The Hidden Cost of Rising Gas Prices: A Data Look at America’s Return to Risky Travel

Rising fuel prices are reshaping how Americans move across the country, and new study data compiled by Suzuki Law Offices shows that the financial strain is pushing some toward unsafe travel behaviors. The findings reveal a complex picture of economic pressure, transportation inequality, and public safety concerns that intersect in ways many communities are already feeling. The study examines gas price trends, hitchhiking attitudes, pedestrian fatality rates, and the broader issue of transport poverty, offering a detailed look at how rising costs may be influencing risky mobility choices.

Gas Prices Reach New Highs

The national average price for a gallon of regular gas reached 4.11 dollars on April 15, 2026, a 29.5 percent increase from the previous year. This jump follows a steady climb from 3.64 dollars in March 2026 and 3.17 dollars in April 2025. While prices have not yet reached the record 4.93 dollars seen in June 2022, the upward trend suggests another prolonged period of financial strain for drivers nationwide.

A state‑by‑state breakdown shows wide variation in average prices:

Rank	State	Average Price (April 2025–2026)
1	California	5.89
2	Hawaii	5.46
3	Washington	5.36
6	Arizona	4.70
10	Florida	4.22

California, Hawaii, and Washington posted the highest averages, while Oklahoma recorded the lowest at 3.44 dollars per gallon. Every state experienced a significant increase, but some saw especially sharp spikes.

States With the Largest Gas Price Percentage Increase

• Kentucky 42.5 percent • Tennessee 42.2 percent • New Hampshire 38.8 percent • Mississippi 38.2 percent • Arizona 38.1 percent

States With the Smallest Increase

• Nebraska 18.4 percent • North Dakota 18.6 percent • South Dakota 19.5 percent • Minnesota 19.5 percent

Metro‑level data shows even more dramatic changes. Elizabethtown‑Fort Knox, Kentucky, saw prices rise more than 50 percent, while Cleveland, Tennessee, and Bowling Green, Kentucky, also approached 50 percent increases.

Diesel prices followed similar patterns. California topped the list at 7.52 dollars per gallon, followed by Hawaii at 6.73 dollars and Washington at 6.67 dollars. Arizona posted the highest single‑year diesel percentage increase at 68.8 percent.

How Americans Are Feeling the Impact

Survey data collected March 8, 2026, shows that 82 percent of Americans feel affected by rising gas prices either “a lot” or “a little”. Only 13 percent said they were unaffected. With hundreds of millions of people impacted, the financial pressure is widespread and deeply felt.

Transport Poverty and Limited Mobility

Nearly 45 percent of Americans lack access to public transportation, leaving millions dependent on private vehicles for essential travel. Rising fuel costs, insurance premiums, repair expenses, and car payments compound the burden, especially for low‑income households. Sixteen percent of adults living below the poverty line have no reliable transportation, compared with less than three percent of high‑income adults.

Rural areas face the greatest challenges. Thirty percent of rural America has no public transit option at all. Many of these regions also experience disproportionately high fatality rates. More than 40 percent of U.S. traffic deaths occur in rural areas, where long distances, high speeds, limited emergency services, and aging infrastructure create dangerous conditions.

Hitchhiking: Public Attitudes and Safety Concerns

The study includes survey data from May 2025 showing how Americans view hitchhiking. Eleven percent said they had hitchhiked and would do so again, while 20 percent said they had but would never repeat the experience. More than half of respondents said they had never hitchhiked and never would.

When asked whether they had ever picked up a hitchhiker: • 14 percent said they had and would again • 17 percent said they had but would not again • 52 percent said they had not and never would

Sixty‑five percent of respondents believe hitchhiking today is more dangerous than it used to be.

Documented Risks

The FBI’s Highway Serial Killings Initiative has linked more than 850 murders over several decades to long‑haul truck drivers, many involving vulnerable travelers such as hitchhikers. Historical studies reinforce the risks. A California analysis from the 1970s found female hitchhikers were seven times more likely than males to be victims of crime, with 80 percent of crimes against women involving sexual violence.

Drivers face risks as well. Those who pick up strangers may be vulnerable to robbery or assault.

Pedestrian Danger Along Roadways

Pedestrian fatalities have risen sharply. Between 2009 and 2023, deaths increased by roughly 80 percent, growing seven times faster than the population. Nearly two‑thirds of pedestrian deaths in 2023 occurred in areas without sidewalks.

The first half of 2025 saw more than 3,000 pedestrian deaths, according to GHSA estimates.

Why This Matters

The study conducted by Suzuki Law Offices highlights a broader issue: rising gas prices are not just an economic burden. They may be contributing to unsafe travel decisions among vulnerable Americans. Hitchhiking remains legal in most states, but the risks are significant. At the same time, pedestrian danger along major roads continue to rise.

Without expanded access to safe, affordable transportation, millions may find themselves forced into dangerous mobility choices simply to reach work, school, healthcare, or essential services.