Syracuse-area motorists have almost certainly noticed gas prices have jumped several cents per gallon in just the last week. New data from AAA shows the average price rose seven cents from last Monday to $3.38 per gallon. That’s about 15 cents below the national average, and a nickel less per gallon than motorists were paying at this time last year. CNY communication specialist with AAA of Central and Western New York Valerie Puma says a number of factors are behind the higher prices, including the transition to the summer blend of fuel and more people on the road.
“We're seeing not only spring break demand driving up prices and kind of fluctuating throughout this month, but also that switch to more expensive gasoline," Puma said. "There's also been a slight increase in the overall price of oil.”
Puma says oil prices account for about half the price of what we pump into our tanks. She says gas prices should start to stabilize after Easter, but then rise again heading into summer.
SLOW DOWN/MOVE OVER LAW EXPANDS
Starting Wednesday, motorists will be required to slow down and move over for disabled vehicles on the roadside. That’s a new addition to the Slow Down/Move Over law, which requires passing motorists to do so for emergency vehicles, tow trucks, and maintenance vehicles. Puma says between 2015 and 2021, 48 New Yorkers were struck and killed while outside a disabled vehicle.
“They know how to change a tire. They were doing it themselves," Puma said. "They didn't need police, they didn't need AAA to come and help. But because other drivers did not slow down, did not move over into the other lane to give them adequate space to do what they needed to do, they were unfortunately killed because people were not paying attention.”
The original Slow Down/Move Over law took effect in 2010. The state is planning an educational campaign about the new provision, and AAA will launch a secondary effort to raise awareness later this spring.
