Cheddarblog

Just like everyone else, the Swiss_Mouse was hurt by $4 a gallon gas.  He was squeezed.  Yet he always got a good chuckle watching the Ford F350 drivers complain on the local newcast.  Yes it was and still is huring the Mouse.  His budget is a wreck as all his “extra” money was sucked away by the higher prices.

But there were 3 outcomes of the price hike that didn’t bother him.

1) It actually made Americans look at how dependent they were on other countries for their oil.  And how as a Global economy we are too dependent on a single source of energy.  It’s not just an American thing, it’s a global issue.

2) It made Americans once again (and to a lesser extent the world) look environmentally at the issue.  Why did we nee to be running around in cars fueld by ancient dinosaur remains?  Was there a better, cleaner, healthier alternative?  Hey if we ruined McDonalds fries by changing the kind of oil we fry them in, could we change the kind of fuel we use in cars to make them healthier?

3) MOST IMPORTANTLY:  It changed the mentality of drivers.  The NASCAR drive as fast as you can, right behind someone, change lanes as quick as you can and general raise hell on the road mentality was gone, at least on the Swiss_Mouse’s commute….for about 2 weeks.

The Swiss_Mouse doesn’t have a long commute or a particularly dangerous one.  But over the last 10 years, there has been a big change in the number of drivers on the highway.  And those drivers in this NASCAR-obsessed nation drove well over the speed limit.  They drove right up on each others bumpers.   But for two weeks, while gas was at their highest, all that changed.  And it was noticed not just by the Swiss_Mouse, but by his co-workers and acquaintances.   People were driving the limit, the maniacal lane switching didn’t occur.  Everyone actually seemed…well behaved on the road.

But ….

Then gas started to fall, and as the price started to hover in the 3.75 range, a change occurred.  Speeds increased.  Lane changing resurfaced.  Manical driving habits once again appearred.   These habits have stuck around too.  Just today the Swiss_Mouse saw 4 blatant right of way violations.  The drivers didn’t care.  He was blown away on the highway by fast driving people.  They didn’t care.

People have absorbed the $3.75 a gallon gas.  My prediciton, you won’t see civility in driving again…until gas hits $5 a gallon.