‘You just have to pay it,’ drivers say of record gas prices

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HAMILTON — The high cost of driving has become commonplace for many motorists, but for others the search remains for the lowest price.

“You just got to pay it; I’m not driving 20 minutes out of the way to save 3 cents,” said Virgil Davidson of Hamilton. “I don’t go out as much anymore, all I work for is to buy gas.”

The statewide average for regular gas was $4.159 Wednesday, according to AAA and Oil Price Information Service. That’s the highest average since $4.05 on July 3, 2008, said AAA spokeswoman Jacklyn Ghergurovich.

According to CincyGasPrices.com, at 9 p.m. Wednesday, the national average is $3.958.

Kenny Hancock of Middletown filled up his vehicle at Shell, 2411 N. Verity Parkway, where gas was $4.09.

Hancock said just on Tuesday he paid $4.19. He fills his tank almost daily for his job as a deliveryman for Pizza Hut.

“I don’t do anything but work so (gas prices) don’t affect my social life,” said Hancock, who puts in $15 to $20 each time he fuels up. “Prices are high just because they can; it’s not because of wars. No one’s going to quit driving.”

Gas was lowest in Middletown at Swifty, 512 N. University Blvd., at $4.07 per gallon, and in the Hamilton area is was $4.11 a gallon at Murphy USA on Princeton Road, according to CincyGasPrices.com.

Alex Monson of Liberty Twp. filled up Wednesday at Shell in Middletown. He said he shops around for a lower price because he doesn’t mind which brand of gas he uses.

“I’m trying to work more; I don’t spend a lot, just on food and gas,” he said.

Monson agrees with Hancock’s thought that companies choose to price gas at what they want.

Tracey Wheeler of Middletown said the high price of driving has forced her to cut back on spending.

“I just get the necessities, not the fun stuff or at least less of the fun stuff,” she said.

While Wheeler attributes the high cost of gas to turmoil in the Middle East, she hopes the U.S. will eventually invest more in its own resources.

“We have enough oil here to supply our country but we don’t want to,” said Wheeler, who hopes the U.S. focuses more on alternative energy.

Aaron Brown of Hamilton said the increase in gas prices hasn’t affected the way he spends money. The price increases are unavoidable, he said.

“I’m pretty frugal anyway, but with what’s going on overseas we should drill here,” said Brown, who spent $75 to fill his tank at BP, 20 N. Erie Highway, where gas was $4.12 a gallon.

However, Charles Hardwick of Detroit, Mich., who was in Hamilton visiting family, said $4.12 is a deal compared to the $4.22 in his hometown.

“I shop around on prices and have been driving less,” Hardwick said.

Staff Writer Thomas Gnau contributed to this report.