Car club predicts higher gas prices in coming months

Lane Ranger
Published: July 13, 2008

Dear Lane Ranger: I wonder if there has been a painting error on the new pavement at the intersection of Old Bridge Road and Minnieville Road. As presently marked by a pavement arrow, westbound traffic in the right-most lane of Old Bridge Road must turn right onto Lake Ridge Drive. That used to be the case a while back, but in recent months, that was changed to allow traffic in the right lane to continue straight until beyond the Harbor Drive intersection. That change was a good idea; it has helped relieve congestion there by taking full advantage of all the pavement. I suspect that whoever painted the arrow on the new pavement was going by the old plan for that intersection. Can you check it out?

Thanks.

David Pace

Dear David: The Lane Ranger talked to VDOT spokesman Mike Salmon and he said VDOT will indeed check things out.

"It sounds like this situation is a failure of detection due to resurfacing of the pavement. Our engineers will look into it and examine ways to fix this problem," Salmon said.

We're still feeling the gas pinch

Although it was a bit better in these parts, average gas prices nationally rose to $4.10 a gallon over the holiday weekend, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic.

The car club, citing figures from the U.S. Energy Department, reported that demand for gas was down 2.1 percent, or 9.3 million barrels a day, during the four weeks preceding the holiday.

Oil reached a record high of $147 a barrel Friday before closing at $145 a barrel.

Increased threats to supplies from Nigeria and from Iran, the world's fourth largest oil exporter, coupled with the possibility of a strike by Brazilian oil workers, caused the spike Friday, the release stated.

AAA predicts that in the coming week, crude oil prices could continue to rise because of the continued threats to supplies coming from Iran and Nigeria. Falling stockpiles in the United States could contribute to the rise in crude oil prices, the release stated.

The following are some interesting facts from a VDOT children's activities book:

• Nearly seven out of 10 people killed in work zones are motorists.

• Many crashes that occur in work zones are the result of people driving too fast.

• Fines for traffic violations in work zones are doubled.

• An average of 1,500 people are killed across the country by aggressive drivers.

• Lap and shoulder safety belts can reduce the chances of serious injury by about 50 percent.

• The safest place for infants and children is in the backseat.

• Every 2 miles, the average driver makes 400 observations, 40 decisions and one mistake.

• The first major Interstate route to be completed was I-495 in Virginia.