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"Every one of them (HM techniques) is illegal," Connecticut State Police spokesman Trooper William Tate. (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/06/30/earlyshow/main4218439.shtml?source=mostpop_story)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/AAA_Automotive_Logo.jpgThe Early Show - July 1, 2008

They gave Wayne time in the video where he clearly does not condone drafting and rolling stops...the State Troopers have yet to substantiate their claims. Plenty of reader comments in the online article -- Ed

Members: Please check out this important thread (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13012)

(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… http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/06/30/earlyshow/main4218439.shtml?source=mostpop_story

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.

These the basic tenants of hypermilling, are they not? Guess even AAA is promoting illegal and dangerous practices...

Why is Sgt Joe Friday's famous "Just the facts..." come to mind in regards to this alleged unsustiantiated allegations of semi-drafting, rolling stops for FE, etc?

i would think it would be a lot easier for those cops to take care of speeders, since there are a heck of a lot more of them out there than us. i am so sick of this.

A fas has never compromised my brakes or steering. I actually feel better control of the vehicle in those cases. The cops need to focus on the dangerous speeders, talkers, agressors on the road. Not the guy coasting at the speed limit. Nuts! You can see the cops haven't done their research. At least they gave Wayne camera time and he nailed it spot on, but they have yet to say NO technique advocated at cleanmpg is hazardous. It's ok, new members will still roll after this and even because of this report. This is good whats going on lately.

Oye. This report made me sick for the day (its Canada Day today).

It is obvious that the state troopers were fed the question by the media since I doubt the troopers have yet to process any accidents directly attributed to these "pesky" and "dangerous" hypermilers.

Cheers;

MSantos

i would think it would be a lot easier for those cops to take care of speeders, since there are a heck of a lot more of them out there than us. i am so sick of this.I need the barf bag, too.

Really did not want to post this, but felt it was too big to ignore this continuing story of hypermiling ignorance.

Weather you are talking about the war in Iraq or the economy, or hypermiling, you can always count on the media to go for the sensational. Look at what this article is full of and you will see why my nightly intake on the news is limited to the weather. In their obsessive race toward the sensational they have become, for the most part, irrelevant.

old media is doomed - no one believes it

new media (ie. this website) is growing and thriving

The only problem here is that certain techniques have been associated with hypermilers. The techniques described by the police as dangerous, are usually so, but most people who call themselves hypermilers won't do those. I'm must rather do a legal 40 in a mph zone with "illegal" traffic whipping around me than tailgate a semi going 10 over the limit; The real money is at the lower speeds.

I wonder how many people caught running a light/stop tried to weasel their way out by pretending to do something green..."I was just trying to save gas and the enviroment", rather than owning up to the fact they just consider themselves too important to obey law and must get to their destination faster than can legally be done.

Better than a lot of the news coverage out there lately, but still awful. Especially the "Is it worth it?" "No ... I would say no" ending. Ick.

What RL said. This is part of why I rarely watch television. When our TV becomes obsolete next February, it will not be replaced.

It always amazes me, the amount of resitance people have to hypermiling. I read story after story of people who are cutting back on things because of the high cost of fuel, but no one seams to want to change the way they drive. AAA should be a chearleader for hypermiling and and the state police???

I see what these guys are doing at CBS. This is an *ss covering job. They came back after a month ago saying how "cool" it was that Wayne Hypermiled from Chicago to NY on one tank, and now they may have seen some controversy in other media and don't want to be held responsible for anything.

Notice how at the end the reporters read their lines ..."Is it worth it?" and the anchor says "No, I would say no." This was not random conversation. It's part of the script. This was a carefully prepared segment as all segments are. They are trying to protect themselves from being put in a bad light or even being sued by some bone-head who will be drafting and gets hurt and then blames CBS for airing and "encouraging" Hypermiling, even though the guy was not hypermiling by doing it. They can now say in the future "we warned people." They are such corporate wimps.

The main thing is to always reiterate that whoever is rolling stop signs, drafting, etc. is NOT Hypermiling.

Not to worry though, when I read about Wayne and HM in Reader's Digest for the first time, I noticed they talked about "death turns" and so forth and you could say that seems "dangerous" and should have turned me off, but that didn't stop me and everyone else and his mother from running straight over to cleanmpg did it?

People will find out for themselves that real HM is safer than "regular" driving and will still come here and learn in huge numbers. This report is obviously a bummer for us all in a way, but it is also a big reason large amounts of new people will learn to hypermile.

2 pennies.

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

Good to know that they're keeping an eye out to catch those pesky drivers going UNDER the speed LIMIT.

