Reader comments
Utahns cut back on driving

If we drive less, don't we tear up the roads less and cause less congestion?

I wonder if since less people are driving the roads will have less ware and tare to repair? In turn wouldn't that mean that the highway guys wouldn't need as much money?

Are you kidding me? Americans are finally consuming less gasoline and paying attention to economy because they can't afford to fill their accursed SUVs, and UDOT views that as a negative? The worst thing to happen to traffic is the SUV. EVER. Too big to maneuver, too inefficient, excess capacity that costs a lot of cash to have and run, and brain-dead soccer moms driving way too many short trips. America's insatiable appetite for gas is finally changing and UDOT is worried about declining revenues? What pigs! If people are driving fewer miles, there is less wear-and-tear on the roads. You'd think a government agency would encourage economy.

Then maybe the officals need to look into the gas price gouging that is going on. Every day we get different stories as to why the gas prices are so high, maybe the officials ought to be comparing notes at to all of the reasons that the public have been given. They ask us to conserve fuel then complain when their profits are down because of the conservation. Can't have both!

Duh, I wonder why people are driving less. I work as a driver for a major retailer. Loads are being increased in volume and weight and drivers are being taught how to drive more economically. Fuel consumption is way down in an attempt to control fuel cost. BTW have you noticed how much more everything costs today? Well just look to the cost of diesel fuel. Diesel is more highly refined today to eliminate sulfur and other pollutants resulting in a much higher cost for diesel compared to gasoline. Do you think that retail companies are paying the increased cost? Not likely. The consumer will stand the increase every time. Drivers and corporations are doing everything they can to control cost so we can keep the price at the register down but we can't control the outrageous cost of fuel. The cost of fuel in Utah is especially obnoxious. Last week I drove through Wells, NV. and noted unleaded at $3.54 when I got back into Utah the current prices were $4.07! Do you think that there might be some collusion by gasoline retailers in Utah? Look for new taxes to cover the cost of road maintanance.

Much of the road damage comes from trucks. Heaver loads = better cost per ton hauled but more road damage. On the good side, heaver loads = less loads resulting in less damage. It would be interesting to see exactly how the equation balances out. Do less loads offset the damage caused by higher weights? Bottom line, if you buy it trucks haul it. Save road damage by skipping Christmas this year! Wait, then I won't have a job. Sigh.

Unfortunately, the leaders in the Utah Department of Transportation have nothing to say about how they can change some of their policies and practices to become 20 perfect more efficient, thus delievering a better service for less money. Every family in America is doing it this summer.

Who has not witnessed road repair sites with one man working with a shovel and five more "supervising"? Who has not seen orange vested traffic assistants hanging out during working hours? Extra long lunches? Late crews in the morning?

Every government agency suffers from lack of competition. With a little creativity and effort, I am sure UDOT, the postal service, the armed forces, the IRS, every government agency, could tighten their collective belts and operate on less money than they presently do without cutting any services.

I think it is irresponsible for government agencies to always pretend the only way to deal with less money is to reduce services. Families and businesses do not have that option.

"You think a government agency would encourage economy."

The government is always counterintuitive. Government agencies are worried about 1 thing; self preservation. They want to do what ever it takes to make sure their job doesn't become extinct, and to increase the scope of their job if possible. They are always looking for more reason they need additional revenue.

I know. How about not voting for anything else for them to oversee. Regardless of how worthy the cause, remember they will screw it up.

UDOT is most concerned that they will not be able to pay their employees leaning on shovels. Every comment is the same...fewer drivers, less wear and tear and congestion. Doesn't that seem like a huge oversight not to have been mentioned in the article?

The Gov. is going to have to come up with a method of taxing electric vehicles. Right now they are enjoying a "free ride".

With the outrageous fuel prices, perhaps UDOT could work with legislators and others WHO HAVE COLLECTIVE INFLUENCE to work on fixing the situation so motorists could drive more. Surely UDOT has more clout than Joe Resident in Anyville, Utah.

I don't think UDOT views "less maintenance" as a bad thing.

I don't see the decreased driving in my 3 mph commute to davis county from SLC in the afternoons.

Also, I am still amazed at how many single occupant gigantic SUVs and trucks I see driving 90 mph to SLC each morning. Wow, these guys must be rich to be able to dump $150 + into their trucks every week with the 12 mpg they must be getting (or less driving at those speeds).

I have a hard enough time putting $150 into my prius each month.

Well, the government is doing their part to hinder the use of hybrid vehicles, at least in Utah. Utah is one of the very few states that does not offer any kind of tax incentive to buyers of hybrid vehicles. Kind of like it is implied in this article...the last thing the state wants is less driving and more fuel-efficient vehicles. If their "revenues" drop substantially because we get more efficient or ride out bikes more, will they bump up the state tax on gas to over $2 per gallon to make up the difference? $7.00 gas anyone? Scary.

Oh cry me a river...

i am sure they will find another way to get my money, making it harder and harder for me to support my family.

I am curious when my income will increase at the rate of Questar, Rocky MT Power, etc...

You all forgot, we are trying to reduce our use of gasoline / deisel fuel for transportation, therefore the reduction in driving miles / fuel purchase / fuel tax revenue is actually a desired outcome.
Stop whining about too many orange shirts, or ways to reduce your personal gas tax. And be thankful we are collectively taking a good step towards global cooling. If you believe in that. It's clear to me that we can do more, there are still suv's with one occupant roaming the freeways and in the grocery parking lot with one bag of groceries, there are still empty seats on trax. We collectively are still stuck too deep in the demand for consumption and convenience mire.

Fuel prices are not outrageous, you and most of the U.S. just got complacent with the low cost of oil in the 90's. In real terms, gas isn't much higher than it was in the late 70's and early 80's. In terms of disposable income, Americans spend a much smaller percentage of income on gas than we did during the 70's and 80's, and that is with us driving all these beastly SUV's around with just one person in them! Change your behaviour (where you live, the vehicle you drive, how you drive it, where you drive, etc.), and the impact would be modest.

For the wealthy, the impact is even less - a few hundred/thousand bucks a year in fuel is nothing. Just because we can afford a big house, big boat, big cars, doesn't mean we should build them or drive them. The number of massive homes in Utah continues to explode without regard to the impact on others or those at the bottom of the economic ladder. Land prices, pollution, run-off, higher-than-necessary energy costs, urban sprawl, etc. are all a result of an egocentric, selfish, flaunting, I-can-afford-it-so-I'll-consume-it attitude than is harming those who really can't afford it.

Why do you drive a Prius that only seems to go 3 mph during your commute while you witness big SUVs that are going 90 mph?

Do you think you exaggerate a little bit?

Speaking of heavy loads breaking up highways. I have basically worked in the trucking industry most of my life, both as a owner, driver, and in corporate management. Believe me the way we should be going and should have been doing is move more freight by rail. Of course it can't all move by rail but 40 to 50% more could be. Look at the savings in petroleum, and highway abuse alone. We used to move freight this way, but have let our railroads fall in dis-repair. We should crank up the rail system now and use it to everyones advantage. Trains just make sense. Get rid of some of this truck traffic.

I see no difference in my 3 mile commute from Orem to Provo.

And my 12 mpg truck is only filled up once every 6 weeks or so if that...

Move to where you work!