AAA unveils online gas station locator

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The automobile club AAA is encouraging motorists to log on to find gas stations along their route and avoid becoming among the more than 2.5 million people who will need emergency fuel delivery this year.

Starting Thursday, travelers who use AAA's free TripTik online mapping tool can find the nearest gas stations and best fuel prices for about 100,000 U.S. locations. Users simply slide their mouse over each location to see prices for multiple fuel grades.

The service is designed for people planning long road trips on their computer as well as commuters with an Internet-connected laptop trying to find the closest place to fill up before the gas gauge hits "E."

Data come from the Oil Price Information Service, which regularly updates prices at gas stations nationwide. The locations are updated weekly and multiple-grade fuel prices are updated four times daily, according to AAA.

AAA officials say that numerous local club affiliates had asked the national organization to expand its Web site's fuel services offerings, especially after the summer months when gasoline reached $3 per gallon and more people came to the site to use the fuel cost calculators and other tools.