Consumer Brief

NEW YORK (1/24/08)--Don't have a hybrid but want to squeeze more miles out of your vehicle's gas tank? Use common sense, says the experts. Avoid those jack-rabbit starts and other aggressive tactics to boost your fuel efficiency by 31%. Avoid unnecessary idling to improve gas mileage by 19%. And stick to the speed limit--or drive slightly below it--to improve fuel efficiency by 12%. If you're not being followed, keep your foot off the brake pedal and coast up to red lights--it takes more fuel to accelerate once you've stopped. Keep tires pumped to the maximum allowable pressure, rid the trunk of excessive weight, and park so you can pull forward rather than wasting gas backing up (http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com)...