Cops: "Hypermiling" Often Risky, Illegal

AAA Agrees; Master Hypermiler Clarifies Suggested Techniques, Tells Motorists To Steer Clear Of Dangerous Maneuvers

(CBS/AP)  Police and automotive experts say over-the-top attempts by some drivers to boost their gas mileage could be endangering them and other motorists.

The AAA and Connecticut State Police are warning against extreme measures in "hypermiling," a practice in which unusual techniques are used to boost vehicles' mileage.

They include rolling through stop signs to avoid braking, turning off a car's engine or shifting into neutral to coast down hills, over-inflating tires to decrease rolling resistance against pavement, and other techniques.

One action that authorities say is particularly dangerous is called "drafting," tailgating big rigs in hopes of cutting wind resistance and being pulled along in a truck's wake.

"Every one of them is illegal," Connecticut State Police spokesman Trooper William Tate said of the "hypermiling" techniques.

"But more importantly, they're extremely dangerous. Every one of them is the cause of accidents," he said.

Most accidents on secondary roads are caused by drivers who don't obey traffic signals, such as stop signs or traffic lights, Tate said. Most highway crashes are caused by tailgating and unsafe lane changes, which are often related, he said.

"Following a tractor-trailer too closely, you don't have the ability to see beyond it as you would when following a passenger vehicle," Tate said. "You're risking your life, and the lives of motorists behind you."

On The Early Show last month, leading hypermiling advocate Wayne Gerdes extolled its virtues to, among others, CBS News correspondent Bianca Solorzano.

He stressed to Solorzano Monday that rolling through stop signs and driving right behind big rigs are NOT part of his way of hypermiling.

"What we recommend," he says, "is staying in the right hand lane, following the speed limits and, as cars go around you, they create a low pressure zone across the entire roadway, and that's called the traffic-side draft. And it does give you another 15 to 20 second boost as the lower pressure area you're coming through helps you along."

At times, says Solorzano, Gerdes does shut off his engine to coast downhill, but on his Web site, CleanMPG.com, he teaches that it's illegal in certain places. And he emphasizes that it's an advanced technique that needs to be practiced in a remote area, and that law enforcement officials continue to insist that shutting off your engine is a dangerous practice.

Police have been told to be on the lookout for hypermilers, Solorzano adds.

Fran Mayko, a spokeswoman for AAA Connecticut Motor Club, says "hypermiling" has been around for a while, but that it has drawn more attention as gas prices have jumped and drivers are seeking ways to boost their mileage.

This is the first time AAA has issued a warning about it, she said.

"These folks who are extremists, apparently they get 70, 80, 90 miles a gallon," she said.

She said drivers should stick to tried-and-true mileage boosters: keeping up with routine maintenance, ensuring tires are properly inflated, keeping unnecessary weight out of the car and driving at the posted speed limit.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, gas mileage typically decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. Every 5 mph that a driver goes above 60 mph is like paying an additional 30 cents per gallon of gas, according to the government.

AAA said the average price on Saturday for regular unleaded gas nationwide was $4.07 per gallon, up $1.10 from the same time last year.

[jstol3]

I have read a lot of ignorance on these 6 pages of comments. For those who love to pay for a lot of gas at high prices I feel sorry for you, you are a big part of the problem. For those who don''t like the high prices but don''t think you can do anything about it so you get frustrated by slow drivers I say try it (going slow, that is) as it will work for you as well. To all who have never used a ScanGauge II (www.scangauge.com) I say buy one and then you will begin to see what we (hypermilers) see. If you are one of those people who never check their fuel mileage (miles traveled since last fillup /# of gallons it takes to fill up) I say that you deserve to be paying what you are paying for gas today because you are probably using some of my fuel and helping drive up the cost ditto to those who drive SUVs and pickups as pleasure vehicles! I see more non-hypermilers commiting dangerous acts on the streets and highways than I do hypermilers.

[kwj102]

Trooper William Tate sounds frustrated. For decades, the Connecticut State Police have tried to curtail dangerous driving practices such as speeding and tailgating - but have been woefully ineffective. Why? We citizens have spend hundreds of millions of dollars for these men an women to keep our highways safe, and they are not. For the last year of statistics, roughly 1/3 of all fatal accidents involved speed, after decades of enforcement. That is a sad record on which to stand.

Other very poor behaviors, in addition to speeding and tailgating, that have been around for decades, are running stop signs and cutting through parking lots to avoid a red light and get ahead of others. And of course the police have been equally ineffective at stopping it.

All these practices are anathema to hypermiling, which specifically promotes going at the speed limit or below (so there goes speeding), leaving a buffer between you and the vehicle in front (so there goes tailgating), obeying posted signs and signals (so there goes running stops), and keeping in the right lane of multilane highways (there goes the vile Going-Slow-In-The-"Fast"-Lane-Idiot).

Hypermiling should be embraced by the troopers, as it promotes doing what they have been unable to do. Perhaps they are just embarassed.

Now if only we could stop that Going-Fast-In-The-"Slow"-Lane-Idiot. I''d be a happy man.

[barbaram99]

THE NEW WORLD ORDER...ZIP IT ..That is wrong and it is not the America I grew up in. All lies they tell ye.

[incog-nito]

I guess this means that putting a mast and sail on my car is out of the question.

[billmabie]

Cops should worry about meth heads and not about how average Joe tries to save a buck,speaking of a buck how many of your local tax dollarsgoes to local cops , and how about fine revenue??

