High gas prices affect all consumers and have a major impact on our quality of life - perhaps we change vacation plans, visit relatives less often, make less "non-emergency" visits to doctors or reduce our visits to the gym or health club.  However, we can maximize every single gallon of fuel to minimize the impact on our daily lives.  Here are some tips:

Regular Servicing is Important  

• Keep your vehicle well maintained to keep it operating at peak efficiency.  An inefficient engine won't make optimum use of fuel.
• Clean out that trunk and back cargo area.  Extra weight decreases gas mileage.
• Keep tires properly inflated.  Under inflated tires will reduce your gas mileage.

Be a Different Driver

• Accelerate gradually, drive smoothly and with care and you could see as much as a 20 percent gain in fuel economy compared with what you'd get with an aggressive driving style, the EPA says.
• Skip those jackrabbit starts, sudden pedal-to-the-metal maneuvers if you want to save gas.

Drive Smart  

• Don't idle your car for too long a time.  Don't waste fuel by sitting in that drive-thru lane at McDonald's or Taco Bell.  Park and go inside instead.  Don't let your vehicle idle as you wait outside the elementary school to pick up your children.  Idling uses more fuel than turning the engine off, waiting for your youngsters and then restarting the engine.
• When you're in slow city traffic, keep the air conditioner off, if possible.  That air conditioner is a burden that uses fuel.

Plan Ahead

• Combine your errands into one trip, rather than taking multiple trips from home.  Plan your trips so you go out during less-congested times of day.  When there's less traffic, you're more apt to be able to drive smoothly.

Other Modes of Transport    

• Look at alternative transportation options - even if it's just for one or two days a week.  Walk, bicycle, carpool or take public transportation and leave your vehicle at home.
• When you shop for a new vehicle, compare fuel economy.  Bear in mind how bigger vehicles, bigger engines, four-wheel drive and lots of optional equipment can add to a vehicle's weight and, as a result, reduce its fuel efficiency.