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ROAD TRIP

Stabilizing Fuel Prices: Good News in Advance of Summer

May 12, 2016 by admin Leave a Comment

Motorists can expect lower fuel costs this summer driving season.

Ford Transit

Drivers should face less costly fill ups at gas pumps this summer.

Fuel prices may finally have begun to stabilize after reaching the highest prices we have seen in six months earlier in May. Refineries have increased production to meet record-high demand and that effort has forced gas prices down earlier this week by one penny to a national average of $2.21 a gallon according to AAA.

The price stabilization is welcome news for consumers as Memorial Day weekend arrives in two weeks, signaling the unofficial start to summer. At $2.21 per gallon, fuel prices have risen by 17 cents in May alone, but the average remains 45 cents cheaper than this time last year.

Record Gas Stock

According to the United States Energy Information Agency, gasoline stock is at the highest level since the start of May, setting a record. AAA expects drivers to take to the road this summer at levels not seen since 2007, the last year before the onset of the Great Recession. As long as supply keeps up with demand, fuel prices should remain relatively stable throughout the summer months. This is good news for consumers and should benefit the economy, especially the hospitality industry.

As always, fuel prices vary across the country with California ($2.80) currently with the highest averages followed by Hawaii ($2.64), Washington ($2.49), Nevada ($2.48), and Alaska ($2.46). Fuel prices are now above $2 per gallon in most locations, although Oklahoma ($1.95), Kansas and Missouri ($1.98), and Texas and Arkansas ($2.00) are currently at or below that threshold.

Regional Differences in Fuel Prices

Although historically coming in much higher than the rest of the nation, the western states have seen some of the largest year-over-year drops in fuel prices. California drivers currently are saving 91 cents per gallon to 73 cents for Nevada. Alaska drivers are saving 69 cents at the pump on average to 60 cents in Oregon. Meanwhile, Hawaii drivers are paying 59 cents per gallon less, while Arizona drivers are enjoying a reprieve of 55 cents per gallon on average.

Increasing demand on the west coast may put pressure on prices moving forward, but relief is on the way. Indeed, AAA says ExxonMobil’s Torrance, California, refinery should come back on line later this month once it restarts its fluid catalytic cracker and related gasoline production units.

Other regions are benefitting in various ways too. The Gulf Coast continues to enjoy the lowest fuel prices in the nation as the area benefits from a greater concentration of refineries. In the Midwest, prices are more volatile as the region deals with the twin challenges of increasing demand and heavy refinery maintenance.

On the East Coast, refineries coming back online have helped keep up with demand, although some of the highest costs in the nation are found in that area with Pennsylvania averaging $2.40 per gallon to $2.38 per gallon for New York.

Get Road Ready

As always, prepare your car for the road ahead, especially for those long trips that will take you far from home.

Pull out your maintenance schedule, taking care of all due items before you leave. Even if something isn’t due for another 1,000 or 2,000 miles — such as tire rotation — get this done now. The last thing you want is an incident or accident resulting from neglected maintenance.

If you belong to a roadside assistance club, verify that your information is current. Carry with you your card, download an app, and check that your account is active. Lastly, go through your emergency kit to ensure jumper cables are present, as well as all tools, a working flashlight with extra batteries, flares, cloth, and other items. You can build a kit yourself or buy one preassembled.

See Also — You Can Put Together a Car Emergency Kit

Filed Under: Automotive News Tagged With: AAA, CALIFORNIA, EMERGENCY KIT, GAS PRICES, MEMORIAL DAY, OKLAHOMA, REFINERIES, ROAD TRIP, SUMMER DRIVING

Long Distance Driving Tips and Tricks

April 14, 2013 by admin 2 Comments

Long distance driving and your summer road trip.

As the temperature climbs, driving rises with it. Indeed, from Memorial Day to Labor Day gas prices are typically at the highest levels as supply stays just ahead of demand. Summer is also when long-distance driving becomes more commonplace as families head out on vacation. Before you take your next major road trip, keep the following tips and tricks in mind.

Long Distance Driving

1. Early planning. Make sure that your car is road-ready by changing the oil and swapping out the air filter before you leave. If your tires have not been rotated these past 5,000 miles do so now. Replace your tires if the tread life is near its end or if your tires are more than six years old. Complete your major long-distance driving preparation 7 to 10 days before you leave.

long-distance driving2. Emergency kit and supplies. Pull out your emergency kit to review that the items needed are present and still useful. You may need to replace batteries, put in a new jug of water, include a fresh pack of flares and add in new hand cleaner. Your kit should also include foam tire sealant, spare fuses, a working flashlight, a fire extinguisher and a first-aid kit. A backup cell phone battery, small bills and loose change can come in handy. A blanket, spare clothing and footwear may be useful for any long-distance driving excursion.

