Hypermilers: How NOT to drive, from msn news Options

[saleeka]

"Drafting"? You mean tailgating dangerously close?

Shutting your car off while in motion? Are they really serious?


I'm all for increasing fuel milage, but driving habits like these are insanely dangerous to other motorists, let alone yourself...

Click here for the full story.

This post has been edited by saleeka: May 29, 2007 - 6:35 PM

[playr158]

Mythbusters did a show where they tested up much gas you could save by drafting. The results astounded me. At 200 feet (behind a big rig), you save about 5% (not much). At 100, it climbs to 10%. At 50, it goes up again to ~20%. Then at 25, it jumps nearly to 30% That's not chump change, people! And following a big rig at a distance of 25 feet is not that too far off what people normally do anyways!

Traveling at 55 MPH you move approximately 80 feet per second. I don't know about you, but I certainly don't feel comfortable being 25 feet behind a semi at that speed. I'd love to ring and extra 5-10 MPG average out of my car, but I’m not going to risk my life to do it.

I chill behind 18 wheelers when i'm on my bike occassionally...its so quiet and zero wind back there....i go from 45mpg to 60mpg
aerodynamics ftw