24 Protect Plus Gives Pointers on How Not to Leave All Your Money at the Pump

As gas prices rise day by day and the average price in the U.S. heads for numbers no one ever thought possible, gas-saving advice abounds. And yet many people keep driving carelessly, paying more and more money every time they stop at the pump. 24 Protect Plus (SM), a premier security program provided by Adaptive Marketing LLC^®, knows well the pain of many concerned consumers and recommends taking extra measures to make the most of the gas in their tanks.

The top recommendation, and the most logical one, is to drive less. This might not be entirely possible for people living in rural or suburban areas, but there are always little tricks everyone can use to cut down on driving: carpooling or walking are two such options. Here are other practical suggestions that AP9 24ProtectPlus has put together:

-- Map it out. Find an alternate route to work and school that has fewer stoplights and less traffic. Use the Internet to help you find this new route and calculate mileage differences.

-- Plan your errands. Try to schedule errands when the traffic is light. Stop-and-go traffic is a sure way to waste gas. Also, if all the errands are in the same general area, park the car in one spot, and walk to each place. It'll be good for your pocket -- and your health.

-- Car shop. Smaller cars are typically more fuel-efficient. Big cars mean big gas tanks and lower fuel efficiency, so remember how high gas prices are, and do the math.

-- Tune it up. Keep your car well-maintained, with periodic oil changes and tune-ups when they're needed. Change the air filter every 15,000 miles, and keep the tires correctly inflated, according to the car's manual.

-- Keep junk out of the trunk. The more a car weighs, the more gas it needs to keep moving. Keep only what's necessary for emergencies, and store the other stuff at home.

-- Use cruise control. Get better gas mileage on the highway by driving at a constant speed. Push the cruise-control button, stay alert, and save gas.

-- Hit the off switch. Turn off the engine instead of idling. A car starts wasting gas within a minute of idling while the engine is running.

-- Slow down. Accelerating uses much more gas than driving at a constant speed. Gently step on the gas when the light turns green, and maintain a steady 55 mph when driving on the highway.

In addition to offering these helpful tips, 24 Protect Plus can help families with their home improvement projects, legal and financial advice, and other key safeguards. For savings and safety information, families count on 24 Protect Plus.