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According to a recent US Department of Transportation report, Americans drove 9.6 billion miles less this past May compared to May of last year.

With the US consuming about 25% of the world's oil, the reaction to high gas prices could have a significant impact on oil prices worldwide. Since the US uses a quarter of the world's oil supply, people in the States have been impacted hugely by the recent spike in oil prices. This has caused the average American to curb their gasoline appetite; switching to more efficient means of travel, driving less, and postponing vacations.

Regular Unleaded gas still costs about $3.95 a gallon even after a quick drop in oil prices from around $145 to $124 a barrel. For most SUV drivers, that means $75-$85 a fill-up.

Although many Americans believe these prices are outrageous, they are not near as bad as most other countries in the world.

Also, I believe that we needed a spike in prices to wake the US up; we need to be more environmentally friendly and more conservative in using up our planet's resources. We cannot continue to pollute our world with cheap fossil fuels. There are better, cleaner, and possibly cheaper ways of transportation.

This is also a double-edged sword because analysts are saying that oil prices may go back below $100 making gas cheaper once again. This may increase the chances of an economic recovery, but there may be a catch. We forget to soon how painful it is to fill up the tank, and then gone with the ideas of being "green" and conserving what we have.

We must find new ways of creating our energy; homes, cars, buses, jets, machinery, and the list goes on. If gas prices go back down, do not forget what must ultimately be done about energy.