ANCHOR LEAD:
THERE'S PLENTY OF PAIN AT THE GAS PUMP THESE DAYS...
PRICES REMAIN HIGH AND CONSUMERS ARE LOOKING FOR A BREAK.
NOW THOSE WHO ARE DRIVING LESS ARE FINDING SAVINGS BEYOND THE GAS PUMP.
___________ GIVES YOU A HEADS UP ON MORE WAYS TO SAVE.

NAT SOT Length: 01
(Door opens; engine starts)

TRACK ONE Length: 07
JEFF ETZKIN GETS BEHIND THE WHEEL A LOT LESS THESE DAYS.
GAS PRICES CONVINCED HIM IT WAS TIME TO QUIT DRIVING TO WORK.

SOT
KEY @: 10 Jeff Etzkin, Commuter
"The price of gas got so high, I started to look for alternatives."

NAT SOT Length: 01
(Grabbing keys off table; goes out the door)

TRACK TWO Length: 11
NOW WHEN JEFF HEADS OFF TO WORK EACH MORNING, HE USES HIS FEET - AND A TRAIN PASS.
...A NEW ROUTINE THAT HAS ITS REWARDS.
NOT ONLY IS JEFF BUYING LESS GAS, HE'S SAVING MONEY ON HIS AUTO INSURANCE.

SOT
KEY @: 28 Jeff Etzkin, Commuter
"I'm saving about 15% off of my premium for the year by not driving to work."

TRACK THREE Length: 05
BOB HUNTER WITH THE CONSUMER FEDERATION OF AMERICA SAYS PEOPLE ARE CHANGING THEIR DRIVING HABITS.

SOT
KEY @: 40 Bob Hunter, Consumer Federation of America
"When gas prices go up, consumers drive differently. Sometimes they don't drive to work anymore; they use mass transit or they carpool, or they just drive less."

TRACK FOUR Length: 05
AND THAT CAN MEAN SIZABLE SAVINGS ON INSURANCE-- AS MUCH AS FIVE TO FIFTEEN PERCENT.

SOT
KEY @: 55 Bob Hunter, Consumer Federation of America
"The typical car in America is about $900 for insurance for one car. So, if you have a single car and you save ten percent, that's $90 dollars, so it's worth a phone call."

TRACK FIVE Length: 15
**IF YOU STOP DRIVING TO WORK OR SCHOOL, YOUR CAR MAY BE RATED AS ONE USED FOR "PLEASURE," WITH A LOWER RATE.
**YOU MAY ALSO GET A REDUCTION IF YOU STILL DRIVE TO WORK, BUT NOT AS FAR.
**OR IF YOU REDUCE MILES IN OTHER WAYS, SUCH AS WALKING TO THE STORE INSTEAD OF DRIVING.

SOT
KEY @: 1:21 Bob Hunter, Consumer Federation of America
"You should call your insurance company and tell them, 'I've changed my driving behavior. I've stopped driving to work' or, 'I'm using my car less,' and explain it to them and that you'd like to know if you qualify for a lower rate."

TRACK SIX Length: 07
IT'S A LIFESTYLE CHANGE THAT'S PAYING OFF FOR JEFF.

SOT
Length: 05
(Jeff Etzkin, Commuter)
"It puts money in my pocket. I feel good about what I'm doing. It's definitely worth it."

ANCHOR TAG:
NOTE TO CLIENTS: Here is the link to the Consumer Federation of America press release. http://www.consumerfed.org/pdfs/auto_insurance_gas_prices_release.pdf It contains STATE-BY-STATE information on the average price savings for decreased miles driven due to gas hikes. We have obtained permission for you to place this information on your websites.
THOSE MOST LIKELY TO SAVE MONEY IF THEY CHANGE THEIR DRIVING HABITS?
YOUNG ADULTS AND PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN MAJOR CITIES.
BOTH OF THOSE GROUPS GENERALLY PAY MORE FOR AUTO INSURANCE.

SOURCE INFORMATION:

Robert Hunter
Consumer Federation of America
(703) 528-0062
1620 I Street NW
Suite 200
Washington, D.C. 20006

Robert Hunter is in charge of insurance research and advocacy for the Consumer Federation of America. He was Federal Insurance Administrator from 1974 to 1980, and he also served as Insurance Commissioner of Texas in 1993 and 1994.
The Consumer Federation of America is an advocacy, research, education, and service organization that works to advance a pro-consumer policy on a variety of issues.
NOTE TO CLIENTS: Here is the link to the Consumer Federation of America press release. http://www.consumerfed.org/pdfs/auto_insurance_gas_prices_release.pdf It contains STATE-BY-STATE information on the average price savings for decreased miles driven due to gas hikes. We have obtained permission for you to place this information on your websites.

EXTRA BACKGROUND:
** The average auto insurance premium in the US is $939, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners
** According to the Consumer Federation of America, it's important for consumers who are driving less to shop around before renewing their policy.
** CFA is also calling on state insurance commissioners to review auto rates to determine if rate reductions are due as a result of gasoline price increases. In the past, fewer claims were filed as gas prices increased.