“I don’t tend to drive too far for extra things,” he said. “Like anyone else, too, I try to combine trips.”

Landey uses some techniques to keep his mileage high, such as maintaining proper tire pressure and accelerating slowly.

Sharon Stohler drives her van twice a day to Indianapolis’ west side to take her son Shaun to aviation school. He’s learning to build planes. The drive is 112 miles, round-trip.

On weekends, her 18-year-old son works part-time and brings home $225 every two weeks.

“It all goes to gas,” she said, while waiting in line to top her tank at $3.96 a gallon at Swifty, 605 E. Eighth St. “With the $40 I’m putting in today, I’ve spent $180 this week.”

She added, “You can’t win. There’s no way.”

Features Editor Scott Miley contributed to this story.

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Closest five counties Madison County residents commute to:

7,107 commute to Marion County

4,830 commute to Hamilton County

1,666 commute to Delaware County

753 commute to Hancock County

804 commute to Grant County

Represents 18.3 percent of work force in the county