by: Andrew Schultz '11
At Westfield High School, students are starting to drive less frequently to school. They are either carpooling or just taking the bus. The kids aren’t driving to school because of the economy is getting worse. Since it is hard for kids to find jobs, they have a hard time paying for gas and car insurance. Also due to the country’s economic status, many parents are unable to help their kids pay for both gas and car insurance.
“There are way more kids on the bus and carpooling,” says Officer Summers. “It’s a good idea for the kids to take the bus right now because the traffic is bad, and it eases the strain on traffic.” When Officer Summers was in high school he walked to school because it was close enough and he did not want to waste money on gas. “I would like to see the same amount of cars that are here now, not many more,” said Summers.
Carpooling or taking the bus has its advantages, “Yes, it’s a good idea if that’s what the students need to do. Also the price of gas and car insurance is too much for students because there are less jobs to get hired at,” says WHS Principal Mr. Broderick. We have never run out of spaces in the parking lot, there was one time when only six parking spots were left.” When Mr. Broderick was a student in high school he didn’t have a car so he carpooled with friends. It’s a good idea for the kids to drive less to school because of the traffic, because the bridge has just been rebuilt. Mr. Broderick said it is the lack of jobs that affects the students from driving to school.
WHS Senior Joe Giffune drives to school. He spends a quarter tank of gas every week on gas. He said, “It’s about ten dollars a week on gas, just to drive to school.” Each month Giffune used to spend $90 a month on car insurance. Because that he got into an accident last year he now spends $120 on car insurance.
Brad Pease who is also a senior at WHS used to drive to school last year. Now doesn’t drive to school. “Gas was way too much for me to afford,” said Pease. Last year used to spend $15 on gas a week just to get to school and back home. Also is car insurance was a good amount of money for him to spend each month, on top of the $15 a week for gas. Pease used to spend $150 a month for car insurance. Every since senior year came doesn’t drive to school anymore because of gas, traffic and the cost of everything because the economy.
Depending on how much their job pays the students where they work. They can end up spending half their paycheck on their car insurance a month. Students should be aware that they could from $400 to $5500 a year on car insurance, depending on your history of driving.