Youths facing costly gas woes

Enterprise Correspondent

clydenews@bizwoh.rr.com

The hot topic of adult conversation these days is the sky high price of gas.

But just as filling up affects the older generations, it also makes itself a burden for the new generation of teenage drivers.

Although teens can work and be employed at an afterschool job, they are usually paid no more than minimum wage, which is $7 per hour. Teens think its not nearly enough for gas and other expenses.

The average cost of a gallon of gas in Cleveland is $3.45. That is up over a dollar from last year's average of $2.36, according to the Energy Information Administration.

For the teens that do pay with their own money at the tank, the prices are starting to be a load.

"My parents don't give me money for gas. I work and pay for it myself. There's no way to keep up. I just have to limit where I go and hope to catch them when they're low," said Clyde High School junior Lucas Eubanks.

With teens being stuck close to home, road trips and other popular activities are going to have to take a backseat.

"I can't go to the mall in Sandusky as much as I used to," admitted teen driver Aliesha Boonie. "These days I have to stay closer to home. When someone gets their license, they have a new sense of freedom, and now it's hard to even be able to go places because it's so expensive."

One may suggest carpooling or the buddy system which is something working adults often rely upon.

Students can take turns riding to school with a couple of friends, or have a different person take everyone to the movies each time.

With the new state laws on teenagers and driving, though, that idea may not be practical.

The new rule is that anyone under the age of 17 cannot have more than one person who is not a family member in the car.

"I get my license in May, but a lot of my other friends already have theirs. Carpooling doesn't really work anymore; we usually have to ride separate," commented CHS sophomore Alyssa Flanagan.

Teens, as well as adults, will be happy to hear that there are ways to conserve fuel and save some money at the gas station.

For example, driving at 70 miles per hour uses 30 percent more gas than driving 50 mph.

If one would run all their errands at once, or on their way to work, instead of making a special trip, it would save a substantial amount of money over time.

Or, since spring is quickly approaching, walking or riding bike to go somewhere close puts aside using the car all together and it is good exercise as well.

Gas prices are expected to keep rising, and a break does not seem to be in the near future.

Teenagers may have to make some unwanted sacrifices, and if not, their parents surely will.