Driving past the local gas station it becomes evident that gasoline prices are once again on the rise.

Nevertheless, the nation’s insatiable thirst for oil leaves few options for EC students who must endure the price fluctuations in their efforts to carry out their daily routine.

For some students, increased gas prices have led them to leave their vehicles at home and to opt for other means of transportation, including carpooling and public transportation.

“I drive an Expedition, so I get about ten miles a gallon. It’s about fifty dollars to fill my tank every week,” Tim Revero, nursing major, said. “I keep my car at home (and get rides from) my friends.”

Although public transportation and carpooling help alleviate some of the financial burden caused by increased gas prices for some students, still others must continue to spend up to $50 on gas each week.

“I live in Hawthorne and I work in Redondo Beach so I still have to drive every day to work and drive every day to school,” EC student Laura Eisenhower said. “The bus just takes too long to wait for, but if you have a car and if you have enough money, it’s like a necessary evil.”

Eisenhower drives a 1982 Toyota Celica and finds herself spending anywhere from $25 to $30 every two weeks in gas.

Students currently find themselves redistributing their budgets in order to help pay for their weekly expenses on gas.

“I don’t have money to spend on things I would rather be spending (my money) on because gas is a necessity in this day and age,” Ethan Pruett, EC student, said.

Although to most people there seems to be little rhyme or reason to the determination of gas prices, there are many factors including crude oil cost, distributing and marketing costs, taxes and local station mark-ups that contribute to the different prices of gas.

The price for crude oil, the principal component of gasoline, is mostly determined by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), which is composed by 12 different nations including Iraq, Kuwait and Venezuela.

OPEC produces 40 percent of the world’s oil production and holds two-thirds of the oil reserves in the world.

In order to control gas prices, the OPEC reduces production causing an increase in prices.

In California, higher gas prices can be attributed to higher environmental standards, as well as higher state taxes when compared with other states throughout the nation.This adds approximately 33.5 cents per gallon more to the price.

The current state of foreign affairs is also a factor that students believe is affecting the increased gas prices.

“I don’t understand; you kill more than six thousand people and you still don’t get cheaper gas,” Pruett said. “You think that with that much we would be able to get something.”

“It would be nice if the government took off the taxes that they’ve been charging on gas or at least to cut them in half because we are paying enough as is,” Pruett said

Although gas prices have remained constant for the last couple of days, there is no certainty whether these prices will remain, gas station attendant Ali Mo, said. Mo works for Prena Gas Station on Crenshaw and Redondo Beach boulevards.

“Two days ago gas prices went down four to five cents,” Mo said. “I don’t know what will happen in the next couple of days.”