If you were following the news yesterday, you might have seen how a barrel of oil closed at a all-time high of over $105. Gas prices in many areas are above $3.50 a gallon, and rising. With the summer driving season rapidly approaching, industry experts are saying that we shouldn’t be surprised to pay over $4 for a gallon of regular unleaded. Thankfully, there are ways to improve your car’s gas mileage. Whether you drive a sports car, sedan, SUV, or pickup, you can increase your vehicle’s fuel economy dramatically. And better yet, you’ll see the results right away.

Stop driving like a maniac
At the expense of sounding like my mother, quit driving like it’s the Indy 500. Improving your driving habits will result in the biggest gains in full economy, sometimes upwards of 30%. Follow these tips to see immediate results in your fuel economy:

• Avoid jack-rabbit starts. When the light turns green, don’t slam on the gas. While racing the car next to you might seem fun, it’s hitting you in the wallet. Try reducing your 0-60 times to around 15 seconds to see great improvements in your gas mileage.
• Don’t slam on the brakes. When driving, always try to look 10 seconds ahead and anticipate if you need to come to a stop. By gently lifting off the gas and slowly applying the breaks, your car is performing less work, and consuming less gas.
• Make calm, calculated movements. Don’t swerve in and out of lanes, you may not realize it, but erratic driving burns more fuel.

Slow down
I’ll be the first to admit that driving at the speed limit stinks. But the faster you go, the more fuel your car burns. This is because as you increase your speed, your car has to work harder to push the air around it out of the way. While 85 mph gets you there fast, 55 mph gets you there cheap.

Use your cruise control
If your car is equipped with cruise control, use it. If you don’t use cruise control, your speed will often fluctuate between 5 mph or so, which results in your car burning more gas. Cruise control keeps your car at a constant speed, and is much more efficient.

Don’t idle
Turn your car off when you’re not using it. If your car has remote start, get rid of the key fob for it. Idling burns tons of fuel, for little gain. Even if you’re stuck at a long traffic signal, switch your car’s engine off. You’ll see impressive gains in your fuel economy if you do a lot of city driving. Hybrid cars do it all the time, and so can you.