What is news, however, is that Americans are driving less than they were when gas prices were high.  The Business Courier reported today that the U.S. Department of Transportation found Americans drove 100 billion fewer miles between November 2007 and October 2008, even after gas prices began to fall.

100 billion fewer miles.  That’s a lot of not driving, although it may shed even more light on the declining gas prices.  As oil prices by the barrel continue to drop, we have to consider the fact that less people driving means less demand, which always leads to lower prices.

Some of this has to do with a change in behavior for American drivers.  Perhaps they’re going Green and just don’t want to burn more fuel, maybe they’re unemployed, maybe they’re exercising more, or perhaps it simply is a fact that Americans don’t drive as much as they used to.

Whatever the reason, the result is clear: fuel prices dropping to below $1.50 in many parts of the country.  Which also means less fuel tax income for state highway departments, which means less money to fix roads and infrastructure.  So you may be paying for that cheap tank of gas next year when your state has to raise taxes to fix all the potholes.

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