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.