High Gas Prices, Buy a Hybrid

Hybrid Cars and Their Benefits

· Americans spend, on average, an hour per day in the car, and collectively over 8 billion hours per year stuck in traffic.

Demonstrate a Need (1^st main point)

-remind them of their beliefs

-health-Health effects;

· Cause acute respiratory problems, temporary decreases in lung capacity, and inflammation of lung tissue

· Impair the body's immune system

· Reduce the release of oxygen to body tissues

· Increase a person's risk of cancer-related death

· Contribute to birth defects, low birth weight, and infant deaths

· Harm blood vessels in healthy individuals

· Make healthy active children 3 to 4 times more likely to develop asthma

· The EPA estimates that particulate pollution kills more than 60,000 people per year. In addition, particulates are associated with increased hospital admissions and emergency room visits for people with heart and lung disease, as well as work and school absences. Particulates can travel deep into the lungs, or in smaller form, directly into the bloodstream.

· Lead damages organs, affects the brains, nerves, heart, and blood. Although overall blood lead levels have decreased since 1976, urban areas with high levels of traffic or industrial facilities that burn fuel may still have high lead levels in air. In 1999, ten areas of the country did not meet the national health-based air quality standards for lead.

-future for themselves and their children- many in the audience will soon have families of their own

-importance of protecting the environment

-Cars and environment trends;

· Driving a private car is a typical citizen's most air polluting activity.

• The 2000 census revealed that 3 out of 4 workers drive to work alone.


• Each single family household generates approximately ten vehicle trips per day.


• Less than 5 percent of the population uses public transportation.



• Health care costs due to transportation pollution total over $60 billion per year.

-Global warming affects; Carbon dioxide is the dominant greenhouse gas that causes global warming.