Kirk

Overall I thought it was a fair article because it is true as "technically" the things they mentioned are illegal. They already did one piece very positive on hypermiling so I guess we should not complain. What's the old saying - any publicity is good publicity.

However, how about enforcing the speed limit, tailgaters, and those that drive in the left hand lane in those states where the left hand lane is for passing only.

I wonder if it would be a good idea to have a list of states and what is allowed in terms of hypermiling as a feature here on the site. A list of states with a "legal/not legal" tag for each technique of hypermiling so you can tailor your toolbox to your own state legalities Or maybe just a simple link we could all go to to see what techniques are legal in what states? Yeah?

It would emphasize how cleanmpg.com is only advocating very safe, legal hypermiling.

Is that even necessary? What you think?

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

I guess I'll do without that "Go Around, Hypermiling" bumper sticker I had my eye on.

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

John Dillinger, move over, we have a new crop of felons who are public enemy number one.;)

Harry

Just read the comments to the story.... I thought these people only watched Fox News?????

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



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

John Dillinger, move over, we have a new crop of felons who are public enemy number one.;)

Harry

this just slays me. what the *((&DF*& is wrong with getting high mileage. i easily can do 65MPG in my HCH without any effort at all.

there is no *(&$#(*&( hope for the human race. none. and people wonder why i want to be a hermit?

I just waded through the cesspool comments section of the article.

Bunch of bitter fuel-sucking-pig drivers, full of the usual hate and animosity, ignorance, and stubborn resistance to change. Scary, innit?

Harry

Two years hypermiling without so much as a second glance from a cop, one of those years was spent in CT. Guess I better be careful now. If I continue to drive the speed limit, hang in the right lane, leave extra following distance, and anticipate road conditions, I migh look like a hypermiler! Then they'll get me! And heaven forbid I should be caught with 44psi in my tires while combining trips in a well-maintained vehicle at the same time. Isn't there a three-strike rule on that stuff?

Sick of the sensationalist ill-informed oil-loving media. I think it's high time I quit paying attention.

If the CT State Troopers think hypermilers are all close drafting big rigs, running or rolling thru stop signs, and cutting thru parking lots to avoid traffic lights, most of us should be safe. I'm hoping they will ticket a bunch of those tailgating, aggressive drivers I encounter daily.

I think it really stinks that they are putting hypermiling in a negative light. However, it won't stop me from trying to improve my mpg.

If the CT State Troopers think hypermilers are all close drafting big rigs, running or rolling thru stop signs, and cutting thru parking lots to avoid traffic lights, most of us should be safe. I'm hoping they will ticket a bunch of those tailgating, aggressive drivers I encounter daily.



very good point. i wonder what kind of vehicles they will pull over. can they charge them with hypermiling, even if they are driving a FSP? :p

I trust the mainstream news media as far as I can throw my 12 story hospital. I've been on the receiving end of a political poll and I know first hand how they try to stack the poll to get the results they want. They usually give a long drawn out statement as fact before they ask a question in order to try to influence your answer to the following question. I don't doubt that the reporter did something similiar with this story. But of course, they never do creative editing to suit their needs.

This is why no of you should even believe a word they ever say about anything. Every story covered by the media is either an out right lie or biased to make their own point.

I never watch the news on TV anymore.

This morning on the radio the Tennessee Highway patrol announced they would be doing a saturation on Thursday on my normal commute. They will be focusing on aggressive drivers, impaired drivers and seatbelts. I'm not going to change anything i do during my commute. I"m curious if I will be targeted for driving slowly.

Through inference and inuendo they seem to say that driving the speed limit, concentrating on the traffic around you and planning your route is illegal. the Conn. cops seem to be clueless. they make Barney Fife look good.
I see people running stop signs frequently and it is obvious that they are not trying to save fuel. there is one intersection that I cross daily that has a stop sign on each side of the road and for some reason drivers do not see them and run right through the intersection. I have seen numerous accidents at this intersection including one where the driver that ran the stop sign and hit a city bus in the side just behind the rear wheels.

These are the causes of most traffic accidents.
Speeding, Weather, drunk driving, sleepiness, and distractions
NOT HYPERMILING!!
http://i.cnn.net/cnn/interactive/us/0604/popup.risky.driving/super.risky.driving.behav.jpg

Yeah, Laurie, being a hermit doent seem too bad at this juncture. Maybe having a co-hermit would be nice though.

But worry not, these dorks posting vile things will still come to cleanmpg and know they can at least save money. So many are secretly letting off the gas without admitting it. don't underestimate the fact that they want to see if they can save money and try it in the closet.

Here is what I think we should do.

