Gas Prices Adding Work For Road Rangers
MIAMI (CBS4) - Gas prices continue to rise and that's taking quite a toll on the pocketbooks of everyone. Many drivers are trying to stretch their tank to the very limit to save money, but that's having an unintended consequence on a popular South Florida program.
Florida transportation officials say in March 2010, road rangers in South Florida responded to 209 calls from motorists who ran out of gas. In March 2011, the number had climbed to 369 drivers calling for help due to an empty gas tank.
"The majority of the calls in the past few weeks are gas calls," said road ranger Wanda Williams of the calls she's receiving in Broward County.
Tuesday morning alone, Williams said she responded to four people who had run out of gas on Interstate 95. Williams said most of the time; drivers are too embarrassed to admit they've run out of gas and blame the problem on a broken fuel gauge.
Salesman Dominic Paliandro said "it's ridiculous" that he's spending $200 dollars a week in fuel. Paliandro admits he's been close to breaking down on the highway, avoiding what he knows will be a painful experience at the pump.
Raena Huseman said she ran out of gas on her way to work in Ft. Lauderdale. She said she makes minimum wage and lives paycheck to paycheck.
"I remember when ten dollars used to get me a half a tank now it's not even a quarter of a tank," lamented Huseman.
The American Automobile Association (AAA) reported in the last week, the price for regular unleaded in Florida, and the nation, has risen to about $3.83 a gallon on average. Last year at this time, the price for unleaded regular was about a buck lest at 2.87 a gallon. And some say the price at the pump will only get worse before it gets better.
"There is little doubt that unrest in the Middle East and Northern Africa (MENA), and the associated concern of future supply disruptions, continues to fuel high crude prices," said AAA's Avery Ash in a statement. "This heavily reported instability in the important oil-producing MENA region, with no resolution imminent, has led investors to bet heavily that an investment in crude oil will be a profitable one as oil prices move higher."
In Miami-Dade drivers, who have seen the price at the pump go up about a nickel in the last week, are paying a bit more than the state average. Unleaded regular is averaging $3.89 a gallon; up from $3.63 a month ago. A year ago, the price of unleaded regular in the area averaged $2.92 a gallon.
In Ft. Lauderdale drivers are paying about $3.88 on average for a gallon of regular unleaded compared to $3.63 a gallon a month ago. Last year at this time regular unleaded averaged $2.90 a gallon.
The most expensive areas in the state to fill up are West Palm Beach, where regular unleaded is averaging $3.91, and Gainesville where it is averaging $3.90 a gallon. Jacksonville gas stations have some of the cheapest prices in the state, unleaded regular is averaging $3.76 a gallon.
Maria Perez ran out of gas on I-95 Tuesday afternoon and Road Ranger Wanda Williams responded with a gallon of gas.
"My car stopped in the middle of the road. I was able to get to the side," said Perez who conceded it was dangerous.
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