NEWS from AAA Oklahoma, May 1 – Today’s AAA Fuel Gauge Report shows the national average price for self-serve regular gasoline is $2.965, just a dime short of the all-time high price, $3.057, recorded on Sept. 5, 2005.

“Since the end of January, pump prices in Oklahoma have been on steady upward march,” said Chuck Mai, spokesman for AAA Oklahoma. “Today’s statewide average price for self-serve regular is $2.802 per gallon, compared to $1.913 on Jan. 26, 2007. The state’s record price is $3.03, set Sept. 4, 2005.”

Climbing gasoline prices are causing motorists to take a second look at ways they can get the most out of every gallon of fuel they buy.

Here are AAA’s best things you can do to save money at the pump:

• Plan your driving to combine errands, avoid rush hours and while on vacation, route yourself to bypass construction zones and big-city congestion. Make motel reservations before leaving home.
• Adjust your driving behavior behind the wheel: don’t speed; quit pretending you’re a race car driver and eliminate quick starts and stops; avoid idling; use your cruise control feature on the highway.
• Only buy premium fuel if your vehicle’s owner’s manual states you should. The vast majority of cars do quite well on regular gas.
• Use your air conditioning sparingly. Open car windows instead, except on the highway where the extra drag is counterproductive.
• Get rid of extra weight in the car, the trunk and in your pickup.
• Keep tires properly inflated. Under-inflated tires increase fuel consumption and are a safety hazard.
• Replace your air filter, if needed. A dirty air filter can cause you to use ten percent more fuel.
• Carpool.