Four commuters from Orange County, Calif. decide that their battle over gridlock is over in traffic-choked Southern California. They declared victory over the gas pump. That's because they decided to Dump the Pump. The working professionals no longer drive alone and instead take transit or carpool.

The participants in the carpool are:

Ted Nguyen of Laguna Niguel

Lora Cross of San Clemente

Denise Revel of Laguna Niguel

Rosalyn Zeigler of Laguna NIguel

The smart commuters estimate they save more than $4,000 a year from dumping the pump.

Sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association, Thursday, June 17 is national Dump the Pump day and people across America are freeing themselves from traffic jams by riding transit, hopping on vanpools, joining carpools, biking, walking or even telecommuting to save time, money and the environment. Plus, they get to work at the O.C. Transportation Authority or arrive at home relaxed.

Each year, public transportation in the U.S. saves 1.4 billion gallons of gasoline a year, equivalent to almost 4 million gallons of gasoline per day.

With the horrific oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, anything we can do to conserve makes a difference to save our planet.