Mom's on the Road More, Shows Need for More Preventative Maintenance

Study Reveals Mothers Drive 20 Percent More Than Average Driver

BETHESDA, Md., May 2 -- Whether it's driving to the grocery store, or taking the kids to soccer practice, mothers drive more than the average motorist, according to the Car Care Council Women's Board.

"Today's dramatic increases in gas prices and all of this extra mileage means extra money is being spent at the pumps instead of on other family needs," said Jennifer Tio, president, Car Care Council Women's Board. "Just by taking simple preventative maintenance steps, such as making sure your tires are properly inflated and that your vehicle's gas cap is on securely, you'd be surprised by how much more you can get out of each gallon of gas in your tank."

A recent study by the Surface Transportation Policy Project found that mothers drive 20 percent more than the average driver and that all American drivers are averaging 11 percent more time on the road than in 1995.

The Car Care Council Women's Board offers gas saving maintenance and driving tips that really work:

   * Vehicle gas caps -- About 17 percent of the vehicles on the roads have
     gas caps that are either damaged, loose or are missing altogether,
     causing 147 million gallons of gas to vaporize every year.

   * Underinflated tires -- When tires aren't inflated properly it's like
     driving with the parking brake on and can cost a mile or two per
     gallon.

   * Worn spark plugs -- A vehicle can have either four, six or eight spark
     plugs, which fire as many as 3 million times every 1,000 miles,
     resulting in a lot of heat and electrical and chemical erosion. A dirty
     spark plus causes misfiring, which wastes fuel. Spark plugs need to be
     replaced regularly.

   * Dirty air filters -- An air filter that is clogged with dirt, dust and
     bugs chokes off the air and creates a "rich" mixture - too much gas
     being burned for the amount of air, which wastes gas and causes the
     engine to lose power. Replacing a clogged air filter can improve gas
     mileage by as much as 10 percent, saving about 15 cents a gallon.

  Fuel-saving driving tips include:

  * Don't be an aggressive driver -- Aggressive driving can lower gas
    mileage by as much as 33 percent on the highway and 5 percent on city
    streets, which results in 7 to 49 cents per gallon.

  * Avoid excessive idling -- Sitting idle gets zero miles per gallon.
    Letting the vehicle warm up for one to two minutes is sufficient.

   * Observe the speed limit -- Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds
     above 60 mph. Each mpg driven over 60 will result in an additional 10
     cents per gallon. To maintain a constant speed on the highway, cruise
     control is recommended.

The Women's Board is comprised of professional women and men, including motor sports figures, service shop owners, technicians, service writers, association and company executives and consultants, who are dedicated to informing female audiences about proper vehicle maintenance and safety, while encouraging young people to investigate automotive career choices.

For a Free Service Interval Schedule or for more information about the Car Care Council Women's Board, visit http://women.carcare.org/.