Pushing on the pedal simply doesn’t come naturally anymore. Due to the recent increase in gas prices, students and staff alike have given driving a second thought.

Due to the recent U.S. involvement in the Iran war, the Strait of Hormuz has been shut down. Normally, a fifth of the world’s crude oil passes through the strait, but the recent blockage has caused a global inflation of gas prices. 

According to AAA Gas Prices, a website that reports gasoline prices based on surveys, the average price for a gallon of mid-grade gasoline, a blend of regular and premium gas, in California is $6.39. This price shows a drastic rise in comparison to last year’s average of $5. 

Social Studies teacher Sarah MacInnes said this increase is unlike anything she has ever seen.

“In the past, [the prices] might have reached that high for a couple of days, but to see it at this height for almost a month now is something that I haven’t seen before in my lifetime of driving,” MacInnes said.

The steady rise in prices has caused many students, such as sophomore Ryleigh Phillips, to be more cautious about driving.

“[I’m a] bit more reluctant to drive super far distances, especially when I’m kind of near a low tank of gas,” Phillips said. “I know that it’s going to be a pretty expensive payment.”

Similarly, sophomore Lynsie Wood has shifted her normal driving patterns due to increased prices.

“I’m definitely more cautious of where I drive and how far I go,” Wood said. “ I try to make rounds quicker, and I plan out where I’m going so I don’t have to drive farther than I need to just to save gas.” 

Because prices vary by stations, students like Phillips have to plan around which ones are more expensive than others.

“Sometimes I’m trying to get gas in a more convenient spot closer to where I am, but then I’m looking at the prices, and it’s more expensive, so I have to drive further to find a gas station that’s not quite as expensive,” Phillips said.

Due to the increased costs and overall inconvenience of driving gas cars, students have begun to look for alternative transportation options.

One option Wood had looked into was public transportation. However, she noted that San Jose does not have an ideal public transportation system, thus rendering the option ineffective.

“Where we live, it doesn’t exactly make sense, because everything’s more spread out,” Wood said. “I feel like we don’t live in a confined area, so it’s harder to [take] public transportation.”

Another alternative mode of transportation Wood has considered switching to is a hybrid car, such as a Lexus, which runs on both fuel and electricity.

“They can use both gas and electricity,” Wood said. “So, for longer distances you can use gas, but then for shorter distances you can use electricity. Now, you don’t always have to go buy more gas.”

MacInnes occasionally stops using automobile transportation altogether; she finds that, in some instances, it is simply easier to walk.

“If I’m just going to the grocery store for a couple of things, I’ll [walk] instead of getting in the car and driving a short distance,” MacInnes said.

Despite possible alternative modes of transportation, the spike in gas prices has complicated driving like never before. For the foreseeable future, the prices rely on the political tensions in Iran.

“If the tensions are reduced, we could see gas prices go down,” MacInnes said. “But if we’re still seeing these tensions, I could imagine that they’re going to stay high, or potentially rise even higher.”