[Syndicate]

How about we get the cities to synchronize the stop lights. I should only have to hit one red light if I drive the speed limit. How about we get the roads fixed too a bumpy road takes its toll on your mileage.

[bks59]

just because there is a law that allows, or disallows, a behavior doesn''t make the action socially acceptable. In illinois where i learned to drive, "keep right except to pass" was the mantra i learned with, i think it is a good idea. just drive in the right lane, as traffic permits.

[displeased]

Slower traffic should keep right as a courtesy. It is not a law."
Posted by OregonDriver

Not if there are signs in the median posted "Slower traffic keep right". Then it is a law. A driver can get a ticket for not obeying traffic signs.

[oregondriver]

Oregon Driver said "On a US interstates ALL lanes are traffic lanes. The far left is not for passing only, they are not the autoban. Slower traffic should keep right as a courtesy. It is not a law."

Actually, I was responding with facts and Oregon law to a user named "Magoo" (rhymes with "Not a clue").

Once again, from page 60 of the actual Oregon Drivers manual which can be found at:

http://www.odot.state.or.us/forms/dmv/37.pdf

"A slowpoke on a freeway can be as dangerous as a speeder. Remember, if you drive at a speed below the flow of traffic, you must use the right lane. Freeways often have several lanes in each direction. On these roads, you should leave the extreme left lane for faster traffic. If you drive at an even speed, you will have less need to change lanes. Remember, lane-hopping any time is dangerous, annoys other drivers, increases the risk of collision, and seldom saves time. Sudden bursts of speed also waste gasoline. If you are traveling in the left lane and someone comes up behind you at a faster speed, move one lane to your right. Do not tie up traffic in the left lane."

[bks59]

If you really want to reduce fuel consumption, take the bus or ride a bicycle

[dnamj]

Tailgating trucks is a great way to die a very gruesome death. If people want better mileage, they should just maintain their cars correctly, and minimize the *** in the trunk.

P.S. this is all so familiar from 30 years ago.

[holy-joe-722]

Oregon Driver said "On a US interstates ALL lanes are traffic lanes. The far left is not for passing only, they are not the autoban. Slower traffic should keep right as a courtesy. It is not a law."

Actually, here in Michigan, there are signs on the highways stating that when driving on a 4-lane highway (2 in each direction), you MUST use the right lane except when passing. I don''t see it enforced often, but it is a law nonetheless.

[lochlan-2009]

Sorry Oregon, I guess it was Magoo I was talking to.

[holy-joe-722]

"On The Early Show last month, leading hypermiling advocate Wayne Gerdes extolled its virtues to, among others, CBS News correspondent Bianca Solorzano. "

I wonder if CBS News or Bianca Solorzano stopped to consider the dangers when airing this story. Typical news coverage - Take NO responsibility for the content and consequences even when common sense says it''s not a safe idea.

[lochlan-2009]

OregonDriver- So you''re one of those a-holes that drives in the passing lane at 10mph below the speed limit, forcing everyone behind you to pass on the right. Such a courteous driver, you wretched old men who take pleasure every time you go out of your way to mess with someone just trying to get by. Let me guess you speed up when they go to pass you on the right, too. You people suck!!! Everybody should drive as slow as you do, otherwise they''re driving to fast, huh?

[oregondriver]

Well, Magoo, in Oregon you couldn''t be more wrong and yes I DID read the drivers manual. A copy can be found at: http://www.odot.state.or.us/forms/dmv/37.pdf

From page 60 of the Oregon Drivers Manual:

"A slowpoke on a freeway can be as dangerous as a speeder. Remember, if you drive at a speed below the flow of traffic, you must use the right lane. Freeways often have several lanes in each direction. On these roads, you should leave the extreme left lane for faster traffic. If you drive at an even speed, you will have less need to change lanes. Remember, lane-hopping any time is dangerous, annoys other drivers, increases the risk of collision, and seldom saves time. Sudden bursts of speed also waste gasoline. If you are traveling in the left lane and someone comes up behind you at a faster speed, move one lane to your right. Do not tie up traffic in the left lane."

READ your driver''''s manual. On a US interstates ALL lanes are traffic lanes. The far left is not for passing only, they are not the autoban. Slower traffic should keep right as a courtesy. It is not a law.
If the right lane is moving 55 and I am doing 65 in a 70mph zone I''''m not reducing speed to 55 so a jackass like you can get where he is going quicker. Screwe you. Getting dangerously close to my bumper will get you a visit from THE MAN ''''cause I''''ve called in road rage morons with my cell phone and saw the cops pull them over for it. You better obey the LAW. Not your mythology on road travel.

[kemetorigin]

The far left is not for passing only, they are not the autoban. Slower traffic should keep right as a courtesy. It is not a law.
magoo2u1

Actually in some states it is against the law to hold up traffic in the left lane.

[idnnsg]

terrorislami: either comment on THIS story, or get lost!

[acolton1]

"Hypermiling" I do put my car in neutral to coast down long hills. On the way to work every morning there is a hill that is about 2 miles and I coast that. I have a 5 speed Honda Fit that gets 38mpg. As for turning off your engine thats dangerous because you loose Power Steerting and Power Brakes. I do

[terrorislami]

FASCIST NAZI TERRORISLAM IS THE PROBLEM,,,

DEMONIC-RAT HUSSEIN IS NOT THE SOLUTION,,,