You're only thinking of cars, and only comparing car use. You're neglecting things like the fact that plenty of people who might be car commuters in the US wou

You're only thinking of cars, and only comparing car use. You're neglecting things like the fact that plenty of people who might be car commuters in the US would statistically be public transit users in Germany. So, fuel cost pressures that would turn a German to public transit couldn't do the same for an American who lacks similar access to public transit. Hence the potential for the American's increased desire for fixing the problem at the automobile level. Whether it's true or not, I can't say. I am only commenting that comparing car commute times between the two countries doesn't really begin to address the question.