Low gas prices to spur more road trips

Most U.S. drivers say they are likely to take more long road trips this year than in the past due to low gasoline prices, motorist group AAA said.

A survey released Thursday found that 6 in 10 Americans said long road trips will spur them to take more road trips longer than 50 miles this year if gas prices stay low.

{mosads}Americans below 35 are more likely than older drivers to be spurred to take more road trips, AAA said.

But only 13 percent of the survey respondents reported that they drive more because of low gas prices.

AAA reported Thursday that the average price of gas was $2.58 per gallon, compared with $3.691 a gallon one year ago.

The Energy Information Administration expects gas prices to remain low through the busy summer driving season.

It predicted earlier in April that gas would average $2.45 a gallon throughout the summer, much lower than last year’s $3.59.