A new survey indicates Utah motorists are trying to cope with high gasoline prices, but many believe they must drive despite the rising costs.
AAA Utah said this week that its survey revealed 29 percent of people have cut down on driving for personal or family-related reasons, with another 30 percent saying they will drive less with prices between $3 and $3.99.
Those cutting their time on the road are consolidating trips (73 percent) or driving their most fuel-efficient vehicle (67 percent). Survey participants drove an average of 122 miles per week for personal and family-related trips.
Thirty-three percent said they are walking more instead of driving, and 43 percent are taking fewer vacation trips by car or making those trips shorter.
But commuters in the survey — who drive an average of 161 miles in a work week — appear to be stuck. Among surveyed commuters, 40 percent said they cannot choose to drive less, even with $4.99-per-gallon prices.
"Bottom line, our members are telling us they're fed up," AAA Utah spokeswoman Rolayne Fairclough said in a prepared statement. "Eighty percent of those surveyed say it's very important for American drivers to reduce their reliance on gasoline, and right now they don't think anyone out there is doing enough to help make this happen."
Oil companies and the federal government are getting most of the wrath, although 88 percent of respondents agreed they also could be doing more to cut gasoline dependence. Eighty-one percent of those surveyed said automakers have been too slow to develop and sell hybrid vehicles.
"Our survey shows people believe it's time to take action on this issue," Fairclough said. "The large majority of respondents feel U.S. energy policy and the development of alternative fuels is lagging. Seventy-one percent feel there hasn't been enough done to raise the mileage requirements for all types of passenger vehicles."
Other results from the survey show:
68 percent say the next car they buy or lease will likely be more fuel-efficient.
29 percent say they are considering buying or leasing a hybrid vehicle.
84 percent of those considering hybrids would do so to save money on gasoline.
73 percent of potential hybrid buyers said protecting the environment is a priority.
65 percent of potential hybrid buyers want to cut dependence on foreign oil.
54 percent of overall respondents have no plans to buy a hybrid, with most citing a need for better technology.
36 percent of people without hybrid plans say the vehicles tend to cost more than they would save on gasoline.
"What we're seeing here is a real craving for information," Fairclough said. "By a three-to-one margin, people say they want to know more about alternative fuels and hybrid-electric cars. It might not be the right option for everyone right now, but even the people who told us they don't currently want to buy a hybrid vehicle are interested in learning more."
AAA Utah is launching the Greenlight Initiative at its offices to provide people with information about hybrids and alternative fuels. The AAA Greenlight Survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent to 6.9 percent.