Sharky:

Predicated on my experience in Europe in the many times I have been there on business, European cluture is much more oriented to small villages closer to ones place of employment and less reliance on the automobile over typically shorter distances than in North America. Over time, N. America will likely alter its life style from a geographic positon relative to their place of employment. But this process will take a fair period of time to accomplish as it requires wholesale relocation of people. Such cannot be accomplished either easily or cheaply. It will require a lot of time.

Additionally, the European economy, due to high petrol prices, has encouraged more fuel efficent automobiles. Whereas, in N. America, due to overall lower prices historically for petrol, we in America will have a long process of changeover in our transiton to more fuel efficent vehicles. In Europe you are starting from a point of more fuel efficent vehicles, generally traveling shorter distances. This process by neccesity, wil require likely at least a decade to accomplish even if we begin to react to the situation today. Which we are not doing.

Lower prices on fuel, only exacerbates the problem, thereby, only putting off the impetus for needed change.

Brian