1) All drafting is bad. Drafting = close-in drafting. Distant draft/ side draft should be called something else from here on out. The reason why is when people hear "drafting" they associate it immediately with close-in drafting.

2) Rolling through stops is bad. We call for the enforcement obey all traffic laws.

3) Over inflating tires is bad. We strongly discourage overinflating.

4) Call for the immediate enforcment of speed limits. This is the real cause for most accidents.

someone should send that chart to our friend christie and the CT cops......really.

Maybe we should start calling it something else like "Smart Driving" instead of Hypermiling, because the antonym would be... what most drivers out there are doing today.

No, we can't possibly think of changing the word Hypermile... respectfully I present the definition.....

hy·per1 .

2. seriously or obsessively concerned; fanatical; rabid: She's hyper about noise pollution


We have to make a stand for what we do. We are doing something good, and beneficial to everyone around us. We will not be like a weak poltician who changes everything to get a vote. Wayne intelligently coined this word. We won't bend to naysayers. The world is full of them and you don't give in to them. Ever. You make sure what's right, then you do what's right, and then you defend it.

Notice the definition part that says "Seriously" for the word Hyper. It's appropriate because Wayne was Seriously concerned about how our oil dependence has caused us to be in a weakened state as a nation. He saw those Twin Towers go down and thousands of American people die in part because of our addiction to foreign oil and it lit a fire in him.
He's still running, and not giving in to pressure. And none of us should give in either. We should keep conserving, keep talking most of all. It works.

The word Hypermiling only implies being passionate about doing this good thing to maximise the benefits to yourself and all others.

Well I think that starting right now we should call people who post here "Offenders" rather than "Members"!;)

3) Over inflating tires is bad. We strongly discourage overinflating.


Agree on all your points with the possible exception of this one, but only because we have to first define what "overinflating" is. Is it more than the door recommends? If so, I'll happily "overinflate" because the benefits of doing so are proven and have been demonstrated by independent sources. If "overinflate" means more than the max sidewall on the tire, I would accept a denouncement of "overinflating" because I don't like recommending that people play with the engineering margins on safety items.

I agree. I'll support that with the clarification that we mean over the sidewall rating. I think that should be included in the wording of our official statement, so there's no way it can be mistaken. At or below sidewall is NOT overinflated.

Well I think that starting right now we should call people who post here "Offenders" rather than "Members"!;)

Then sign me up as an "Offender"!

I agree. I'll support that with the clarification that we mean over the sidewall rating. I think that should be included in the wording of our official statement, so there's no way it can be mistaken. At or below sidewall is NOT overinflated.

Below sidewall is underinflated.

Aether glider, according to new information, AAA is actually correct: :p

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/506/Untitled.jpg

Kirk

Too think, while I was driving to work a few mornings ago, a MN state trooper passed me on a four-lane highway. I'm sure he took my license number and now I'm probably on a watch list! Yikes! Maybe he was being nice by not arresting me on the spot. I may not be so lucky the next time....;)

where is the article that the San Jose Police department "overinflated" their tires to improve efficiency, economy, and handling??? so on one side of the country it is ok, then on the other it is bad. Laws suck, most cops suck, all TV suck (really what did you watch when you were a kid? have you seen the latest kid shows?) well my 2 cents might offend some people in here, but to he!! with what they say I am my own person and will do what i think is right. oh and i must be an offender!! woohoo my heart rate as never been so calm breaking the law!

Hi All:

___This is almost a comedic tragedy. The site is to help America and here we go again ... PS, the Ranger allowed 59.7 to my parents house this morning, 51.2 to my sisters and 60.5 into my drive over 25 miles. Oh my god, there was carnage all over the place as I weaved in and out of the speed demons and proctologists the world over.

PS: I saved about a half gallon of fuel so those same knuckleheads can continue burning our country to the ground :( :ccry:

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Brick, if Bridgestone is going to tell people not to exceed the max sidewall, then that is what we should stick with. We have underinflation which is well established to be less than the placard (and which as Wayne points out will be the condition a day later of most drivers if they press up to placard). Normally inflated would be anywhere from placard to max sidewall, and overinflated would be anything above max sidewall.

Mine are "overinflated" and I'm perfectly aware of all the benefits and detractions of such a condition. I drive accordingly and accept the risks, just as I accept the high risks of climbing behind the wheel of a 1 ton machine built by man. In fact, I drive so as to reduce all my risks, I drive slowly and aware, concentrating on the task at hand. No radio, minimal conversation (I talk to myself).

It always amazes me, the amount of resitance people have to hypermiling. I read story after story of people who are cutting back on things because of the high cost of fuel, but no one seams to want to change the way they drive. AAA should be a chearleader for hypermiling and and the state police???


