In many parts of the country, air quality and traffic congestion issues are most commonly associated with summer, the season in which millions of Americans plan family vacations and weekend roadtrips. And for good reason: summer's heat and pollution can combine to create ozone or "smog" and other air quality problems during a time people enjoy being outdoors most. So now, more than ever, effective communication with the driving public is vitally important to your ongoing mitigation efforts.

This summer, the It All Adds Up To Cleaner Air team is continuing its commitment to providing you with season-specific resources by creating a new series of materials built on the themes of refueling and car maintenance. The materials we've developed for this season explain simple things that everyone can do to help the air. The summer messages are: refuel when it's cool; don't top off your tank; and use less gas by maintaining your car, not idling, keeping your tires properly inflated, and considering buying or renting a low-emission and fuel-efficient car. The summer materials include:

• A summer flash e-mail to promote the seasonal messages online
• A flyer with the summer tips that can be used to promote the messages at events and in mailings
• Six print ads that can be used in advertising and other outreach
• Three outdoor transit ads that can be provided to partners participating in the initiative
• Three radio scripts that can be used to develop local PSAs
• An online quiz to post on your Web site and/or on partner sites
• A press release template to use in your public relations program
• A sample newsletter article to promote your involvement in the initiative
• A list of event/activity suggestions for promoting the summer tips
• A new "road trip checklist" flyer with important "must do's" for every driver to consider before heading out on a summer roadtrip

And this summer, DOT and EPA will continue their coordinated efforts to promote the It All Adds Up To Cleaner Air messages. Among the activities we're pursuing this season:

• Working with the U.S. Department of Energy and national organizations (including the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, American Automobile Association, American Petroleum Institute, Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations, Environmental Defense and National Association of Regional Councils) to promote the summer messages and encourage them to share resources and information with their members and our Community Partners
• Providing a formal presentation on the initiative at the National Transportation Public Affairs Workshop sponsored by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
• Highlighting the materials on www.italladdsup.gov and contacting our Community Partners to solicit comments and feedback on the initiative
• Continuing to offer technical assistance to our Community Partners and national organizations, such as customizing the flash email and other materials for local use

We hope you'll find useful tips and tools in our materials that will aid your outreach efforts this season. As always, we look forward to hearing from you about the ways you adapt these materials for your community and your success in reaching your target audience(s). Please let us know if you have ideas for future seasons - we continue to rely on you for feedback as we look for ways to improve the initiative. Please send us a note to let us know what you're thinking!