Unfortunately we don't have control of the price of gas. Fuel prices have been on the rise for several years, but today's prices are impacting the costs of all goods and services. The only solution for coping with these high prices is to reduce consumption.

   The biggest fact that determines the amount of gas we use is our speed. Observe the speed limit. Each vehicle reaches optimal fuel economy at a different speed.

   Gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. For each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph, you can figure that you are paying an extra 20 cents a gallon.

   You must also drive sensibly. Aggressive driving wastes gas. "Jackrabbit" starts and stops can lower gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and 5 percent around town.

   Once you get up to speed on the highway, maintain a steady pace. Smooth acceleration, cornering and braking also extend the life of the engine, transmission, brakes and tires.

   Other driving tips include:

   Avoid excessive idling because it gets 0 miles per gallon. Shut off the engine if stopped for more than 30 seconds. Larger cars waste more gas at idling than smaller cars.

   Use cruise control to maintain a constant speed. Cruise control works best on flat highways rather than steep hills. Use overdrive gears.

   Combine errands. Several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as one trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm.

   A void packing items on top of your car. A loaded roof rack or carrier creates wind resistance and can decrease fuel economy. At highway speeds, more than 50 percent of engine power goes to overcoming aerodynamic drag.

   Go easy on the air conditioning. First try cooling your car the old-fashion way - rolling down the windows, opening vents or sunroof. This clears the hot air out of your car. Open windows on short and low-speed trips. At highway speeds, it is cheaper to use the air conditioner.

   Keeping your car in shape will extend the life of your car and also extend your gas mileage. Keep the engine properly tuned. Fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune can improve gas mileage by average of 4 percent. Fixing a serious maintenance problem such as the oxygen sensor can improve gas mileage by as much as 40 percent.

   Replacing clogged air filters can improve gas mileage by as much as 10 percent. Keeping tires properly inflated can improve gas mileage by around 3.3 percent.

   You can improve gas mileage by 1-2 percent by using the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil. Look for oil with "Energy Conserving" on the API performance symbol.

   Don't use premium fuel if you don't have to. Refer to your owner's manual. For most cars, the recommended gas is regular octane. Unless your engine is knocking, buying higher octane gas is a waste of money.

   Don't top off your gas tank when filling up. Stop pumping gas at the first indication your tank is full. Overfilling your tank can cause overflow and evaporation.
Tighten up the gas cap. Gas will evaporate if the cap is loose. The Car Care Council reports loose, missing or damaged gas caps cause 147 million gallons of gas to evaporate each year.

   Keep your tires properly inflated. Underinflated tires compromise handling and braking and wear faster. They also run much hotter, which can lead to tire failure. Check the pressure of your vehicle's tires at least once a month with a tire gauge. The owner's manual explains how to do it.

   Check out claims about "gas-saving" gadgets. Be skeptical of these claims:
"This gas-saving product improves fuel economy by 20 percent."

"After installing your product on my car, I got an extra 4 miles per gallon."

   EPA has evaluated over 100 of these "gas-saving" products and has not found any product that significantly improves gas mileage. Some of these products actually may damage your vehicle.

   If you are shopping for a fuel-efficient car, the four cylinders will provide better fuel economy than the V6 and V8.

   Is standard or automatic transmission better? Manual gets better mileage unless you are doing heavy city driving. Hybrids have some of the highest MPG ratings. Diesels with new technology rival hybrids.