[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/11/17/art.traffic.2.gi.jpg caption=" How have plunging gas prices changed your habits?"]
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Oil prices continue to slide, closing below $55 a barrel today. That's a pretty far fall from the July record high of $147 a barrel. Iran is calling for OPEC to cut production by at least 1 million barrels a day to try to shore up prices. That's on top of the 1.5 million OPEC cut last month. But the head of the cartel says it's not going to happen...not this month anyway. They're still trying to figure out what impact the last cut had. OPEC, which produces about 40 percent of the crude oil in the world, had hoped the move in October would slow the fall in prices. It hasn't.
And that's made drivers here pretty happy.
Gasoline prices have fallen for the last 61 days in a row to a national average of about $2.09 a gallon. According to AAA, the last time the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline dropped below the current price was on March 31, 2005.
This is good news for cash-strapped Americans, but not-so-great news for the whole alternative-energy, let's-wean-ourselves-off-foreign-oil movement. But Americans will take what they can get, and for now filling up is like getting a tax cut.
Here’s my question to you: How have plunging gas prices changed your driving habits?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Louise from Massachusetts writes:
No, I am still using my car as little as possible. Being the skeptic that I am, I am putting the "extra" money in a jar to pay for gas when prices soar again, most likely the week after the Christmas shopping season is over.
Len from Long Island, New York writes:
Great gas prices for hard-working Americans, but that’s really bad news for the alternative energy industry and global warming. Let's couple this with an upcoming taxpayer-funded bailout for the American auto industry, and I guess we'll be expecting a new model Hummer.
Andy from Fairfax, Virginia writes:
The lower gas prices give me more money to put aside for the coming economic collapse.
Jeff from Sturgis, Michigan writes:
I drive 200 miles every weekend to visit my girlfriend regardless of gas prices. The only difference now is that I'll be able to save enough money to buy her an engagement ring.
Adena from Texas writes:
Even with gas prices lower, I'm still using the public transit system in Dallas. It's still less expensive than driving and paying parking. It just makes sense to continue to cut back where I can with the economy as it is, and fewer vehicles on the road helps with the environment.
B.D. from Saugerties, New York writes:
Last spring when my tank was half empty I filled it up because I knew the price would be higher in a day or two. Now when my tank is half empty, I wait because I know the price will go down in a day or two.
Matt from Stafford, Virginia writes:
My driving habits have changed exactly zero. Sure prices may be down, but I enjoy that warm fuzzy feeling I get not having to break the bank to get to the bank. Hey, when the prices go back up the transition will be easy. Then I'll just wait for the oil industry bailout.