Nova Scotians alter driving habits due to high fuel prices: Poll

CITYnews halifax / By  Steve Gow

According to a new survey, recent surges in the price of gas and diesel are changing the driving habits of Nova Scotians.

Conducted by Halifax-based Narrative Research, 92 per cent of respondents say they are either somewhat or extremely worried about the jump at the pumps in the province.

In part because of that concern, 42 per cent say they are driving less in the poll carried out between April 9 and April 12 among more than 1,200 respondents.

The release of the results comes after Nova Scotia saw gas prices fluctuate wildly this past week, going from an 11.5-cent drop following Ottawa’s removal of the federal excise tax on fuel Monday, only to see two increases later in the week.

Between the weekly price adjustment by the Nova Scotia Energy Board on Friday and its invoking of the interrupter clause on Saturday, gas prices surged back up more than 17 cents.

Related:

• Interrupter clause pushes N.S. fuel prices up further on Saturday
• Factor fuel costs into car purchases amid high gas prices, experts urge
• Gas, diesel prices drop in N.S. after federal tax temporarily taken off

The results of the poll, which was conducted prior to last week, suggest that those escalating prices are impacting the travel plans of Nova Scotians as well.

A follow-up question regarding the likelihood of travelling out of province by vehicle this summer, only 12 per cent of respondents admitted that option was “extremely likely.”

Additionally, 34 per cent of Nova Scotians said that it was “not at all likely” they would take a driving vacation to another province in Canada due to the price of fuel.