Gas prices crest $5 a gallon in 15 states

The cost to drive just keeps climbing with no end in sight as more than a dozen states have crossed the $5 a gallon average.

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California is the highest with a $6.39 average according to AAA, as of Wednesday.

It is among the 15 states and the District of Columbia that have crossed the $5 threshold:

1. California - $6.39
2. Nevada - $5.564
3. Illinois - $5.532
4. Hawaii - $5.493
5. Washington - $5.489
6. Oregon - $5.485
7. Alaska - $5.469
8. Indiana - $5.234
9. Michigan - $5.214
10. Arizona - $5.181
11. Washington, D.C. - $5.165
12. Ohio - $5.061
13. New Jersey - $5.032
14. Pennsylvania - $5.031
15. Maine - $5.023
16. Massachusetts - $5.021

Vermont and Rhode Island were close to crossing $5 as of Wednesday, with prices at $4.992 and $4.994 respectively, according to AAA.

The cheapest gas was in Georgia, which costs an average of $4.375 a gallon.

The current nationwide average was $4.995 for regular on Wednesday. It was $4.919 Tuesday. Last year, a gallon of regular gas was $3.060, according to AAA.

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The Department of Energy has compiled a few tips to help make your trips to the pump less frequent.

The DOE says to:

Drive sensibly. Don’t drive aggressively — speeding, rapid acceleration, braking — to cut gas mileage by 33% on the highway and 5% around town. Make sure that if you do have to accelerate, do it smoothly.

Use cruise control. By maintaining a consistent speed on the highway, you will save gas.

Remove excess weight. Don’t keep unnecessary items in a vehicle. An extra 100 pounds can reduce fuel efficiency by about 1%.

Don’t carry cargo on your roof. By carrying cargo on the roof of your vehicle you reduce fuel economy by 2% to 8% in the city, 6% to 17% on highways, and 10% to 25% on interstates. If you do have to haul items, a rear-mount cargo box doesn’t impact the fuel economy as much as a roof rack.

Avoid excessive idling. Idling can waste a quarter to half a gallon of gas an hour, depending on engine size and if you’re running the air conditioning. If you need to wait, turn off the car when you can.

Keep your car maintained. Make sure your vehicle is properly tuned, use the correct motor oil, and make sure tires are properly inflated.

Change your habits. Stagger work hours to avoid rush hours if you can. Telecommute if permitted. Use carpools, mass transit, or alternate forms of transportation such as biking and walking if you are close enough to your destination.

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