White Plains NY – May 22, 2002 |  Memorial Day weekend traditionally kicks off the season for driving vacations and rising gas prices. Americans are expected to hit the road in record numbers this summer travel season, but the nation’s nearly 200 million drivers still have an opportunity to save money at the gas pump.

Mory Katz, chairman of Response Insurance, offered drivers a few pieces of advice from the company’s 10 Tips to Improve Your Gas Mileage brochure. “Everything comes down to two basic categories, ” explained Katz, “car care and driving habits.” Response Insurance suggests:”

• Lighten the car’s load by taking unnecessary items from the trunk, such as the bag of sand and shovel from the winter. Every 200 pounds of weight reduces gas effiency by one mile per gallon. If you have to carry a lot of baggage, avoid using a roof-top container, which will increase the air drag. If you drive a pick-up truck, the open bed will have the same impact, so put a cover on it.

• Oversized and under-inflated tires decrease fuel efficiency. Check vehicle and tire manufacturer for proper inflation.

• Don’t turn on the air conditioner as a first response to the heat. Start your drive off with windows open to exhaust the hot air out of the rear windows and then put on the A/C if needed. This will also enable the air conditioning to work faster and more efficiently when turned on.

• Smooth out your driving style by avoiding “jack rabbit” starts and sharp braking. Both expend gas and can present a hazard for others on the road.

• It’s estimated that every mile driven above 55 MPH costs 1% in fuel economy. So, keeping to the legal limit is both safe and fuel-efficient. Maintaining a constant speed also maximizes your car’s performance. If road conditions permit, use your cruise control.

The free brochure and other information is available by calling 1-800-610-5928 or at their website: www.response.com.