After you filter out the common internet Trolls blocking left lane and engine-oil-draining-down Experts,
you start to see regular folks who are suffering from a real lack of knowledge about HM.

Only a few months ago, I was under the impression that tire max pressure 44 PSI
was the danger zone. The tire might burst at 50 PSI.. :o I still have a lot to learn!

I think the HM resistance we are seeing is coming from people who are afraid of change.
Especially people who are currently stuck with a gas hog and feel like their
transportation situation is quickly going out of control.

Many of these people are angry about the whole situation and are ready to lash out at
anything and anyone.
Some people are blaming themselfs for not taking action after seeing all the warning signs.
We all knew that oil prices were on the way up and of course too many of us were
burying our heads in the sand. Or, just too busy going about our lives to be concerned
about problems looming on the horizon.

It's great that the world has websites like CleanMPG to learn from. Anyone who sees that
state policewoman (Chief Crazy Hat?) sounding pretty incoherent, but talking about 70 MPG
is very likely to be visiting here soon. :)

Anyone who is really dumb (or on drugs) seeing the warning about tailgating trucks to
get 70 MPG, may eventually find out that chasing 70-75 MPH 16wheelers will waste a lot of gas! and is very scary! :eek:

The media can only demonize Hypermiling for so long before it has to accept reality ,
and until then, we have to take the good with the bad.
Who was it that once said, any publicity is good publicity...??

What can you do? So many reasons why Im a undercover hypermiler. The press SUCKS!!! And Ive had no issue with cops. But now they are looking for hypermilers.

Connecticut Trooper "ignorant fool" needs to educate himself before he makes such a fool of himself on television. None of us want to think a trooper could say such stupid things.

You should rarely say "never," "always," or "all," without framing your argument very carefully.

One approach we should take (which should include specifically educating "Trooper Fool") would be to absolutely agree with him on tailgating and running stop signs - both of which predate CleanMPG by decades.

When did those become hypermiler techniques in the eyes of the authorities? How did they make that link? It would be nice to get answers to those questions. Only then can we begin to understand the idiotic comment made by Trooper Fool.

Just when I thought it was safe acctually like cops this happens.

What can you do? So many reasons why Im a undercover hypermiler. The press SUCKS!!! And Ive had no issue with cops. But now they are looking for hypermilers.

What kind of costume should I wear while I'm hypermiling? You know, something that makes me look really whacked out.What about a sucide bomber's vest that has NiHM batteries instead?Any ideas?

yea, one of the first things that I saw when I went to check my email on comcast this morning:

http://chenzhen.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/hypermiling-illegal.jpg

I think I'll change my avitar to a mug shot of me in an orange prison jumpsuit. :rolleyes:

Demise of the Traffic Side Draft?

With respects to Wayne, whose interview with the Sierra Club back when led me here, perhaps bringing up Traffic Side Draft in interviews isn't the best plan.

As someone previously posted, "Draft" has such a negative connotation that no one will listen to anything else you say. Furthermore...trying to explain the physics of traffic side draft to my FSP-driving neighbor is like trying to get my cats to maintain my website...not going to happen.

Maybe, media-wise, we should implement a "baby steps" campaign.

1. Slow down (speed limit).
2. 2 seconds following distance.
3. Accelerate gently.
4. Take your foot off the gas when you're going to have to stop at a light.

Perhaps the general public isn't ready for the "extreme", "over-the-top", "unusual techniques" involved in hypermiling.

Perhaps the general public isn't ready for the "extreme", "over-the-top", "unusual techniques" involved in hypermiling.

I don't think we have done that much wrong - they just don't understand and throw the baby out with the bathwater.Maybe if the gas prices go up another $1-2 a gallon...

No...I agree with you. I was just making fun of the language they used...it's gonna be Armageddon! Damn hypermilers! I was serious about emphasizing baby steps, though.

I understand...I've been pretty sarcastic myself about how dangerous we have been said to be.

Im a danger to folks of all kinds with my perfect driving record. Should I try to get tickets and have wrecks so I can be like the normal idiots in the USA? I know,,, get a CR-Z,, slam and wing it out. Put stickers all over it. And get 60 mpg.

First chance I get, I am going to my Honda dealership and have them exorcise that demon auto-stop from my HCH! I mean there is no way I am going to get a ticket for having my engine off because it turns itself off! Then I am going to go back to driving 15 mph over the limit and screeching to a halt at stop signs & traffic lights so as not to be identified as a hypermiler. hmmmm, I guess I should take my bumper stickers and hybrid badge off my car as well. After all, I wouldn't want to make it too easy for law enforcement.

Laurie, now I am starting to remember why I am practically a hermit.

