AAA Offers Tips to Ease Effects of Current High Gas Prices

AURORA, Ill., April 12 -- As the nation grapples with this new era of escalated gasoline prices, AAA suggests means that can ease the strain this situation places on consumers' wallets.

"It boils down to consumption -- the less you use the less you pay," says Kris Lathan, local spokeswoman for AAA. "Conservation not only helps consumers save money, it's good for the environment and lends itself to road safety."

  Following are tips from AAA that can help you save gasoline and money:
  -- Look for low fuel prices, but don't waste gas driving to a distant
     location to save a few cents.
  -- Start your car properly by not racing a cold engine to warm it up or
     allowing it to idle for an extended time.
  -- Maintain a steady speed, as quick starts and sudden stops waste fuel,
     are harder on vehicle components and increase the odds of a traffic
     crash.
  -- Facilitate routine maintenance, such as tire and fluid checks, to
     ensure maximum fuel efficiency.
  -- Use the air conditioner conservatively, using your vehicle's "economy"
     or "recirculation" setting, which reduces the amount of hot outside air
     that must be chilled.

These and other tips are published bi-annually in AAA's "Gas Watchers Guide", an 11-page pamphlet chocked full of national statistics and money-saving methods for gasoline conservation.

For decades and still today, AAA publishes public service guides on car care, fuel economy and safety. In 1943, AAA published its first guide, "Keep 'em Rolling" to assist with gasoline rationing required by World War II. The first "Gas Watcher's Guide" was published in the 1970s, the same period when American motorists faced escalated gas prices as a result of the Arab Oil Embargo. The "Gas Watcher's Guide" companion brochure, "Your Driving Costs", has been produced annually since 1950. That year, driving a car 10,000 miles annually cost 9 cents per mile, and gasoline sold for 27 cents a gallon. For information on fuel conservation, road safety and more, consult your nearest AAA branch location or visit AAA.com.

AAA is a federation of motor clubs serving 48 million members in the United States and Canada with automotive, travel, financial, and insurance services. For more than 100 years, AAA has represented the interests of the nation's motorists and served as an advocate for various traffic safety and travel related issues. AAA has served that role in Illinois and Indiana since its founding in Chicago in 1906.

AAA Chicago offers automotive, travel, insurance and financial services. It is part of The Auto Club Group (ACG), the largest affiliation of AAA clubs in the Midwest, with 4.1 million members in eight states. ACG clubs belong to the national AAA federation, a not-for-profit organization, with more than 48 million members in the United States and Canada.