Paper road maps still play role in digital age
In spite of GPS in nearly every mobile phone and multiple online map options, AAA members still want paper maps.
"It (online maps) has slowed down business," Kathy Kramer Miller, auto travel manager at AAA in Pottsville, said Monday of paper road maps. "A lot of the GPS people come in though just to get more maps for backup."
Miller said between the Pottsville office at 340 S. Centre St. and the 202 E. Broad St. office in Tamaqua, the automobile association gives out about 20,000 paper maps free to members in a year, which are all updated annually. The travel season is from mid-March to mid-October.
Most of the maps AAA stocks are sheet maps for different states and regions, but Miller said they also have United States, European and world maps.
"We did over 11,000 routings this year and most of those take a marked map with them," Miller said.
She said that most of the reasons people want the maps is if they get stuck in traffic, they can easily use a physical map to seek an alternative route.
AAA: $4 gas likely coming
Whenever there is volatility in the Middle East that causes a disruption of the shipment of oil, the financial effect is felt everywhere.
The European Union has promised to enact harsher sanctions on Iran and by July 1, halt Iranian oil imports completely. It is retaliation for Iran's perceived steps toward nuclear armament.
As that date gets closer, local motorists will see prices continue to tick upward on the signs at their go-to gas stations, forecasters have said.
The average cost of a gallon of regular gasoline in Florida already has risen by 11 cents in 17 days, according to AAA Auto Club South.
The state's average as of Wednesday was $3.653.
Jessica Brady, a AAA spokeswoman, said $4-per-gallon gasoline is all but certain.
"We're probably going to $4 gas. … For how long is questionable, but we probably are going to see it," she said.
The last time Florida saw the average cost for a gallon of gas surpass $4 was in July 2008. It came close in May 2011 when it reached $3.98.
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