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The three months between Memorial Day and Labor Day are considered the “summer travel season,” and surveys conducted by the Travel Industry Association reflect that 33% of all U.S. travel occurs in the summertime. According to the United State Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics:
- 91% of summer travel is by car.
- 78% of summer trips are 50–249 miles.
- The average summer trip is 284 miles.
With an increase in travel usually comes an increase in gas prices, and all the experts are predicting that gas prices will continue to climb this summer. Despite the high cost of gasoline, there are ways to save at the pump. The U.S. Department of Energy offers these tips:
- Drive Sensibly – Aggressive driving such as speeding, sudden braking, and rapid acceleration can lower gas mileage by 33% on the highway and 5% in town.
- Drive the Speed Limit – Each 5 mph over 60 mph is like paying 20¢ more per gallon.
- Remove Excess Weight – Keep unnecessary items out of the car. An extra 100 pounds of weight can reduce miles-per-gallon by 2%.
- Keep Engine Properly Tuned – Tuning a car that is noticeably out of tune or that has failed an emissions test can improve gas mileage by up to 4%.
- Check and Replace Air Filters Regularly – Replacing a clogged air filter can improve a car's gas mileage by as much as 10%.
- Keep Tires Properly Inflated – Keeping tires properly inflated can improve gas mileage by about 3.3%.
- Use the Recommended Grade of Motor Oil – Using the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil can improve gas mileage by 1-2%.
- Purchase a Fuel-Efficient Car – A car that gets 30 mpg can save you as much as $663 each year as compared to a car that gets 20 mpg.
OTHER WAYS TO SAVE ON GASOLINE
Use Fuel Perk Cards. Many major grocery stores offer discount gasoline cards or sell gasoline at their own gas stations at a discount. These include:
- Giant Eagle
- Kroger
- Meijer
- Safeway
- Sam's Club
- Wal-Mart
Check out on-line sites that list the cheapest gasoline in the area .
These include sites like:
U.S. Energy Department http://www.fueleconomy.gov
AAA Fuel Gauge http://www.fuelgaugereport.com/
Gas Buddy http://www.gasbuddy.com
MSN Auto http://autos.msn.com
Map Quest Gas http://gasprices.mapquest.com
Ohio Gas Prices http://www.ohiogasprices.com
Plan and combine errands . According to the U.S. Department of Energy, “several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as a longer multipurpose trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm.”
Make use of ride-sharing or public transportation . The American Public Transit Association says: “Households using public transportation save over $1,399 a year worth of gas.” Riders also save on parking and avoid wear-and-tear on vehicles.
Buy gasoline at the “best time.” According to the Auto Channel, “gas pumps measure volume not densities of fuels so fill up early in the morning. The afternoon sun can heat and expand the gas in the station's fuel tank so drivers get less for their money,” so buying gas early in the day can save you money. Also, prices tend to rise for weekend travel, so buy gasoline before Thursday whenever possible.
For more information, please see our website www.ohiotreasurer.gov or call us at 1-800-228-1102. |
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