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­Summertime is travel time. Even with gasoline prices at an all-time high, Americans can't resist the lure of sunny skies and the open road. According to a survey by AAA­, 31.7 million Americans planned to travel by car over Memorial Day weekend 2008, despite gas prices that are an average of $.60 more per gallon over the previous year [source: The Los Angeles Times].

Image Gallery: Car Safety

brake change
Scott Olson/Getty Images
A little preventative maintenance will help keep your car in shape for the summer. See more car safety pictures.

Before hitting the road this summer, you can take several simple precautions to keep your family safe and save money at the pump. Extreme heat and long drives can be tough on cars. Cracked hoses, leaky radiators, underinflated tires and dirty filters can significantly lower your fuel efficiency, or worse, lead to a total breakdown.

Roadside Emergency Kit
Even if you faithfully follow our 10 maintenance tips, some breakdowns are unavoidable. Do yourself a favor and save some room in your trunk for the following items. They could turn a potential trip-wrecker into nothing more than an unexpected pit stop:
  • Screwdrivers and wrenches of various sizes
  • Jumper cables
  • A jack and tire iron
  • A can of "Fix-a-Flat" for temporarily sealing and inflating a flat tire
  • Water for both the radiator and yourself
  • Emergency flares and reflectors
  • Gloves
  • Blanket and towel
  • Flashlight [source: CBS News]
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