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Rising Gas Prices Make Fuel Conservation Fashionable, AAA Says

9 November 1999

Rising Gas Prices Make Fuel Conservation Fashionable, AAA Says

    ORLANDO, Fla.--Nov. 8, 1999--This year's escalating gasoline prices should make energy conservation more popular with motorists, according to AAA.
    Nationwide, the average price of self-serve regular unleaded gasoline has swung from under a dollar per gallon in the first quarter of the year to last month's average price of $1.293, AAA's monthly Fuel Gauge Reports show.
    To help motorists keep their fuel economy skills current, John Nielsen, director, AAA Auto Repair Network, suggests the following:

--   Keep tires properly inflated. This will reduce the resistance
     your vehicle must overcome to start moving and to keep going.

--   Accelerate gently, brake gradually and avoid hard stops. Quick
     acceleration and speeds requiring hard braking waste fuel.

--   Don't let the vehicle idle for more than a few minutes. Idling
     consumes half-a-gallon to one gallon of gas per hour and wastes
     more gas than restarting the engine.

--   Check the engine oil level when buying gasoline to be sure the
     engine is lubricated properly.

--   Combine errands into one trip or go to one location to take care
     of as many errands as possible.

--   Pack lightly when traveling and avoid carrying items on the
     vehicle's roof, which increases wind resistance.

    Other ways to save money on gasoline purchases include not using mid-grade or premium fuel unless it is recommended by your vehicle's manufacturer, aggressively shopping for the lowest gas price in your area, and using public transportation where available or car-pooling to work or school.
    AAA is a not-for-profit federation of 89 clubs with 1,100 offices providing more than 42 million members in the United States and Canada with travel, insurance, financial and auto-related services.