• Q&A Four-legged travel trends
• CHECKLIST - Pump less, save more
• MYTH BUSTER
• CHECKLIST - Are we there yet?
• MILESTONES

Q&A
Four-legged travel trends

By Kristina Malsberger

According to a recent poll, more than 29 million people in the United States traveled with pets during the past three years. To sniff out more, we spoke to Maggie Gallant, host of Animal Planet’s Pet Trends, and her dachshund, Dixie.

Q Why are so many pets traveling?
A They’re members of the family. Plus airlines and hotels have made it easier.

Q What are some recent trends?
A Aromatherapy. If Dixie gets nervous at security, I give her a spray of lavender, a natural essence that relaxes both people and pets. You can find great organic sprays at trixieandpeanut.com.

QUICK TIP Save $5 on your AAA membership when sign up online for our Automatic Renewal. For details, visit AAA.com/payoption.

Q Any particularly pet-friendly destinations?
A New York. Walk into Bergdorf Goodman and you’ll see dogs perusing the jewelry aisle. Also Los Angeles—people love their pets in L.A. and there’s so much outdoor dining.

Q What about international travel?
A You need to plan well in advance. Contact the country’s consulate and check in with your vet about paperwork and health abroad.

Q What do you pack for Dixie?
A Shot info, our vet’s phone number, and an emergency vet’s number. Plus, a rawhide chew or treat, a spare leash, and a jacket in case she gets cold.

Q What’s more difficult, traveling with a dog or a baby?
A Well, Dixie is a lot quieter than most babies on a plane. So I’m giving the dog the Better Traveler Award!

Purchase Traveling with Your Pet: The AAA PetBook at select AAA branch offices, most major bookstores, or AAA.com/barnesandnoble.

CHECKLIST
Pump less, save more

Follow these fuel efficiency tips to save at the pump this summer—and all year long.

▪ PACK LIGHT Don’t overload your trunk. Every 100 pounds of extra weight can decrease your fuel economy by one to two percent.

	QUICK TIP Take care of basic DMV services, such as vehicle registration renewals, at select AAA offices in Northern California and Nevada. For a complete list of DMV services in your state, visit AAA.com/dmv.

▪ CONTROL YOUR CRUISING Aggressive driving can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent on highways and five percent around town. Drive sensibly—avoid speeding, and sudden starts and stops.

▪ TUNE IT UP Getting your car tuned up can improve gas mileage an average of four percent. Fixing a serious problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can increase your mileage up to 40 percent.

▪ FILL YOUR TIRES You lose up to two percent on gas mileage for every pound of pressure your tires are underinflated. Since tires can be down by five percent and look properly inflated, you could be buying 10 percent more gas than you need.

▪ USE THE RIGHT FUEL GRADE Using a higher octane level than is required by your car’s manufacturer doesn’t help the performance of your car, or your wallet.

Shop around for the cheapest gas in U.S. and Canada with AAA Gas Price Finder at AAA.com/gas.

MYTH BUSTER

Myth Personal belongings stolen from my vehicle are covered by my auto policy.

Reality Depending on your policy, your Auto Insurance may cover the theft of your car, but not personal items, such as cell phones and MP3 players, left in it. However, you may be able to file a claim under your home or renter’s insurance policy.

Myth I don’t need to buy the extra insurance protection when renting a car.

Reality Oftentimes, your insurance policy will cover a rental car. However, depending on the type of coverage you carry and the car you rent, you may not have sufficient coverage. Check with your provider before renting.

QUICK TIP Use your AAA Rewards Visa card and earn 5 points for every $1 you spend on gas, and additional points on other purchases. Redeem your points for cash, retail gift cards, and AAA products and services. For details, call (866) 422-6566 or visit AAA.com/creditcard.

Myth My U.S. auto insurance policy is valid in Canada and Mexico.

Reality Most U.S. auto insurance is valid in Canada, but you must show proof of coverage. Contact your provider to get a Non-resident
Inter-Province Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance Card. In Mexico, no U.S. auto insurance is valid—you need Mexico Tourist Automobile Insurance. You can purchase it at your local AAA office or visit AAA.com/travel and click "Research and Planning."

To learn how you can save on auto insurance through AAA, call (800) 922-8228 or visit AAA.com/insurance.

CHECKLIST
Are we there yet?

By Amy Graff

Summer road trips with the kids. Everyone squeezed into the family station wagon singing "99 Bottles of Beer" for hours on end. It’s the stuff of memories—also the stuff of migraines. Here are some tips for a smooth journey.

▪ SIT TIGHT Checking your car’s tire pressure is a no-brainer, but have you ever had the child safety seat inspected? Some AAA branches keep technicians on hand to make sure your little one is secure. Visit AAA.com/trafficsafety for details.

▪ STOP You want to get to Walley World before it closes, but you also want your family to have an alert, safe driver. Make time to pull over every few hours to take in a roadside attraction, toss a Frisbee, or simply stretch your legs.

▪ PACK SMART Don’t forget child-strength pain reliever, baby wipes, towels, a portable potty, and a bag of toys for each child.

▪ EAT LIGHTLY Kids’ stomachs are sensitive—especially in the car. So skip the drive-through; pack a cooler with drinks, sand-wiches, and a few treats. (Lollipops last a long time.)

▪ UNPLUG It’s hard to bond when your kids are entranced by an LCD screen the whole trip. Sing songs, tell jokes, play the license plate game—at least for the first three hours of a drive.

▪ BOOK IT Check out audiobooks at your local library. Both kids and adults will enjoy the adventures of Ramona Quimby, Harry Potter, or the Baudelaire orphans.

Map out your ideal road trip at AAA.com/aaaroadtrip.

MILESTONES
Hocus Focus

By Rich O’Brien

In an interview with the Sunday Times of London, three-time Formula One champion Sir Jackie Stewart said, "The one thing you cannot have while driving is even the mildest form of distraction." Since the invention of the car, we’ve been, well, driven to distraction. Join us for a cruise past a few famous driversions. Now try to pay attention.

1925
Burma-Shave debuts its popular ad campaign of serial road signs making up verses. Trouble was / these funny signs / had drivers crossing /solid lines.

1933
First drive-in movie theater opens on June 6. Call it D (for distraction) Day. Where visible from roads, 40-foot close-ups turn heads and produce some car-to-car smash hits.

	QUICK TIP Get the latest on AAA news, savings, and tips via email. To learn more, go to AAA.com/newsletter.

1948
The West’s first In-N-Out Burger drive-through opens in Baldwin Park, Calif. Drivers are soon in and out of control while eating behind the wheel.

1950s
Dangling ornamentation—notably fuzzy dice—from rearview mirrors becomes popular. Drivers’ obscured vision makes traveling in traffic a crapshoot for all.

1990s
Ubiquity of cell phones has troubling number of motorists dialing and driving—which some studies show is as hazardous as drinking and driving.

2000
Proliferation of backseat video monitors helps divert kids on long rides. But how distracting are these? Sometimes a driver can’t even hear herself talking on the phone!

To learn about insurance discounts for good drivers, call (800) 922-8228 or visit AAA.com/insurance.