With oil prices soaring, AAA suggests driving slower, and the CHP says that’s fine — as long as you stay to the right.

A news release from AAA notes that gas mileage for most vehicles “decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. Each 5 mph driven over 60 mph is like paying an additional 24 cents per gallon for gas, reports the U.S. Department of Energy.”

CHP Officer Jon Sloat, who says he’s noticed more drivers going 60 mph in the slow lanes on Highway 101, says the CHP heartily supports saving gas “as long as they don’t impede traffic and stay in the far right lane.”

While that might work on Highway 101, it won’t on two-lane highways.

While drivers can go slower on two-lane highways, Sloat says they must pull over if there are more than five cars behind and allow the traffic to pass.

As for the AAA’s tips, the others include:

–Avoid making quick starts and sudden stops. “If there is a red light ahead, ease off the gas and coast up to it rather than waiting until the last second to brake,” AAA advises. “Once the light turns green, accelerate gently rather than making a ‘jack rabbit’ start.”

–Keep your car maintained.

–When buying a new car, “consider the wide variety of ‘green’ vehicle options now available.”

–Combine multiple trips into one. “Several short trips starting with a cold engine each time can use twice as much gas as a single longer trip when the engine is warm.”