Find the Cheapest Gas in Atlanta, and 4 Fuel-Saving Tips

ATLANTA, GA — With fuel supplies limited after a major gas line was shut off last week, prices in the metro Atlanta region have shot up. Prices in Atlanta last week averaged $2.16, according to AAA. There are some drivers paying up to $2.60 Monday morning.

Alpharetta-based Colonial Pipeline Company estimates between 252,000 gallons and 336,000 gallons of fuel leaked in a spill, which was discovered Sept. 9. Six states have declared emergencies in order to get more fuel to impacted communities and monitor gas prices for potential price gouging.

The company announced over the weekend that it is installing a bypass around the leak and fuel supplies are being delivered to impacted areas.

Gas prices website GasBuddy has mapped out gas prices in the Atlanta area. The most expensive prices appear to be in the Buckhead and Vinings area, but communities like Roswell and distant suburbs like Douglasville are still seeing sharp spikes in costs at the pump.

Check out the GasBuddy map or download the app.

More at Patch:

• Gas Shortage, Price Hikes in Georgia: Company Promising Fuel Line Bypass
• Gas Shortage Concerns Lead to Emergency Order in Georgia

4 Fuel-Saving Tips

The U.S. Department of Energy offers tips for drivers to get better gas mileage, but it typically starts with a more efficient car or regular tuneups — not particularly helpful during an emergency.

But there are ways to drive your car more efficiently. Here's what not to do, according to the DOE.

• Aggressive driving wastes gas and can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent on the highway and by 5 percent around town.
• Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 50 mph: "You can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 50 mph is like paying an additional 16 cents per gallon for gas."
• Hauling cargo on your roof increases aerodynamic drag: "A large, blunt roof-top cargo box, for example, can reduce fuel economy by up to 8 percent in the city driving, 17 percent on the highway, and 25 percent at Interstate speeds."
• Idling can use a quarter to a half gallon of fuel per hour, but it only takes about 10 seconds worth of fuel to restart your vehicle.

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