Kentuckians are paying more for gas these days. Lori Weaver Hawkins, the public affairs manager for Triple A Bluegrass, said they’ve shot up about 30 cents over the last month, to an average of $3.11 a gallon for regular grade. She said one factor is the B-P refinery fire in Indiana in early February.
“We thought everything was going to be fine with that, it was back online. But then they needed to do some work and some inspections to make sure they have everything taken care of there. And so that was shut down for a couple of weeks.”
Hawkins said with the predicted recession not happening, crude oil rose about 10 dollars a barrel in February – and spring break season, when gas prices usually rise because of increased demand, is just around the corner. Budget-conscious motorists may want to follow several suggestions from AAA. Among them, stick with regular grade, unless your vehicle requires higher. Hawkins said says vehicle maintenance is important, too – including checking your tire pressure.
“This time of year, we're seeing these temperatures really vary widely, you know, when it’s 35, 40 one day and then it's 70. You know, air will compress, contract and expand.”
Hawkins said aggressive driving, like jackrabbit starts and speeding, reduces a vehicle’s fuel efficiency. It’s also more likely to result in an accident, a ticket or both.
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