titled “As fuel prices rise, some speedometer needles fall."    Slowing down / driving more efficiently is probably the most important behavioral change you can make in response to higher gas prices, short of downsizing your vehicle or reducing driving.

But based own my own observations of local driving during my daily commute, there is very little speed reduction or more efficient driving happening in Tallahassee. I still regularly see the jump start when the light turns green, the lane weaving to get one car length ahead of me.

A poll of Tallahassee drivers would bring bear this observation out I believe, if the respondents are honest. (We know for example, that high percentages of men say they always wash their hand after using the bathroom but video cameras show the actual percentage is much less.) The idea that what I see every day is a skewed sample of drivers is pretty impossible to accept. I see it on weekends too, so it’s not just a “commute” thing. It’s a “Tallahassee” thing! My estimate on “inefficient” drivers is at least 25 and perhaps 40 percent. And the worst offenders seem to be SUVs because for them 35 seems not to be moving.

Now in New Mexico, where I was for two weeks last month, the drivers are completely different. See my April 29 blog entry on New Mexico drivers. I also noticed many truckers driving between 60-65 in both New Mexico and on I-75 when we returned from Orlando last weekend. Diesel fuel prices are higher than gas so they are adjusting to the market.

Ahhh….the market…as in price. It is the great motivator. It can easily bring about what all the government and other “preachers” appealing to patriotism, good citizenship, etc. ad nauseam, cannot. And with little of the complexity that government would bring if there were “rules.” Folks will go “green” when there is enough of the other green at stake. It appears the stakes are not high enough for many Tallahassee drivers. Yet…..

It’s my understanding there are no government mandated vehicle fuel efficiency standards in Europe, as there are here. But when I was in Spain in 2006, I rarely saw any large cars. Why?

Gas then was only about $5 per gallon; now it is $8 a gallon in much of Europe. Think about $8 gas here…. How many drivers will continue to lane weave or jump out at the green light when gas is $8 a gallon?

We don’t need government rules…we just need to let the market do its thing. I read that we are in the bottom 50 of 150 countries when it comes to gas prices. If that's correct, have it pretty good. Unsurprising that our per capita consumption of gas is about three times that of Europe. And the Euro is much stronger than the dollar (over 30% stronger), so gas prices aren’t hurting their money.

Gas prices have gone only one way long term…up. As most things do. The only surprise may be the speed of price increase. But no one can say it hasn’t been predicted for decades - since the first oil embargo in the 70s.  The prediction has arrived. No point in complaining; get used to it and adjust. Or pay. Your choice. As always.

As for me, my Corolla gets 30 mpg city and 40 highway so higher gas prices have not impacted me much. I can drive almost 3 weeks on 10 gallons!

$5 gas…?  Bring it on!

Here's what SUVs may soon look like here.....