More consumers are running on fumes, leaving tow companies, auto clubs busy
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By Jennifer Palmer
Published: July 5, 2008
When the price of gasoline goes up, so do motorists calls to auto clubs and tow companies. Apparently more people are gambling on getting to a destination before running out of gas.
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Auto clubs stay busy with calls
In Oklahoma, both AAA and Allstate Motor Club say calls from customers who've run out of gasoline are up considerably this year. AAA is reporting a 22 percent increase, and Allstate has had 32 percent more calls.
"People (are) trying to beat the odds with the thought that the lower priced station is just around the corner,” said Chuck Mai, AAA Oklahoma spokesman.
Many people believe that gasoline prices have to come down, and maybe they can wait it out, but consumer confidence is failing and the nation's economy has taken a downturn that's causing families' budgets to be stretched, he said.
But Shelley Beeler, a spokeswoman for Allstate, wasn't willing to directly correlate the increase in out-of-gas calls with the price of gasoline.
How are consumers coping?
"Anecdotally, we know that consumers are trying hard to stretch their dollar and sometimes that means stretching fuel into fumes,” she said.
Historically high gas prices have caused 94 percent of consumers nationwide to make lifestyle changes, according to a survey by MapQuest. More than half are planning routes more carefully, and most are making a conscious effort to drive less.
Another change: 31 percent are partially filling their gasoline tanks.
But driving on empty is risky, Mai said. Stranded motorists can be a target for criminals, as well as a traffic hazard, he said.
The only safe solution, he said: bite the bullet and fill 'er up!
Toolbar sponsored by: David Stanley Ford


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