Pocono News Section

Cut Your Commute By Hundreds of Dollars

Cut Your Commute By Hundreds of Dollars - Monday, May 12, 2008 at 5:05PM EST

Reported by: Jeff Chirico
Monday, May 12, 2008 @ 05:05pm EST
Gas prices hit another record high today --$3.69 for a gallon of regular. That’s a 35 cent increase from last month. There may be nothing we can do to roll back the prices, but we can make a tank of gas go farther. Consumer reporter Jeff Chirico has the top six ways to save hundreds of dollars on your commute.

The best thing you can do is not drive at all. Walk, ride a bike, or take public transportation. But if you have to drive, there are some ways to cut your commuting costs.

18-year-old Ian Woodcock of Milton likely commutes longer than anyone his age. 70 miles one way to his private high school. That's plenty of fill-ups.

Ian Woodcock/commutes to school

"I put in 50 this morning. That will get me to Wednesday and I'll put in another 50 bucks."

“$3.59, $3.79 it kills everybody"

"I think it's ridiculous"

You can't fight prices, but you can make sure you're not wasting gas and your money.

First, maintain your car. Make sure your air filter is clean and your tires are full. Tom Tranguch of T & F Tire says you can find the proper pressure level on the drivers door.

Tom Tranguch/T & F Tire

"The industry estimates that you might lose as much as ten percent of fuel economy with under-inflated tires."

Second, change your driving behavior. Keep a constant speed if possible. "I use cruise control." Also consider getting e-z pass. It will prevent you from wasting gas as you wait in line to pay. Experts say another way to save gas is to slow down on the highway. Your car runs most efficiently between 55 and 65 mph. Go over that and you'll get to your destination a few minutes earlier but you'll also have to fill up sooner." Tom Tranguch: "If you're driving in town, and doing jack rabbit starts and stops, you're not saving time and you're certainly costing yourself money."

Third, avoid rush hour traffic. Leave earlier or later so you don't waste money idling in traffic.

Fourth, consider carpooling --a number of websites connect drivers with buddies.

Fifth, ask if you can work from home at least one day a week. That could cut your commute by 20 percent.

If you are able to reduce the amount you drive to and from work each week, contact your insurance agent. Some companies offer discounts to those who drive less.

To find the top 13 most fuel efficient cars, Click on this

To find someone with whom to carpool, check out these sites: