Do you think the high fuel prices are helping the environment? I think they are.

The high gas prices are causing people to park, sell, or trade-in their gas guzzling/low mileage vehicles in favor of higher gas mileage vehicles.

People are starting to drive less. Although I don’t have any data on it, everyone I know says they are driving less because gas is so expensive. They don’t take unnecessary trips, are car-pooling, taking public transportation, walking, or riding their bikes instead. And, in some cases, they’re just staying home.

For example, my parents always enjoyed going for a weekly ride around the area just to see what was going on. They no longer do that. Also, my brother and sister in law no longer drive their kids to soccer and softball practice. Instead they walk, bike, or rollerblade there and back. And, my SUV probably thinks I’m mad at it even though it’s my primary vehicle and I live in a rural area where there is no public transportation and stores are several miles away. I plan my trips. Instead of going somewhere once or twice a day liked I used to, I now take the vehicle out once or twice a week and run all my errands and go to all my appointments at one time.

Everyone I know is driving less and using less gas. That means less carbon emissions are going into the atmosphere which is better for the environment.

What do you think? Are the high gas prices helping the environment?