AAA recommends not letting your car fall below a quarter-tank of gas, both for the sake of your vehicle and for passenger safety. (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources/Flickr Creative Commons)
A man was shot in the leg Tuesday night near the intersection of Central Avenue and 79th Street around 9 p.m. – where he was stranded because his car ran out of gas.
That's according to the Los Angeles Times, and local police are saying that's virtually always an avoidable situation.
Regular vehicle maintenance and vigilance is key, said Senior Lead Officer Tony Saenz with LAPD's Newton Division.
"Make sure your vehicle is in proper working order so it doesn't break down," he said. "Be aware of your surroundings and always make sure you have fuel in your vehicle to get you back to your home destination." AAA echoes this advice and says drivers should never let their gas tank fall below a quarter-tank – both for the car's sake and passenger safety.
Saenz also said folks who are in unfamiliar areas and feeling uneasy can call someone they know to let them know where they are and when they should be home. Recipients of those phone calls, Saenz said, should mark the time. Callers should also be sure to share their location by giving an intersection or landmark.
Police also recommend taking another precaution when visiting an unfamiliar area you don't feel entirely comfortable in: Find the local police station and ask the officers at the front desk if there are any areas you should steer clear of. And if the desk officers can't help, ask for the watch commander.
Tuesday night's shooting is a reminder of what might have been prevented by a quick trip to the gas station. There were plenty in the area – zoom out on the map below to see the gas stations that were near where the shooting took place, which is indicated by a green marker:
View S Central Ave & E 79th St, Los Angeles, CA 90001 in a larger map
Keep on eye on that gauge, and once you get to a quarter-tank, make it a point to take five minutes to fill up.
Photo by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources via Flickr Creative Commons.
