Majorities of American voters say gasoline prices have caused them to drive less — and support domestic oil drilling more.
Sixty two percent have cut down on driving, and 61 percent are more inclined to support domestic drilling, according to a Fox News poll released Tuesday.
The high price of gasoline has caused about half of voters (49 percent) to consider changing their summer travel plans.
Meanwhile, nearly half (47 percent) are now considering buying a more fuel-efficient car.
Gas prices have caused such a crunch that one-third of voters (34 percent) have been forced to give up necessities to be able to afford to fill up their gas tank. Those living in lower income households (50 percent) are twice as likely as those with higher incomes (25 percent) to say they are giving up necessities to pay for gasoline.
Similarly, 73 percent of those with household incomes below $50,000 say they are driving less these days, compared to 57 percent among those with incomes $50,000 or more who report driving less.
As of Sunday, the current national average for a gallon of regular gasoline was $3.94.
If the price of gasoline reaches $5 a gallon, nearly half of voters (48 percent) say they would demand the government increase supply by allowing more domestic oil drilling offshore and in Alaska.
If it reaches $6 a gallon, nearly 70 percent would, and at $7 per gallon fully 76 percent of voters would demand more domestic drilling. Almost 85 percent would do so if the price of gas were to reach $10 a gallon.
Just 7 percent of voters say they wouldn’t demand more domestic oil drilling no matter how high gas prices go.
(Source: Fox News)
2 Responses
Don’t worry, now that Bin Laden’s gone who cares about gas?
We spent a few trillion dollars preparing an army to retake Kuwait and hand it back to them on a silver platter and they in turn charge us $4 for gas?