Gasoline prices are soaring, and drivers are feeling the pinch.

Motorists in the Pittsburgh area were paying on average $3.77 for a gallon of regular unleaded yesterday, AAA East Central said. That's up from $2.95 a year ago.

At the rate things are going, it won't be long before a gallon of gas costs more than a matinee movie ticket.

The national average currently stands at about $3.77 a gallon, which is 39 cents more than one month ago and 67 cents more than this time last year.

According to AAA, rising gasoline prices will result in 360,000 fewer Americans traveling over Memorial Day compared with the previous year.

That still leaves 37.87 million Americans who will travel 50 miles or more from home this holiday, AAA reported. Locally, AAA estimates 1.48 million Pennsylvanians will travel this holiday, including 1.34 million who will drive and 134,000 who will fly.

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Options include car-pooling, public transportation, bicycling, even walking. But if you absolutely have to drive, there are ways -- short of buying a hybrid vehicle -- to get better gas mileage.

Unless you're racing to the hospital or getting chased by a carjacker, try not to gun the gas pedal. "It lets a lot of unburned fuel out of the tail pipe," said Chuck Wichrowski, owner of Baum Boulevard Automotive in Bloomfield.

Take your foot off the pedal and glide to a stop instead of applying gas right up to the stop light or stop sign and stomping the brake. "If you continue to add power up to the stop, you're wasting gas," Mr. Wichrowski said. A word of caution: While gliding do not move driving foot too far from brake pedal.

Proper tire pressure and proper alignment will improve your gas mileage.

"It sounds minute, but if the tires are going against each other you'll have to give it more gas to go the same miles per hour," said Darrell Baker, a mechanic at Hamlin's Automotive in Bridgeville.

Higher gas prices have put the transportation industry under pressure to find ways to cut cost. Many companies are starting to realize slower driving is better for the bottom line.

The trucking industry's main trade group recently introduced a plan to reduce fuel consumption and emissions over the next decade mainly by having its members slow down.

Even airlines have learned they can save millions on fuel by flying more slowly. Although its added a few minutes to their flights, Southwest Airlines started flying more slowly about two months ago, and projects it will save $42 million in fuel costs this year.

As for passenger vehicles, Mr. Wichrowski pointed out one gas saving tip that is often overlooked.

"If you're on the highway use the air conditioning rather than roll down the windows," he said. "The car loses its aerodynamics when wind gets in the car and holds it back.

"If the windows are up, the car is slicker. Studies have shown even with the air conditioning running, a car gets better gas mileage with the windows up."

The Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy also offer gas mileage tips, which include removing excessive weight from the vehicle and avoiding idling.

"Drive like your mother is in the car," said Bonnie Smith, an EPA spokeswoman in Philadelphia. "Avoid high speed. Don't overdrive. Keep your tires properly inflated and get regular engine tuneups."