Each passing day brings us that much closer to the end of the school year for our children and their much-anticipated summer vacation. Unfortunately, as those summer vacations creep forward, so do the peak traveling months and, ultimately, so do gasoline prices.
In fact, prices have crossed the point of being travel prohibitive. Motorists face choices about whether they should buy groceries or fill their vehicles’ gas tanks, or eliminate some stops on the family vacation or not go on that sojourn at all. New Yorkers are pondering these scenarios more frequently as the summer approaches.
The days of cheap gasoline are only fond memories to us now. However, there are several proposals I’m advancing that would provide relief to the driving public. For instance, I am fighting to suspend the state tax on gasoline costing beyond $2 per gallon during the peak driving months. This could save consumers about 10 cents per gallon. We have also looked at the possibility of completely eliminating the sales tax on gasoline for peak driving months this summer.
My Assembly minority colleagues and I have also pushed the issue of alternative fuel sources becoming more readily available in New York. We’ve proposed everything from a tax credit for the purchase of a “flex-fuel” vehicle to retrofitting an existing car to allocating $27 million to pay for installation of alternative fueling stations at the 27 state Thruway rest stops.
It is my duty to stand up for my constituents and all New Yorkers who suffer pain at the pumps. I will continue to fight for lower prices until some sort of relief is achieved or an alternative fuel source becomes readily available. Until we reach those goals, I offer these money-saving fuel usage tips for the coming summer.
- Ensure all vehicle tire pressures are filled to factory specifications
- Drive the speed limit or less, and take routes that require little speed fluctuation as a way of conserving gas
- Form a carpool with co-workers or friends to reduce the high cost of daily commutes
- Plan to carry out various errands so only one trip is needed.