The rising cost of gas is fueling a slew of lifestyle changes and is even expected to have an environmental impact. It’s too early to quantify clearly, but life in these United States is changing faster than you can say “fill ‘er up.”

People are driving less, skipping events and changing summer plans. Some are driving more slowly (even airlines are employing this fuel-saving trick).

The types of vehicles you’ll see on the road of the future will be much different. U.S. sales of SUVs are plummeting, off 32 percent in April compared to the same month last year, and people stuck owning them are struggling to sell on a flooded market. Likewise, demand for small cars and hybrids is soaring. New small car sales were up 18 percent in April.

The knock-on effects are even more interesting:

Deaths down. Fewer miles driven means safer roads. One study predicts nearly 2,000 fewer people will die because of the recent price hikes.

Less gas consumption (fewer SUVs, less driving, etc.). One economist estimates that each $1 rise in gas leads to 14 percent less fuel consumption over the long haul. Of course, as consumption falls, some analysts say prices at the pump could dip, stimulating demand.

Less pollution. If we use less gas, logic dictates that smog will decrease (you’ll breath cleaner air) and we’ll pump lower amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Little if any research has quantified this potential outcome, but the traffic-death study also predicts 600 fewer pollution-related deaths.

Lifestyle changes. An online CNN poll, though not scientific, has 46 percent saying they plan to get used to “staycations” and 26 percent figuring to cut back on summer travel. Separately, a Florida State University management professor surveyed 800 employees in the southeast who each commuted at least 15 miles a day. Among the findings (which have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal):

• 52 percent have reconsidered taking vacations or other recreational activities.
• 45 percent said escalating gas prices have caused them to fall behind financially.
• 33 percent would quit their job for a comparable one nearer to home.

The FSU researcher, Wayne Hochwarter, contends all this affects employee productivity: “People concerned with the effects of gas prices were significantly less attentive on the job, less excited about going to work, less passionate and conscientious and more tense,” he said.

Even NASCAR feels the pinch. Their fancy fuel is now $6.25 a gallon. (In the 1970s, NASCAR shortened races to save fuel during the OPEC crisis; no such plans yet this time around.)

Meanwhile, oil continues to reach new highs with one prediction of $200/barrel inside two years. And gas prices, well, you know.

Newsday has posted a slew of reader comments that hint at the lifestyle changes underway and in the wings. One high school athlete says Mom can’t attend some of the away games. Another woman worries she’ll have to walk to work soon.

The ultimate effects, either on summer tourism or lifestyles in general, awaits scientific study and actual data. But the largely anecdotal evidence now available suggests we’ll soon be looking back at a different America.

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 8th, 2008 at 10:00 am and is filed under Environment, Society. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.