Californians running out of gas more often

Running out of gas is a growing problem for drivers in Southern California, where gas prices are almost the highest in the nation, auto club officials say. The Automobile Club of Southern California reported that calls for roadside assistance because of empty tanks are up 13 percent over last year, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday. Prices are at their highest point since the summer of 2008, when California gas prices averaged $4.61 a gallon. On Friday, Californians were paying an average of $3.815 a gallon, second only to Hawaii, where prices were almost 80 cents higher. "When prices go up, people like to push it," said Jason Toews, of GasBuddy.com, which tracks gas prices. "If it is costing $50 or $75 or $100 to fill up, that is real money they don't want to part with." Experts warn that driving on fumes while trying to find the cheapest gas could be a costly habit. "As painful as trips to the gas station may be getting, letting your car regularly run on an almost-empty tank can cause even more wallet damage with expensive repairs," said Steve Mazor, who manages the research center at the auto club.