Safe summer driving tips

New Haven (WTNH) - Summertime is here, and many of us will soon be hitting the road for family vacations. With your family in tow, safety should be your number one concern.

Janice Toce-Lesieur from Toce Brothers Auto Service Center in Torrington joined us this morning with a check list for safe summer driving that can also save you money.

Here are the tips Janice provided:

Pressure Check: Check your tire pressure at least once a month. Many drivers can improve their gas mileage by more than 3 percent simply by keeping their tires properly inflated. The correct tire inflation pressure is critical for good fuel economy, maximum tire life and proper vehicle handling performance. The recommended pressure number for your vehicle is located on a sticker inside the driver side door or in the owner's manual, not the maximum inflation pressure stamped on the tire.

Put On Your Running Shoes: Simply changing to a more fuel-efficient tire can save you money at the pump. The latest offering from Goodyear - Assurance Fuel Max - helps drivers save gas and spend less money getting to their destinations. A key element is its fuel-saving tread compound that helps reduce energy loss, so less gas is required to keep the tire rolling. This proprietary tread compound can help drivers save 2,600 miles worth of gas over the life of a set of tires, which equates to a 4 percent improvement in highway fuel economy. For further evidence of the well-rounded performance of the Assurance Fuel Max, Goodyear backs the tire with a 65,000-mile tread life limited warranty.

Filter That Air: Check that your air filter isn't clogged. Replacing a clogged air filter can improve a car's gas mileage by as much as 10 percent. And it won't just save you money; it will also help protect your engine by keeping harmful impurities out.

Watch The Weight: As you prepare to pack the car for your journeys, remember not to overload your car. Check the owner's manual for the maximum recommended load for the vehicle. An extra 100 pounds in the trunk reduces a typical car's fuel economy by 1-2 percent. (Source: US Department of Energy)

Know Your Oil: Use the grade of motor oil recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. The proper grade of motor oil can improve your gas mileage by 1-2 percent. (Source: US Department of Energy)

Tuning In: Before taking that long trip, visit a trusted professional and make sure your car is properly tuned. Depending on the kind of repair and how well it is performed, regular vehicle maintenance can improve gas mileage by an average of 4.1 percent. (Source: US Department of Energy)

Cap It: Make sure your gas cap is on tight and is not damaged. Approximately 17 percent of the vehicles on U.S. highways have either misused or missing gas caps, causing 147 million gallons of gas per year to vaporize into the atmosphere. (Source: Service Tech Magazine)

Ease Up: Avoid quick or "jackrabbit" starts and stops. Aggressive driving wastes gas and can reduce your gas mileage by 33 percent on the highway and 5 percent in the city. Observe the speed limit; gas mileage decreases rapidly above 60 miles per hour.