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WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — Gas prices are again averaging more than $4 per gallon nationwide, increasing costs for taxi and rideshare drivers who say filling their tanks is cutting into money available for food and other expenses.
AAA reported Wednesday that regular gas averaged $4.06 nationally. On Feb. 26, two days before the war with Iran began, the national average was $2.98 — about $1.08 less per gallon.
At Reagan National Airport, three taxi drivers and one rideshare driver told DC News Now that higher fuel costs are reducing what they take home.
“The money I should have used to buy food, I’m using it on gas,” one taxi driver said.
Fekadu, a taxi driver from Arlington, said the increase is affecting him even though he drives a hybrid.
“Before, a full tank of gas was like $45,” Fekadu said. “Now, it’s $65, sometimes $72. That’s very expensive.”
Another taxi driver said independent drivers must absorb the increase themselves.
“We pay from our pocket,” he said.
A rideshare driver said he now puts between $35 and $38 worth of gas into his vehicle each day.
Prices had reportedly fallen as low as $3.79 nationally earlier in July after Washington and Tehran reached an interim agreement. That agreement has since broken down, and renewed fighting has again slowed oil traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, according to The Associated Press.
President Donald Trump addressed the political pressure surrounding fuel prices Wednesday, saying Americans “don’t want the high gasoline prices” but arguing “they’re not against the war.”
Politico reported growing concern about the war’s economic cost among Trump’s MAGA base.
DoorDash said its emergency gas relief program, which gave Dashers 10% cash back on gas purchased with the DoorDash Crimson Card, ended June 30.
The company described the program as temporary assistance intended to help drivers without increasing costs for customers or merchants.
“Dashers with DoorDash Crimson can continue to access our standard rewards benefit of 2% cash back on gas purchases at the pump, whether they’re on a dash or not,” a spokesperson said.
Uber and Lyft had not responded as of publication.
This article will be updated if responses are received.
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