Drivers ran out of gasoline while waiting for prices to fall

Sunday 06th April, 01:26 PM JST

TOKYO —

The Japan Automobile Federation had to respond to almost twice as many calls for emergency road services in the runup to the drop in gasoline prices because drivers looking to save some money waited to refuel their vehicles, JAF officials said Saturday.

In the three days through Tuesday, JAF offices across Japan received numerous calls from drivers who said they had run out of gas. The 24-hour road service operator received 1,230 emergency calls during that period, surging by 590 from a year earlier. The numbers were 401 calls, up 202, on Sunday, 425 calls, up 207, on Monday and 404 calls, up 181, on Tuesday.

Special tax rates on gasoline and other road-related items, introduced on a provisional basis in 1974 mainly to fund construction of the national road network, were extended a number of times in the past.

But they expired at midnight Monday, the end of fiscal 2007, when a bill to extend them for another 10 years was held up in the opposition-controlled Upper House.

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9 Comments

ancientone at 02:49 PM JST - 6th April

I know of several friends who act the same way. one of them actually drives a couple of miles out of his way to save 2 or 3 cents per gallon. I should think, if one drove slower and didn't start up fast from a stop makes more sense.
Desiderata1967 at 06:30 PM JST - 6th April

Well I certainly spend less time pressing the accelerator pedal than I used to, but the only way to really save on petrol is not allow voters to vote for a complete idiot to run the US government like they have the past 8 years!
Sarge at 06:46 PM JST - 6th April

Newsflash for Desiderata:

President Bush doesn't set the price of gasoline in Japan or anywhere else.
SuperLib at 01:23 AM JST - 7th April

I've never understood this. Is there any other product that people go to such extremes to save what amounts to a few dollars?
SuperLib at 01:24 AM JST - 7th April

President Bush doesn't set the price of gasoline in Japan or anywhere else.

Well President Bush doesn't live in this guy's closet either, but I have a feeling he still checks it every night. ;)
noborito at 02:34 AM JST - 7th April

ancientone now just a few cents. That's nearly 25yen per liter. (about 4 liters per gallon) So not 3 or 4 cents. We're talking almost 1.00USD per gallon cheaper. I'd drive 20 minutes for 1USD a gallon cheaper. Wouldn't you?
Hughgarse at 10:12 AM JST - 7th April

never understood that idea.. driving 5k to save 2 cents a liter. daft buggers
Altria at 10:25 AM JST - 7th April

I've never understood the idea of a gallon...
cleo at 10:27 AM JST - 7th April

A gallon isn't an idea, it's a measure of capacity. :-)