Gas prices have gone up and up over the last few years
. They've come down a little since the spike in the summer of 2008 but they are still much more expensive than they were ten years ago. I'm not that old but I remember when I started to drive and gas was less than a dollar a gallon. I don't think we'll ever see those days again. There are a few things we as motorists can do to keep our own personal gas prices down and help save gas for everyone else.
Driving carefully and going the speed limit actually does save a lot on gas. Going 60 miles an hour on the free way (while not driving in the fast lane of course) can save miles and miles of gas consumption in the long run. Also, accelerating slowly and driving cautiously can save lots on gas usage as well.
There are cars that are very fuel efficient. Buying a smaller sedan will save you hundreds on gas money every year. You don't necessarily have to buy a brand new hybrid car to use less gas. Most four door compact cars are very easy on gas consumption and cost a lot less off the lot than a hybrid. Some people are buying diesel cars after what seems like a hiatus in the 1990s. Diesel cars have incredible gas mileage and are being made to run cleaner and more environmentally friendly.
If you're worried about buying a diesel and not being able to maintain the car and find auto shops to work on it, keep in mind that most car repair shops have been working and dealing in used diesel truck and car parts for years and know how to get around a diesel, even a newer one.
Try to minimize driving trips. It goes without saying that the less you drive the less you'll spend on gas. Try to combine a few shopping trips into one outing and plot out your errands to cover the most efficient rout possible. If you have a daily commute into work every day, talk to your co-workers about organizing a car pool. Find out who from work lives in your area and then designate a meeting area every day to start from. A little planning can really save you hundreds of dollars every year on gas and will help to ease to amount of gas consumption overall.