London ( CNN ) -- Gas prices might have breached the $ 4 per gallon mark in the U.S. , but there wo n't be much sympathy for the American plight in Europe . In fact , that U.S. price of £2.52 a gallon looks highly affordable compared to the UK 's current average cost of £6.22 ( $ 9.85 ) . In some places here you 'll pay an eye-watering £7.27 ( $ 11.52 ) for a gallon of super unleaded . And prices throughout the rest of Europe are similarly high . But it is worth sparing a thought for the hard-pressed Norwegians who 'll pay £7.28 ( $ 11.54 ) for a gallon of the regular stuff across their country . If the price of oil was the only factor to dictate the expense of gas it would n't be such a bitter pill . But it is n't . The government decides how much we 're going to pay per gallon . Surprise , surprise , it also decides that the majority of it should be diverted to their coffers . So of our £6.22 average , £3.74 ( $ 5.92 ) , or a bit over 60 % , ends up in the Treasury 's back pocket . The government is n't the only guilty party . Fuel producers take 36 % , which goes some way to explaining Shell 's obscene £18.1bn ( $ 28.6bn ) profits from last year . What 's the highest price you 've seen ? And of course unrest in the Middle East including sanctions against Syria and simmering discontent over Iran is n't helping . But every time the price of oil goes up , the British Government is quids in . Its second tax , VAT ( Value Added Tax , similar to U.S. sales taxes ) , is levied on the final cost , giving us an inescapable double whammy . Hardly unsurprisingly , all this money grabbing has had a noticeable effect on the cars Europeans drive . People now discuss their motors in terms of miles per gallon rather than miles per hour . Owning a car that does a mere 35mpg seems so last century . And no one will be impressed unless your mpg figure starts with a six . Would I like to be smoking about in a dirty great beast with a dipsomaniac 's thirst for the hard stuff ? Of course I would . But if I could afford to buy such a car , running it would be akin to having a mistress who drinks champagne rather than chardonnay . At first I felt deep resentment at being forced into a small car . But you know what ? Today 's small cars are big in benefits . The Volkswagen Polo I now drive is the same size as the first ever Golf . The difference is it 's comfier and has more features , including a petrol gauge that moves in slow motion . Fuel is a drug the U.S. has long since needed weaning off . Admittedly Americans have to cover greater distances than Europeans . But you do n't need a glorified double bed powered by a throbbing great V8 to do that . A sensibly-sized car with a two-liter turbo will do the job just as comfortably . And with developing nations such as China , Brazil and India demanding ever more fuel , the planet ca n't put up with anyone 's penchant for gas-guzzling monsters any more . But if the European experience is anything to go by , the $ 4 gallon is n't going to alter driving habits dramatically . America needs petrol prices to double if people are to permanently park up their 15mpg pick-up trucks . Maybe then it 'll elicit a bit of sympathy from over here . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of James Foxall .
In the UK , a gallon of gas can easily come to around $ 10 , says writer , compared to around $ 4 in the U.S. Foxall : High price of fuel impacts the type of car that Europeans drive . Europeans now discuss their cars in terms of miles per gallon , says writer , rather than miles per hour . Writer : America expects petrol prices to double if people are to permanently park up their 15mpg pick - up trucks .