Gas prices blew records for the second day in a row today, according to the drivers lobby group AAA’s Website.

In Neosho, the pumps were at $3.46 a gallon this morning, up three cents from Thursday’s record high. At more than $4 per gallon, the price for diesel would be laughable if it didn’t hurt so much.

Americans are now paying, on average, 21 percent more than they did a year ago for gasoline, states the AAA.

And local drivers aren’t exempted. The Daily visited a couple of gas stations in Neosho to hear how drivers are taking the skyrocketed fuel costs.

“It used to cost me $60 to fill my (diesel) truck up — now it’s costing $120,” said Justin Frossard. “That’s every week. That’s $120 you take out of my wages that I could be spending on other things to keep the economy going. Fuel keeps going up and up but if they don’t start bringing wages up with it, this economy is just going to start getting slower and slower. (High gas prices) affect everything we do. There’s no end to how far down the chain it’s going to go…there’s no end to it. It’s just trickling down the line harder and harder until it finally comes down to the American working man, and he pays the price.”

 “I’m driving less and probably driving a lot more conservatively now, without my foot being on the accelerator as much as it used to,” said Dale Ellis. “What do I think about the gas prices? I really don’t know what to say.”

“We’ve cut out all the extra traveling that we can already in the household,” said Curtis Rice. “We don’t go anywhere that’s not necessary — and that was at $3 a gallon. I don’t think there’s any reason for (gas to suddenly cost so much). I don’t see any way out of it, and cost of living raises don’t cover it.”

Mike Pogue agreed.

“You just stay home more,” he said. “Go back and forth to work and stay home on Saturday. And when you do come to town, you do everything you need to do when you go. But there’s nothing a person can do about it. You just have to deal with it and go on.”

Public transportation may be just the ticket, said James Pinkard.

“It’s taking up a whole day’s worth of pay just to drive to work,” he said. “It’s been really expensive, and I don’t think (gas) is getting any lower, is it? I bet it’s going to get up to $5 in the next three months. We should start a bus system here in Neosho. Hey, that’s what we need! We could have a serious bus system here.”

“I’m spending probably $400 a month in gas,” said Tyler Casey. “I’ve pretty much cut out on doing anything. I pretty much just go straight to work and straight home now…I don’t what I’m going to (if gas goes up much more). Stay at home I guess.”

— Compiled by Shalee Vlasin, Daily News intern.