Even with falling gas prices, Americans driving less

Americans aren't guzzling gas like they used to, even though prices have dropped below $2 a gallon and are well below what they were last summer and a year ago.

While the drop may be simply tied to the poor economy, a recent Gallup poll found that 52% of Americans are driving less even though gas prices are now about 45% lower than they were a year ago, according to a Marketwatch story.

The lower the income, the more likely people were to drive less. Gallup found that consumers earning less than $75,000 a year were most likely to consolidate trips and drive less overall, mainly because gasoline eats up a larger percentage of their incomes. Of those who made less than $30,000 a year, 69% said they changed their habits and 68% of those in the $30,000 to $74,000 annual income range. For families making $75,000 or more, 56% said they changed their habits.