Have you had to cancel any summer travel plans this year because of the cost? If the answer is yes, you’re not alone. More than a third of Washingtonians have canceled summer 2023 road trips over the high cost of gas, according to a new report.
Analysts with insurance website QuoteWizard recently released a report on how gas prices have affected drivers’ habits across the country. The organization found that 39% of Washington state travelers have resorted to canceling planned trips to save on fuel costs. This exceeds the nationwide average of 37%.
QuoteWizard examined data available from the Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Energy Information Administration and the U.S. Census Bureau to formulate its findings.
Washington currently has an average gas price of $5.01 per gallon, according to AAA. The Evergreen State’s fuel costs are the second highest in the U.S., behind only California. Washington rose to have the most expensive gas in late June, which it held for over a month until California reclaimed the title in late July.
What are WA state gas habits?
Washingtonians are doing more than canceling road trips this summer. They are also carpooling and using public transportation more frequently than the rest of the country on average.
To cope with high gas prices, the following percentage of Washingtonians have altered their driving habits, according to the report:
- Canceling trip — 39%
- Carpooling or combining trips — 33%
- Using public transportation — 12%
- Made no changes — 41%
The national averages are:
- Canceling trip — 37%
- Carpooling or combining trips — 27%
- Using public transportation — 9%
- Made no changes — 45%
Has gasoline use changed in WA?
Demand for gas has decreased marginally in most states, according to QuoteWizard. For instance, Washington’s current daily gallon usage has decreased 5% compared to October 2021. The Evergreen state also consumes the fifth least amount of gas per driver, based on driving habit data from October 2021 to March 2022.
Vermont’s daily usage fell off the most, lowering by 19%. The only state to see a significant spike in gas consumption is North Dakota, as 32% more fuel was used.
