A gallon of regular gas in Ohio was listed at an average of $3.58 in Monday’s survey from auto club AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and Wright Express. That’s 15 cents cheaper than last Monday’s average of $3.73.

Lower oil prices have helped decrease how much drivers are paying for fuel. Oil prices have been near their lows for the year amid lingering concerns about global economic growth and ample crude supplies in the U.S.

The national average for regular gas is $3.70 per gallon, down a nickel compared with a week ago.

The higher gasoline prices cause some commuters to look for relief, others are resigned to the high cost of getting to and from work.

At the start of another workweek, Rocky Reed fills his gas tank at a Granville station, 35 miles east of Columbus. Inside, he bought coffee and smokes for his daily commute but paid little attention to the pump price for his gas.

No because it wouldn’t matter for me anyway, I drive a hundred miles a day. So, you figure 500 miles before I do anything for myself.

Reed says gas prices have been high for so long he rarely takes notice anymore. He paid nearly 60 dollars to fill his gas tank. He’ll need to fill it again in three days.

At the next pump, Cindy Steen also prepares for a long commute and doesn’t give much thought to the cost of gasoline.

“I really can’t afford to, because I commute an hour and a half a day.”

Reporter: “So what do you spend a week on gasoline?”

Steen: I don’t even think about it. Probably about $75.”

At $75 per week, Steen would spend nearly $4,000 this year for gasoline.

The federal energy department says last year the average household spent nearly three thousand dollars for gas. Gas prices peaked in Ohio in July of 2008 just a few cents north of 4 dollars per gallon.

Now, after more than four years of high gas prices, Triple A’s Kimberley Schwind says the motor club fields few driver complaints.

People just kind of muddle through it and do what they can to help conserve gas and you know save a little bit of money.

But, Ohio State University economist Matt Lewis says drivers are doing more than muddling through.

“They are reducing their usage a little bit and they’re buying more fuel efficient cars which softens the effect high prices have on their budget.”

Case in point: Matthew Green of Newark who traded in a six cylinder Jeep model for a used four cylinder ride.

“So I got me a little gas saver. It’s definitely not the nicest on the eyes but it helps a little bit. I had to spend money to save money. I definitely get better gas mileage but still the gas prices are ridiculous.”

Analyst Patrick DeHann at Gasbuddy.com says Green and other Central Ohio drivers could see some slight, temporary relief from high gas prices.

What we’ve seen is this tremendous rise up in prices to start the year. It’s much earlier than what we’ve been used to seeing. So there could be another second rally in prices that holds off until April or May.

And if pump prices increase again in the Spring, commuters like Rocky Reed will have little option but to dig a little deeper in their pockets to pay for gas.

“I can’t walk there, I mean what are you going to do. You have to do what you have to do.”

For the second part of his series, Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen reports on how and why the law is so much tougher for Ohio minors. Click the play button above to hear his report.

During the past four years, Ohio’s chapter of the Triple-A says its recorded a steady increase in the average age of cars and light trucks needing emergency roadside help. Ohio Triple-A spokeswoman Kimberly Schwind says tow truck drivers find many of the disabled cars are eight or nine years old and they often need more than a battery charge or a tire change.

“What we’re really noticing in terms of roadside assistance is, when people do need a tow its more for major problems than it is quick fixes, and that’s because people are ignoring the small fixes.” Says Schwind

Schwind adds people are holding on to their cars longer because of a struggling economy and she adds, many drivers also scrimp on minor repairs.

“So, they don’t want to spend a lot of money on repairs. If something is not unsafe then they’re not going to fix it right away.”

When Triple-A tows a car from the berm. It usually takes it to a repair shop. Tim Dutton, owner of Village Auto Care in Clintonville, also sees evidence of more drivers keeping their cars longer.

“Some of these cars should have been taken out back and put down a long time ago. People are shoveling all kinds of crazy money into them.”

Dutton says the cost of major repairs varies from a thousand dollars or more when engines or transmissions are involved.

But,it’s not just drivers and mechanics feeling the effects of driving older cars. Charities that depend on car donations are scrambling to replace income. At Volunteers of America on West Broad Street, Nicole Knowlton, reports a steep decline in car donations this year.

“Well, for this year when we look at comparisons to last year we’re looking at about a 38 percent decline in donations.” Says Knowlton. “And, really we attribute that to the overall economy.”

Knowlton says Volunteers of America auctions used cars to generate needed operating funds. She adds, demand for used cars has also increased and that has lead some auto dealers to pay consumers cash for used cars, sight unseen.

Associated Press contributed to this story