I think baby steps of driving the speed limit is too much of a challenge for most people.

Just once, I'd like to see some hard data to back up the claim that hypermiling is unsafe, not this theory and conjecture and "common sense" bulls***.

If I have to travel to Connecticut again (it's really a fly-over state),
I'll have to attach a sign to the back of my car..
SPEEDING AND WASTING GAS!
So, I won't get pulled over.

Actually, why can't you get a good sub or pizza in Connecticut?
Yeah, it's on my list of places to avoid from now on.

Hehehe, unlike NH, where there are signs at the state line warning you against speeding,
Connecticut has signs saying "Welcome to the Speeders Paradise" :Banane54:

Connecticut has signs saying "Welcome to the Speeders Paradise" :Banane54:

It might be worth one more trip to Conn. to get a picture of the "Welcome to the Speeders Paradise" sign. :D

Here is my comment on the CBS web site:

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.

Nice kwj, the last line makes it seem like you're not a hypermiler, so they'll take you seriously. :)

Kirk

Irrespective of what Officer Tate says, I just don't think we will become targets on the highways. Troopers who need to pad their numbers will get the folks doing 85-90 in a 65 mph zone. There are plenty of them in Maryland, and they are a slam dunk in court. A trooper isn't going to waste his time with a person who is going 60 in a 65. Now he may try to get a slow driver whom he thinks is drunk. But he won't be able to write a ticket for a person who passes a sobriety test.

As far as the Early Show, the difference between it and Jerry Springer is slim and getting slimmer all the time. Sad, really.

I have a hypermiler sticker on my car, and I have no plans to remove it. If I get pulled over, I will share it with the community. Even if I get fined, the money I have saved so far will easily pay the ticket.

First chance I get, I am going to my Honda dealership and have them exorcise that demon auto-stop from my HCH! I mean there is no way I am going to get a ticket for having my engine off because it turns itself off! Then I am going to go back to driving 15 mph over the limit and screeching to a halt at stop signs & traffic lights so as not to be identified as a hypermiler. hmmmm, I guess I should take my bumper stickers and hybrid badge off my car as well. After all, I wouldn't want to make it too easy for law enforcement.

Laurie, now I am starting to remember why I am practically a hermit.

we could start a commune. anyone remember them? ;)

Oh my god, there was carnage all over the place as I weaved in and out of the speed demons and proctologists the world over.

So that commenter on my Star Tribune article was right? We're "Eco-Terrorists" out to "get them?" :p

What kind of costume should I wear while I'm hypermiling? You know, something that makes me look really whacked out.What about a sucide bomber's vest that has NiHM batteries instead?Any ideas?

I'm thinking the car is pretty much already screaming, "HYPERMILER HERE!!!"

Gulp.

Connecticut Trooper "ignorant fool"...
...specifically educating "Trooper Fool")...
...idiotic comment made by Trooper Fool.

Whoa there, fellah. I understand the sentiment (believe me, I do) but my experience has been very consistent with the old, "The loser is the one who loses his cool first." That direction is playing on their turf and won't help us.

Please don't take this as pointed criticism of you, KWJ -- I've got a general sense of "gearing up for war" and this could hurt more than help us. There isn't much to attack when the other guy presents only courteous and professional response.

I live in CT and have never had a problem with the cops here or other drivers. I drive 55-60 on the right lane and I can only think of one occasion where someone has honked at me. Most people are happy to pass me, I think it makes them feel better.

There's also a fair amount of cops on the stretch of I-95 I drive since accidents are very common.

Anyways, the answer to this problem are racing stripes. We just have to put racing stripes on our cars so we appear faster to other drivers.

Sorry, I couldn't remember his name so I used a substitute. Notice I did not call him an ignorant fool. His comments were not professional, they were ignorant (that not being stupid, just not educated on the topic). I must state that we don't know exactly the question his ignorant response was in reference to.

You are encouraged to remove my previous rant, as I agree most readers won't understand the innuendo or finer points. It is more likely they will see what you saw.

The proper English used in the title gave me a hint at how smart the person in question was. I knew from the "them is" not to pay any any attention.

I think I'll change my avitar to a mug shot of me in an orange prison jumpsuit. :rolleyes:

I found this as an avatar - it's perfect!

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/533/prisoner.jpg
________________________

When we (dastardly hypermilers) are all safely in jail, there will be no more collisions or traffic violations at all. The rest of the country can travel safely with the menacing hypermilers* exorcised from the highways. And there will also be much more room on the road for the mammoth Excursions and H2s that the safe motorists always drive! :rolleyes:


*Hypermiler (noun) - 1: Anyone who happens to be driving in front of you at a rate of speed that is less than your own, even when your own speedometer is pegged. 2: Anyone observed to be running through a yellow light as it just turns red, or rolling through a stop sign. 3: Anyone who slows at a rate that is not steep enough to lock the inertia reels on their seat belts. 4: Anyone following a larger vehicle too closely.