3. Pack smart. Quite easily you can overload your car. Just as easily some of that extra baggage might best be left at home. Consider what you want to bring and what you need to bring. Every 100 lbs. added will reduce your gas mileage by 2 percent. Place your heaviest items in the center of the trunk or storage compartment too much weight on one side can affect handling. Do not obscure your line of sight and make sure everything is securely in place a sudden stop can send unsecured items flying.

4. Food and beverages. Likely, you will be doing much eating while on the road. Just as likely you may be tempted to stock up on sweets, fatty snacks and sugary beverages. Sugar can give you a burst of energy and then sap you of your strength. Energy drinks may be the better choice, but always drink water. Limit your caffeine consumption and keep your snack items within easy reach. For meals, pull over and enjoy a picnic or find a place to dine eating and driving can be a distraction. Bring with you napkins, hand wipes and paper towels.

5. Head on out. Choose the best time to hit the road, getting ample rest before you begin your long distance driving trip. If you head out before sunrise, you may still be tired. Bring coffee or tea with you and eat a light meal before getting started. Have your route mapped out in advance and plan to take breaks at least once every two hours. If you will be traveling more than 500 miles, spread your road trip over two days or trade off with another driver. If tired, leave the highway and take a nap of at least 10 minutes advises the US Department of Transportation. Shift your transmission into overdrive and use cruise control for maximum fuel savings.

Travel Considerations

Rely on your navigation system or GPS device to help get you where you are going. Key in your roadside assistance number before heading out and call for assistance if your car breaks down and you cannot handle repairs yourself.

If your long distance driving trip will take you through an isolated region, you may want to give your route information to a family member or a friend. Expect that you will be out of cell phone range at times and may need a concerned person to keep tabs on you if your arrival has been delayed.


Further Reading

Summer Tires for the Ultimate in Driving Performance

5 Fuel Savings Tips for Savvy Drivers

Filed Under: Special Tagged With: CELL PHONE, EMERGENCY KIT, FOOD, GPS, LONG DISTANCE DRIVING, ROAD TRIP, tires, TRAVEL TIPS, WATER

Five Steps to Follow for a Fun Family Road Trip

February 24, 2013 by Jay Allen 1 Comment

Planning a family vacation can be difficult as there are often many interests and age groups involved, so pleasing everyone may seem impossible. However, many families find that a road trip offers an ideal way to experience many different areas and activities while still bonding together as a family.

Taking the time to plan ahead and stay flexible during the trip is critical to ensuring that the vacation is relaxing and interesting for all involved. Follow these five easy steps for creating a memorable family road trip.

1. Plan an Itinerary

Discuss ahead of time what is most important to everyone and create an itinerary, but leave space each day for unplanned activities. Logistically, it is easy to know what will be done each day as the family travels because attractions will be visited along the way.

Keep in mind driving time, unexpected traffic, and leaving enough time for meals and other stops when making the schedule. Incorporating an app such as the free Trip Planner by GPSmyCity (iOS, Android) allows for creating an easily accessible itinerary which can be shared with the other travelers, and the app includes packing lists and activity suggestions for the area.

2. Stock the Car

road tripA road trip invariably requires a good bit of time spent driving in the car. Car snacks and drinks help to keep extra stops to a minimum, so get everyone to pick a few of their favorites for the trip.

Small children require activities, books, and toys. Get them excited to travel by checking out library books about the places the family is traveling to and bringing the books in the car. Traditional road trip games such as I Spy and license plate bingo are easy to play with the whole family. Modern parents know that smartphones also offer a multitude of games for all ages and watching movies in the car can offer quiet time for everyone.

3. Have Down Time

A family trip is all about togetherness, but even the closest family can start to feel the stress of traveling in close quarters, sleeping in the same space, and spending every bit of the day together. While on the road it may be difficult to get some down time, but upon arriving at a destination allow for time for everyone to explore a bit on his or her own.

If traveling with young kids it may be best for those with different interests to go along with an adult who shares that passion. Forced togetherness for the entire trip will only result in bad memories. Agree on a meet up time and location for later in the day, a meal such as lunch or dinner can be a great way for everyone to come back together and share about their experience.

4. Be Flexible

Even the best laid plans have a way of falling through. Any number of factors from weather, road conditions, or simply the interruption of a much needed naptime for a little one can affect how the plan works out in reality.

It is important for family members to have some flexibility. An outdoor concert or show can be rained out, so have a backup plan.

5. Reassess

On the way home consider what worked best on the road trip to the destination and what could be changed to make the trip home even better. Tap into resources such as the Greatest Drive GPS Road and Trip Finder (free for iOS, Android) which shows scenic roads to take based on recommendations from other users.

Taking a different route home makes it seem like a new trip with fresh sights and local attractions to take in. Before making any big changes make sure they work for everyone.

Filed Under: Fun News Tagged With: car tips, FAMILY, RECREATIONAL VEHICLE, ROAD TRIP, travel, VACATION

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