How to save fuel as gas prices surge: ‘Slow down … get the junk out of your trunk’

As gas prices skyrocket, drivers may be wondering how they can save fuel to cut back on the number of costly trips to the pump.

Here are some gas saving tips from AAA:

Slow down, and easy on the gas and brake. Nothing wastes fuel like hard acceleration and the wasted energy of hard braking. Speeding wastes fuel, so drive the speed limit. If your car has a fuel mileage computer, use it to maximize your vehicle’s mileage.
Inflate tires to their proper air pressure. Under-inflated tires can reduce fuel economy by up to 3%.
Get the winter junk out of your trunk. Carrying unused sports equipment and other heavy items reduces fuel mileage. Bike racks and roof storage pods — and even roof racks — can increase aerodynamic drag on the highway and reduce fuel economy.

Avoid unnecessary idling. Rather than wait in a long drive-thru line, park and walk inside.
Drive less and consolidate your trips to save fuel. Also, use the more fuel-efficient car in the household for running errands.
Shop the low end of the price range. To find that gas station, download an app — such as the AAA app or GasBuddy. Also, take advantage of the many fuel saving apps, points, rewards and rebate programs that offer money back on gas purchases.