Note to those who may be members of the sensationalist media - The paragraphs above are satire, and are totally devoid of fact, or in other words, perfect for quoting in your inflammatory and misleading press release.

I just don't know what to do.

If I talk with the press they go extreme. Now the law dogs are going to get extreme. And now we have AAA against us. Its all so depressing. :(

I've come to the conclusion that all hypermiler hate comes from speeders who are afraid that if we start a trend and everybody slows down, the speeders will stick out like sore thumbs and be more easily caught by law enforcement.

Hi All:

___The more BS I read about drafting, blowing stoplights and signs and generally causing mayhem while following the speed limits and being far more aware then any of the YaHoo’s driving at 15 over and not giving a damn, the more pissed I get. The more pissed I get, the more I am going to push and this was yet another opportunity to pull some record numbers in the real world. 90% - 45 mph construction zones on the Interstate from the Wisconsin border to O’Hare and back. I only left the right lane’s RR to pass one driver and he was running his P/U trucks E-Flashers while towing another guy with a strap while the second guy was on his motorcycle??? Almost 60 miles and the only time I left the right hand lane was to pass the guy going 30 with his E-Flashers whereas 99.99% of the rest were between 5 and 20 over including the damned 18-wheelers and 80% where in Close-ins of 1.5 seconds or less all the while sucking our economy let alone their pocket books dry.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/505/37_0_mpg_to_O_Hare_and_back.jpg
Acura MDX 17 mpg on the 08 and 19 mpg on the 85 through 07 EPA combined. 1 FAS heading to the departure gates and 1 getting back up into my driveway!

___Maybe that is our job. Save so much damn fuel so these Jack @$$’s can continue to burn theirs at maximum rates. Think back to Rush Limbaugh’s 12mpg comments a few days ago as to the absurdity of it all? Time to show the idiots (can I call them anything nice?) what Hypermiling is really all about. Here is to you AAA and the CT State Patrol :rolleyes:

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Let's not lose sight three weeks ago when the Early Show chronicled the Chicago to NYC trip Wayne made that no drafting, no FASing, no rolling stops, nothing controversial was done.

guys... while slowly pulling away from a red light today I was paying too much attention to traffic patterns and what was ahead of me on the road I somehow killed a bus of children driven by a priest and a rabbi.... seriously, who are these people that think we are the cause of traffic collisions?

I'm sure most of you guys (I certainly know I am) are probably the most attentive, safest people on the road... perhaps the critics are just jealous... "don't hate me 'cause I'm beautiful"

Hi All,

Well, no one said the Connecticut State Patrol isn't run by a bunch of lazy, ignoramous, ludites. So, they had to come out and tell us that to our faces.

Sarcasm on:

I mean, see somebody doing the speed limit in the right lane, NOW THEY CAN PULL THEM OVER AND GIVE THEM A TICKET TOO! Joy Joy Joy Joy. Much easier than chasing a David Lettermen in his hyperHP sports car with a helicopter. And Besides, these hypermilers are cheap bastards, and wont bring in the $1000 / hr lawyers into court , who can make them look like the fools .

Sarcasm off,

They were too lazy to reseach that one does not have to do anything illegal in a Prius to get 70 mpg, or 100 mpg in an Insight.

This reminds me of an episode from car history. Back in the 1920's. or whenever the rear-view mirror was invented, Police had it outlawed. One of the most basic pieces of safety equipment on modern cars, and Police had it outlawed. Their reasoning was that speeders could see them coming. The rear view mirror was kinda the radar detctor of its day. There is a guy in NW Indiana who patented a signalling system many years ago (its probably run out) to use radar guns, and radar detectors as safety beacons, and receivers , for signal drivers around blind curves and in fog. Has not gone anywhere, probably because Police have gotten radar detectors baned in many east coast states. This guy was sick of seeing lots of really bad accidents in fog on the Indiana Tollway, with which he had professional association. Being near the south end of Lake Michigan, there is lots of weather related visibility issues at times. Also seems like a good idea for Tenessee, and coastal states.

So, out they come with this completely unsubtantiated Artifice, that in order to get 70 mpg, one has to cheat. This is slander for of many people. What are they going to be doing, pulling people over to check they MPG indicators ? Well. I do not get 70 mpg, but if you spend any time on Prius Chat, you will see the people that do have allot going for them. They live in humid areas, where the air density is less, consequently. They live near large bodies of water, typically, which have lots of flat little small side roads due the iregular shape of the coastline. This allows them a unhindered driving enviorment, on roads that are mostly deserted. And they also preheat their cars with electricity, so a minium amount of gas is used on the road.


