The Red & Black

Gas prices negatively affect students

Wednesday, December 12, 2007 By Clare Lennon - Opinion Editor

Many high schoolers look at driving as freedom with wheels and a seemingly inexhaustible gas card. With the dramatic rise in gas prices, though, this vision may soon come crashing down. As of Nov. 16, the average gas price in the nation was $3.11 for the week, up 23.9 cents from two weeks before, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer Web site. Junior Michael Porat drives a Toyota Prius hybrid to school every day. He said he fills his car with gas about once a week due to its small tank which holds about 11 gallons of gas. He said he pays between $25 and $30 every time he fills his car. Porat said he is happy with his car choice. “It’s a beastly car. It doesn’t get the respect it deserves,” he said. He also said that it has great gas mileage, which is important since he drives “all over the place.” Porat estimated his car gets about 40 miles per gallon. According to tampagasprices.com, the lowest price for regular unleaded gas as of Nov. 17 in the Tampa area was $2.97 per gallon at a Marathon in Gulfport. The highest price is $3.26 at a B.P. in Winter Haven. Tampa Gas Prices is a Web site where users log in to report the price of gas at certain stations so they can get the best deals on gas. The rise in gas prices has upset many people, including high school students. Junior Kalindi Shah said, “They’re pretty ridiculous. My car gets bad gas mileage.” Sophomore Sophomre Brijiet Andrews said that her mom sometimes borrows money from her to pay for the high prices. “My mom won’t drive me on weekends anymore unless it’s important,” said Andrews, who also said she thinks the gas prices should be lowered. Although Porat said he does not pay for his gas, he too agrees that the gas prices are too high. “No one should have to pay that much,” Porat said. Hybrids, carpooling, bicycles and public transportation have all been solutions to gas problems in the past. They offer alternatives to the usual method of a teenager driving him or herself everywhere.