The
national average price for gas has dropped for 45 consecutive days,
according to AAA. While nearly 35 million Americans will take a trip
for the Memorial Day weekend, over 30 million will travel by car as a
result of those falling gas prices.
Right now drivers are paying an average of
$3.54 a gallon for regular unleaded gas which is about 35 cents cheaper
than last month, and nearly 30 cents cheaper than it was this time a
year ago.
Gas prices are expected to continue to drop
through the holiday weekend, which means the 30 million Americans
planning to hit the road could increase even more. So tips for better
fuel economy are important.
"Carry only as much as you need to carry,"
says Jason Sherer with Gagnon's Tire and Auto. "You can buy your food
when you get to where you're going. The less weight you carry, the less
fuel you're going to burn."
Using ethanol free gas and avoiding sitting idle will also help save.
"Other things to avoid is setting your cruise
on hilly roads because your car works so much harder to maintain that
speed on hilly roads," says Sherer. "Cruise control is not efficient, so
save cruise for flat roads."
And the last tip could save gas, money, and maybe a life.
"If you keep it at the speed limit or just
below it, your car is going to be more fuel efficient. That's one reason
they set the speeds at what they do," says Sherer.
Auto experts say using your air conditioner does not burn extra fuel.