If you read through some of the comments on the CBS site, it seems there is a political undertone. Something about the Republicans wont let us save gas either, now. Hmm, not sure if I agree, as Connecticut seems to be a very strong unionist state, and allot of the policies seem to be of by and for the public sector unions. Seems, this might be more of this to me. That gas tax money goes to those unions, and if the public found a way to reduce it to half, well, how is the union dues going to be paid ? Can't have that. If I lived in Connecticut, I might be getting ready to have a New Haven Tea Party. As this selective processcusion proposed by the Connecticut State Police seems to be a form of taxation without representation. They are in effect telling people, "You Will Use as MUCH Gasoline as WE TELL YOU TO USE, and NOT A DROP LESS".

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=3637857

If you haven't seen this already, You gotta see this video!
They are ready to call out the lynch mob!!
It was so full mis-information I lost track the count!

Members, please check this out in Members Only > http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13012

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=3637857
If you haven't seen this already, You gotta see this video!
They are ready to call out the lynch mob!!
It was so full mis-information I lost track the count!

From the article:
Hypermilers often drive over or under the speed limit, impeding the flow of traffic to maintain a speed that gives them good gas mileage.
:confused: Huh? Show me a driver, ANY driver, who doesn't do that.

So I should drive like this (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25473935) to help traffic along?

Hi All:

___I think we had better be careful and not double or triple the EPA of our vehicles anymore because the AAA says we cannot do it and they know better given that is what the lady who has never exceeded the EPA in her car told us not to do anymore :D

___I can tell this lady is an engineer with quite a bit of training in the physics of kinetic and static friction let alone works in the tire manufacturing business too :rolleyes:

___Good Luck

___Wayne

I can tell this lady is an engineer with quite a bit of training in the physics of kinetic and static friction let alone works in the tire manufacturing business too...and waving charts, too.

to play devils advocate here for a second.....

Perhaps these people are starting to realize that hypermiling is only going to gain in popularity, and the thought of the masses using some of the "unsafe" methods is scaring them. So, they figure that they need to get ahead of it and nip it in the bud by conflating the unsafe methods with the safe ones, trying to discredit hypermiling entirely.

Hi ChenZhen:

___I look upon every method I use as much safer then anyone that is 10 over in a < 1 second close-in draft in every major city in the US no matter where or why. No mistake about it.

___I hate to see the pain of those in the US rise but if we start seeing that $5.00 + number as some in CA are today, there are going to be more looking for real numbers using real techniques and setup as we all receive day in and day out vs. anything the AAA says given they have nothing and I mean absolutely nothing to offer anyone but unaccountable non-sense and drivel.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

to play devils advocate here for a second.....

Perhaps these people are starting to realize that hypermiling is only going to gain in popularity, and the thought of the masses using some of the "unsafe" methods is scaring them. So, they figure that they need to get ahead of it and nip it in the bud by conflating the unsafe methods with the safe ones, trying to discredit hypermiling entirely.

I can almost understand where the AAA is coming from. Sooner or later some idiot is going to go freewheeling down a mountain, cut his engine to save gas, and then pull the key out altogether. His wheel will lock up and he'll careen off the side and explode in flames.

And then the news media will blame hypermiling. Again.

Hi Auston:

___On average, there are over 46 people killed on US highways from speeding and 35 killed from drunk dirving each and every day. This does not include those maimed or injured seriously enough to be crippled for life either :(

___Good Luck

___Wayne

They just hate us. We are awful folks that know how to drive. Know more about our cars and how to drive them than the ave. American idiot.

We need to get a AAA rep in a car with us. Im going to check into trying to get a clinic with a OK State Trooper. Most of the OK Troopers are pretty cool. If he or she has to write me a ticket,,, so be it.

Emailed The Chief of Patrol OHP as follows.

"Hello Trooper Guillotte

I'm writing you today about hypermiling. You know that awful habit of driving for MPG. We seem to be getting a bad rap in the press these days. Not from Oklahoma. But other parts of the country really seem to hate us. The wife and I live in Okmulgee and drive into Tulsa five days a week for work. As of late we are carpooling more. We are not greenies looking to change the world or stop global warming. We just want to get better MPG.

My wife is a very conservative driver, and it shows with her 35 mpg life time average in her 05 Accord. She gets the feat done by good maintenance performed by me and keeping her foot out of the gas and brake pedal. I on the other hand can be a bit more forthright in my driving to get good mpg. In my 07 Mazda3 my life time mpg is right at 40 mpg. Both cars have a average above EPA HWY. While we both drive a lot of hwy. We both get our share of Tulsa, be it the expressways or the local streets.

