New Jerseyans are changing their driving habits to save cash! The New Jersey Turnpike Authority says traffic was down on both the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway during the first work week of the new year. Specifically, 70,000 fewer motorists took the Turnpike and 100,000 fewer drivers took the Parkway.

Some motorists say they've switched to side streets and other highways to avoid the toll hikes. The state raised tolls on the Turnpike and Parkway 50 percent on Jan. 1. Commuters tell News 12 New Jersey Shore Reporter Karla Bardiñas that they don't mind taking an extra 10-15 minutes to get to their destinations in order to save money on tolls.

Vincent D'Antonio, of Hazlet, used to take the Parkway each day to work. Now, he drives on Route 35 instead. He says, "I refuse to support their ideas or ideals of what they want to do with the middle class working people. The answer is not always raise, raise, raise because they're out of money. It's not fair!"