Drivers who milk the remaining drops of fuel in their tanks while waiting for prices to drop have often miscalculated — and been forced to call tow trucks to bring them gas.

Several tow truck companies said yesterday the number of "out-of-fuel" roadside service calls have doubled — or more — since Hawai'i's first-in-the-nation gas cap law took effect on Sept. 1.

It's an unintended consequence of the state setting gas prices each week and announcing the new rate five days before it takes effect. Last Wednesday, the state announced that wholesale gas prices would drop 44 cents on Monday, encouraging drivers to run on fumes until the new price kicked in.

One driver clogged up rush-hour traffic Monday night on H-2's Ka Uka Boulevard off-ramp while trying to get to the pumps at the Waipio Costco, according to Oscar Vera, the owner of Pacific Towing.

Another ran out of fuel last week on the eastbound H-1 off-ramp at University Avenue and rolled his Honda Accord to a stop near the end of the ramp's hairpin turn. The tow truck driver from Velvet Towing & Recovery who arrived with two gallons of gas had to stand in the blind spot of the curve — on the traffic side of the Accord — to pour in the fuel.

"People need to realize what's happening," said Lino Areola, the owner of Velvet Towing & Recovery. "Not only are they endangering themselves, but they're endangering the people trying to help them."

Pacific Towing drivers have brought fuel to drivers "on hills and in intersections," Vera said. "We've gotten quite a few calls from people stuck on the incline of the H-3 heading toward Kane'ohe. You've really got to be smart about this because once you get on the H-3, you have to go 13 miles before you'll find a gas station."

Victor Lujan, who worked the 4 a.m. shift at Powerlift Towing yesterday, said he has seen the number of out-of-fuel calls shoot up from about 20 per month "to roughly about 30 or 40."

"Before, it wouldn't be every day but now it seems like it is."

Roadside service calls, especially to provide gas, are just a small part of most towing operations, companies said.

ROADSIDE SERVICE

Elija's Towing & Recovery's three trucks respond to about 100 calls per week and used to see just two or three calls for drivers running out of gas. In the last few weeks, the number of fuel calls has jumped to about 10 per week, said supervisor Tony Knight.

"Yeah, we've been getting a lot of calls for that," Knight said.

The jump in out-of-gas calls should moderate this week because there will only be a modest savings for those drivers who hold out until Monday for lower prices. The state Public Utilities Commission will announce the new wholesale price cap today and it will take effect Monday. Advertiser calculations show that the cap is likely to fall 11 cents.

Not all tow companies report an increase in out-of-gas calls. Ed's Super Tow hasn't seen any change. "It's just not true for us," said owner Ed Deboyce.

Some of the tow companies don't provide roadside service for things like cars out of gas, flat tires, dead batteries and keys that have been locked inside.

Others have contracts with companies like AAA and Geico to respond to members who call for assistance.

Geico Insurance's emergency road service for policy holders typically costs $12 for every six months and includes a response by a tow truck operator, said Suzanne Worthen, assistant vice president overseeing Geico's centralized services, including emergency road service.

"If a customer were to run out of gas, we would contact a road service company and we would deliver the gas out to the customer," Worthen said. "But the customer still has to pay for the gas."

OUT OF POCKET

AAA officials in Hawai'i said yesterday that they could not immediately provide information about roadside service calls.

For drivers without roadside assistance coverage, running out of gas while trying to save fuel costs can end up getting expensive in a hurry.

Velvet Towing has responded to about seven out-of-gas calls in the last few weeks from customers without roadside coverage. Each time, the drivers have been charged the company's $55 service fee — plus the cost of two gallons of fuel.

"Instead of calling us out to bring them $5 or $6 worth of gas — plus the $55 service fee — they would have been better off filling up their tank with $55 worth of gas," Areola said. "In essence, the customer loses out."

Reach Dan Nakaso at dnakaso@honoluluadvertiser.com.