Clarence and Mary Rollason own a car and pick-up truck, but have permanently parked ''the gas-guzzler.''

"These days we only use our car, and often ask others to go with us -- and vice versa,'' said Mr. Rollason, 74, of Port Vue.

Barbara Horwith, 66, of Peters, does all her shopping on her drive home from work. "Now when I get home, I'm home for the night,'' she said.

Nancy Crncic, of Glassport, carpools with friends when she goes out to dinner or to church. "It not only helps save money, it means more time with friends,'' she said.

The South Hills residents aren't bona fide "hypermilers'' but they are trying to ease the pain of all that hard-earned money they're leaving at the gas pump these days.

Hypermiler is the buzz word that Web sites on the subject say originated at hybrid vehicle driving clubs. Officially, the word refers to those drivers who do better than US Environmental Protection agency estimated fuel efficiency on their vehicles by modifying their driver habits.

The movement is often attributed to former nuclear engineer Wayne Gerdes of Chicago, who is arguably the methodology's evangelist. Mr. Gerdes claims to get 59 mph in his 2005 Honda Accord.

The methods to add miles and save money include: Turn off the air conditioning, avoid needless braking, stay the speed limit -- between 35 and 55 miles per hour is recommended -- change your air filter yearly and don't idle the engine more than 10 seconds.

Hypermilers are cashing in on the kind of common sense that Great Grandpap used back in WWII, when gas rationing was as necessary as it was patriotic. It's also the stuff good old dad preached in the Jimmy Carter-era days. Boomers remember those maddening odd and even fill-up days.

"Staying in the speed limit especially helps,'' said Ms. Horvath, who estimates it saves her 3 miles per gallon.

We talked to several dozen South Hills residents and -- while they are not Prius-driving hypermilers -- they are, indeed, trying to save a buck or two by using some common sense in the way they drive and how much they use their vehicles.

This week, as travelers get ready for the long July 4 holiday weekend, the AAA said gasoline in the region costs an average of $4.02 per gallon, up from an average of about $2.96 last year. The national average per gallon is $4.06.

"The fireworks at the pump might match the ones in the sky this Fourth of July, '' warned retired steelworker Sam Pickford, now of North Carolina, as he filled up at a convenience store during a recent visit to his former McKeesport hometown.

Still, in a kind of irony, the high prices -- fuel costs, remember, are reflected in food and all kinds of services -- might mean good news,

"Neighbors now go to the store together, said Joyce Schmidt, 65, of Jefferson Hills. She said her very down-home brand of hypermiling not only saves money, it helps her socialize and finds people these days are "looking out more for one another.''

Monica Douglas, 37, of Elizabeth Borough, said the cost of fuel could mean the rebirth of mom and pop stores and neighborhood storefront shops that were left in the dust of malls sprawled on the outskirts of town.

"In the past, people were traveling to the big box stores. This [economy] might help the small communities because you are more apt to do one-stop shopping in your hometown, instead of driving way down the road,'' Ms. Douglas, a councilwoman, said.

"These hard times might result in the revitalization of our small towns,'' she said.

Ms. Douglas also said she has cut her driving costs --while upping her exercise quotient -- by doing more walking.

Some other tips from fuel-cautious residents:

"I'm consciously trying to drive less,'' said Chuck Barkey, 32, of Whitehall. "If I have to do something I will try to do it all in one trip.''

Nancy Piazza-Whaby, of Glassport, carpools with other moms to transport their children to and from sporting activities and play dates this summer.

She also traded in her pick-up truck, which she said got a measly 14 miles per gallon in city driving, for a small sport utility vehicle, which she said averages 20 mpg.

That step was also taken by Rob and Maria Abraham, who traded in a vehicle that got 14 mpg for one that gets 24.

It was a necessary step because Mr. Abraham, 41, drives his own car in his job as a manufacturer's representative.

The Bethel Park couple also managed to lower their monthly car payment by refinancing.

``It's a win-win,'' said Mrs. Abraham, 38, of their newly minted frugal ways.

Mr. Abraham's mother, Glenda Abraham, 71, of Munhall, is on the savings bandwagon, too. She said she has started to combine all her shopping stops in one per week. And now, she makes a concerted effort to shop locally.

Carol Hill, of Elizabeth Borough, admits said she is putting on her walking shoes more often these days.

``I am fortunate to live in a small, walkable community,'' she said of her proximity to the neighborhood post office, bank, drug store, restaurants, and more within a block or two of one another.

"I have everything I need right here,'' she said.

For more information and lots of tips to save money at the pump see hypermilers.com or type in Wayne Gerdes and/or hypermilers in your search engine.