PRINCETON, N.J., March 17 (UPI) -- Two out of three Americans see buying more fuel-efficient vehicles as a "patriotic" move, a poll by Opinion Research of New Jersey shows.
The poll was released in conjuction with a Web site, 40mpg.org, which advocates a federal fuel efficiency standard of 40 miles per gallon. Under the corporate average fuel economy program, or CAFE, cars must average 27.5 mpg, and light trucks must average 22.2 mpg by 2007.
The survey shows that about half of Americans have either already purchased (26 percent) a more fuel-efficient vehicle or are considering it (24 percent). Three of five conservatives (57 percent) feel that buying a more fuel-efficient vehicle is a patriotic act.
Nine out of 10 (89 percent) agreed on the importance of government action to reach the 40 mpg efficiency level for U.S. vehicles to reduce greenhouse gases and cut dependence on Middle Eastern oil.
Some 1,013 adults, 18 and over, took part in phone interviews Feb. 10-13.