I was wondering if you or one of your fellow Troopers would be interested in doing a ride along with me. Heck they can drive too! We call it a Clinic. I would be more than welcome to offer up my car for inspection, my drivers license number and insurance. Then we could hit the road. Maybe go out west of Okmulgee out on Sharp road, then back over to Hwy 16. Maybe some driving in Okmulgee and some time spent on Hwy 75. Or Metro Tulsa would be fine also. I would also be open to a clinic at a law enforcement training ground. Please understand. I am one of those hypermilers that do coast. And more times than not with the engine off. I never close in draft. Heck I don't really like any kind of draft. Don't like my car getting beat up. But a good distant draft is nice when fighting a Okie head wind. :) I would like to show a Trooper my skills. I would like to demonstrated how well my brakes work, stability control. And how well the car steers and turns with the engine off. How attentive one can be with skills you learn driving for mpg. It is the small things that make good numbers. NOT the big things done wrong.

Let me know what you think Sir.

Here is a link to KOTV I did in a Honda Civic I owned at one point. It is noted in the broadcast that coasting is against the law. So I am aware of that law. I am also aware of the min. and max speed limits when used right that the State of Oklahoma allows me. Tho I rarely use the lower limit and work very hard to not go over the upper limit. http://www.newson6.com/Global/story.asp?s=7660174

You can contact me at this email address or at xxx-xxx-xxxx (cell)

Thank You
Jeff Townsley"

Wonder how long it will take to get a responce or a ticket? :D

All this expertise came from a woman who "just learned how to check her tire pressure today."

Amazing the type of expertise they have in AAA.

You know, gradually, they are converting Wayne's good ideas to THEIR ideas as assigning the dangerous stuff to Wayne. It won't be long before they say saving gas safely was there idea.

This site is copyrighted. I think it's time for a copyright violation suit.

On the bright side, I visited the AAA website a few minutes ago, put "hypermiling" in the site's search engine, and got this response:

Search results for hypermiling
We are sorry, but there are no records that reflect your query. Please try again.

I saw the show yesterday, including Wayne's appearance (who looked quite handsome and businesslike in his suit and tie) and thought he did a nice presentation, albeit brief.

No reaction at all in Northern Michigan. I have a "hypermiler" sign on the back of my car and so far I've been ignored, followed by other drivers, or passed by big trucks and SUVs.

Sorry, I couldn't remember his name so I used a substitute. Notice I did not call him an ignorant fool. His comments were not professional, they were ignorant (that not being stupid, just not educated on the topic). I must state that we don't know exactly the question his ignorant response was in reference to.

You are encouraged to remove my previous rant, as I agree most readers won't understand the innuendo or finer points. It is more likely they will see what you saw.

No worries. Just want to make it clear that we should be careful about name calling.

Thanks for explaining. :)

im as mad as a hatter about this sort of bad publicity. i've just learned about this site and technique about a month ago, and i have converted to hypermiling almost instantly. every day i drive on the highway at the legal speed limit and i get passed by people going much much faster than me. some of them come quite close to hitting me.
i wonder if i would be charged with impeding the flow of traffic if i get hit by a speeder underpassing. that would truly add insult to injury. i guess i will have to not display the hypermiler sitcker i've been meaning to get.

Welcome DocOc! Sorry this had to be one of the first articles you opened here, and I'm glad you know better than to believe the media lies. There are tons of threads full of positive comradre and great advice. If you have not already, start your journey by reading this article http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1510 . Your X-Trail looks cool, but Nissan does not sell that in the US. I also get passed all the time, so don't worry about that, you'll get used to it. Feel free to ask questions, and good luck!

hey, thanks for the warm welcome. i read a lot of articles on the site, but i chose not to comment before this one. it just kinda got to me. i used to be one of those drivers going 80mph in the fast lane laughing at the person driving 55 in the slow lane...now i know better and i'm the one laughing at the speeders.

my x-trail has a energuide rating of 26mpg city/35mpg hwy, which is pretty amazing for a light truck. i haven't yet recalculated my mileage because i havent filled up the tank in a long time due to gas costing $5.30/gal here in canada. i'm also looking at the scangauge, but i won't be purchasing that until the fall/winter.

anyways i'm rambling, so thanks again for the reply and encouragement

i used to be one of those drivers going 80mph in the fast lane
Ha, I am also a reformed speeder, :D and there are many of us who changed our ways, thanks to Wayne and CleanMPG.