High Gas Prices Keep Road Rangers Busy
MIAMI (CBS4) – As gas prices continue to climb, it's not only taking quite a toll drivers' wallets it also creating more work for the state's Road Rangers.
On Interstates 75 and 95 in Broward and I-95 in Palm Beach County, Road Rangers helped a combined 2,217 motorists get gas in the first three months of this year. That's 221 vehicles more than in the first quarter of last year, about a 10 percent increase, according to Florida Department of Transportation.
Road Rangers also came to the rescue of 2,009 drivers who ran out of gas on Florida's Turnpike during the first three months of 2011. That's 228 more vehicles, or 11 percent, more than in the first quarter of last year.
Road Rangers typically provide 1 gallon of free gas to stranded drivers, just enough to get them to the nearest gas station, FDOT officials said.
The American Automobile Association (AAA) reports the price for regular unleaded in Florida has risen to about $3.89 a gallon on average. Last year at this time, the price for unleaded regular was a buck less at 2.89 a gallon.
In Miami-Dade, drivers have seen the price at the pump go up more than a nickel in the last week. Unleaded regular is averaging $3.95 a gallon; up from $3.69 a month ago. A year ago, the price of unleaded regular in the area averaged $2.93 a gallon.
In Ft. Lauderdale drivers are paying about $3.92 on average for a gallon of regular unleaded compared to $3.68 a gallon a month ago. Last year at this time regular unleaded averaged $2.91 a gallon.
The most expensive area in the state to fill up is West Palm Beach where regular unleaded is averaging $3.97 a gallon. Jacksonville gas stations have some of the cheapest prices in the state, unleaded regular is averaging $3.83 a gallon.
Check out the cheapest gas prices in your neighborhood at FloridaGasPrices.com.
