THE STUDENT VOICE

High gas prices don’t curb driving

Wednesday, April 04, 2012 By Anthony Roberson

Once again, drivers are dealing with rising gas prices. Drivers now have to pay 45 cents more than last year’s price when they fill up, making the New Jersey gas price average $3.67 per gallon, as of January, according to nj.com. Gas prices are predicted to jump during the summer months, possibly to only five percent below the national record high of $4.09 that was reported in 2008, as reported by nj.com. However, based on a survey conducted by The Student Voice in March, drivers and future drivers in the school are unphased by the new price hike, mostly because of the fuel efficiency of today’s cars. “Gas prices aren’t going to stop me from doing what I want,” senior Andrew Mendez said. “[Driving] is easier, you don’t have to depend on other people.” “I want to drive more than I care about the gas prices,” sophomore Kerwin Butler said, who does not yet have his driver’s permit. Not everyone is optimistic about the new prices. “Spending so much money on gas is hard, but some of us don’t have a choice,” senior Emmaline Dolison said. Despite having a job, she still relies on her mother to provide some money, she said. Biology teacher Rita Bassil fills her car up twice every week and pays $130 a week for gas, driving 150 miles per day to and from her home in Philadelphia. “It doesn’t matter if the gas prices affect me or not. I still have to come to school and do my job, even if I pay my salary for gas,” Bassil said. Some are hoping to adapt to the rising costs. “Driving is mostly what people want to do. I’ll just have to get used to [paying for gas],” future driver sophomore Carlos Perdomo said. Sophomore Jarrel Joyner said that “having a job would make the gas prices look more manageable.” However, junior Farhan Khan said that “it depends on what type of job you have.” “If you’re a doctor, sure, [gas prices] don’t matter, but if you work at McDonald’s, it’s different,” Khan said. English teacher Amina Farah said she once carpooled to cut the cost of travel down. "I did carpool with Mr. Frech, but there was a problem with leaving,” Farah said. “I leave at 5 or 6 and [staying that long] is hard on any teacher.”