In the absence of control on fuel prices, it is easy to say that average Americans are modifying the way they drive.

I find myself now shutting off my engine at quick stops, when normally I would let my vehicle run. Even becoming less eager to sit in front of red lights glues my foot to the gas pedal in an attempt to weave through the traffic just to reach my destination. Driving to and from work on nothing but fumes and a lit up fuel light can make you want to get there a little faster. Unfortunately, going from point A to point B is what we seem to be focused on just to keep our daily lives as normal as possible.

Employers are not able to give pay increases to those who must travel farther distances to work, and employees can only risk their car dying due to lack of fuel to an extent. We work all week long to not afford to leave the house off the clock.

How long can we withstand this? Until wage rates shoot to a new record or our police officers are issuing accident reports like clockwork? Only time can tell us where this phenomenon will lead us as American citizens, so we must patiently wait with empty pockets for it to become affordable to get into our own vehicles.

Sabrina Pepin, Lewiston

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