We all know that back to school also means taking kids to various activities; soccer, ballet, taekwondo, and any other activities under the Sun. Watching the gas price that has been climbing up for the past few months is really giving me a cringe. In order to help consumer save money on gas, BP has launched its first-ever “Commute Better” program, focusing on the little things that can improve the quality of commuters’ daily travel this summer. Below is BP tips on commute better:

Drive More Efficiently

1. Map out your day before you leave the house to help determine all the stops you’ll need to make along your daily commute.

2. Use a quality fuel, such as BP gasoline with Invigorate®, to help commute a little more efficiently. When you continuously use BP gasoline with Invigorate®, you’re helping to clean and protect your engine, adding a few more miles per tank to your daily trek.*

3. Maintain a constant speed while commuting as it helps increase your fuel economy. It can take more fuel to accelerate from a full stop than from 5 miles per hour. Optimal efficiency can be expected while cruising with no stops, at minimal throttle and with the transmission in the highest gear.

4. Use the cruise control on long stretches of highway driving when it’s safe to do so – especially the I-270 interstate , which can help save fuel by helping your car maintain a steady speed.

5. Park your car in shady areas when possible. Besides helping to keep your car cool, reducing the need for air conditioning, parking in the shade can help minimize the potential loss of gas due to evaporation.

Ensure Proper Car Maintenance

1. Keep your vehicle maintained properly with tune-ups. Follow the schedule in your owner’s manual and keep your vehicle in tune. There are typically great tips in your owner’s manual on how to get better gas mileage and ways to keep your vehicle well maintained.

2. Every other time you fill-up your tank, check your air pressure and oil. Under-inflated tires have more rolling resistance meaning you need to burn more gas to keep your car moving. The proper tire pressure for your vehicle is usually found on a sticker in the driver’s side door jamb or the glove box and in your owner’s manual. And, maintaining the proper oil level helps to avoid unwanted stress and wear on your engine. In extreme cases, low oil levels can lead to engine damage.

3. Change your air filter every 12 months or 12,000 miles. Build-up in your air filter can force your engine to work harder leading to less fuel efficiency during your commute.

4. Consider turning off your engine when you’re stationary in your car for more than a minute. For instance, when you’re waiting for your kids after school in the parking lot. This can help reduce your climate change impact.

Maximize Time on the Road

1. Plan around morning and evening drive times. The “Columbus rush hour” or patterned traffic varies depending on the time of year.

a. During summer, morning rush hour is from 7:30/7:40 a.m. – 8:15 a.m. and evening rush hour is from 5:00 p.m. - 6:00/6:15 p.m.

b. During the school year, morning rush hour is from 7:15/7:20 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. and evening rush hour traffic is from 4:45 p.m. – 5:45 p.m.

c. Weather and accidents will directly affect these patterns.

d. During the summer on Fridays, Mornings tend to be lighter, evenings tend to be heavier.

2. Run errands on Sunday morning versus before or after work. Sunday morning drive times take about half the time it takes to navigate from one side of the city to the other during the work week. If Sunday morning is not conducive to errands, set aside some time to plan them into your schedule for the following week so you can make stops at your convenience when you’re on-the-go. Also, for mom’s on-the-go, consider knocking off your to-do list in the evening when the kids are in bed with Dad at home. You can get more done quickly and while it isn’t as hot out.

3. Avoid being a “taxi” for your kids and go to a coffee shop or a nearby local park while you’re kids’ participate in after school programs in an effort to avoid going back and forth.

4. Make phone calls and set up appointments while sitting in the car waiting for your kids to be done with activities.

5. Avoid school zones during peak times, before and after classes.

Set Road Rules for the Family and Yourself

1. Establish car rules with your kids, for example, once mom is driving she can’t reach back to pick-up a toy that has fallen on the ground.

2. Plan your errands around traffic and nap time. Avoid going toward downtown during morning rush hour. Be efficient in managing your time and plan ahead so you can take care of all your errands in one trip. Go to the furthest destination first, then work your way back.

Make the Car a Fun Experience

1. Keep kids entertained with music or a book on tape that your kids will enjoy and not distract the driver. Bring portable DVD players or handheld games in your car for long road trips to keep the kids entertained.

2. Keep a basket of “car toys” that only come out when you’re traveling with your children, making car trips more of a treat instead of a chore.

3. Map out local parks on your commute. Stopping at a playground in between errands is a welcome break that can help keep boredom at bay for the rest of the day.

Feel Comfortable on the Road

1. Situate yourself in the car. Before starting your daily commute be sure the car is comfortable by adjusting your seat and tilting the steering wheel so everything is where you like it.

2. Keep your headlights clean. Every other fill-up be sure to clean your headlights so you can see properly when driving and others can see you.

3. Have “Commute Kits” readily available. Create a commute kit containing water, snacks, sunscreen, flashlight, extra winter clothes, prescription medications, a blanket and a non-toxic candle (to heat up the car in the winter) – it’s important to be prepared in case you breakdown while commuting. Also keep rags, window cleaner, trash can, and an extra quart of oil in your car so you’re always prepared.

4. Make a kid-friendly “Commute Kit.” Create a commute kit containing things like band-aids, snacks, sunscreen, bug spray, tissues, extra clothing, wipes, extra diapers (if needed) and hand sanitizer to avoid multiple stops along the way.

5. Park in the shade and put blankets over the car seat so the car seats aren’t too hot when you and your kids return from an errand. Happy kids make for a happy commute.

6. Have cash and coins available for parking. For instance, if you are headed to Columbus’ new hot spots (Columbus Commons or The Scioto Mile) bring cash and coins or you are limited to a parking lot. In fact, you need cash anyway to enjoy some of the goodies around the Columbus Commons; many vendors do not accept credit cards, including the Carousel.

Tons of wonderful tips to save some gas. One thing that we have done is planning our trip. My hubby created this method and I absolutely hate it because I’m a spontaneous person. However, it saves so much gas money from doing this (Darn, I hate it when my hubby is right!).

The mom on the go car kit includes:

• Kid -friendly car organizer
• $10 BP gas card
• Tumbler
• Umbrella
• Sunglassesravel coffee mug
• Air freshener
• Tire gauge
• Hand wipes
• Sunscreen
• Band-Aid First Aid to go Kit
• Flashlight
• Travel packs of Kleenex
• Hand lotion
• Notepad
• Pens
• Coloring books
• Crayons

Required entry:  Leave a comment and tell me what you do in order to commute better?

Once you completed that rules, you may do any or all of the following for extra entries:

• Follow me on twitter and tweet the following: Save gas by learning how to commute better from BP and win “Mom on the Go” kit and $10 BP Gift Card http://mommylicious.net/2011/09/mom-on-the-go-kit-commute-better-giveaway-by-bp/ @ mommyliciousnet
• Likes my Facebook Page
• Friend me on Google Friend Connect on the right sidebar
• Subscribe mommylicious.net via email

*This contest is open to US residents ages 18+ and will close on , September 16th. The winner must have a valid email address and claim the prize within 48 hours. Otherwise, another winner will be chosen

Tags: BP commute better , tips on saving gas

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