[Sven7]

Originally Posted by Rick Rae

I was just showing you're not alone in trying to find the answer.

I suggest the largest-font, easiest-to-read, most quick-to-comprehend sign you can conceive. I think the best bets are the really simple ones like RESEARCH VEHICLE - PLEASE PASS (whoever did that one, please weigh in). But I'm paranoid, and I can imagine some idiot whipping by me on a double yellow, nearly buying the farm in a head-on, and then suing me because "His sign said to pass!"

You'll notice TEST CAR and PASS are in the largest font. The former's to send a message that something out of the ordinary's happening (e.g., I'm going slow) and the latter suggests a course of action. The "okay to pass when safe" part is for my peace of mind (see above). I doubt most bother to read the rest (if they even can from a distance), but as a whole it makes a good conversation starter at the pumps and elsewhere. Which helps spread the word and maybe change mindsets.

Back in the day, I had a lot of people sit behind me for miles and then finally whip past me. My theory was they figured nobody would willingly drive the speed limit so there must be someone ahead with a radar gun. Then after a few miles they'd realize that wasn't the case, and tear off in frustration over having slowed down for nothing.

Once I added the sign, I had a lot less of that; people would either pass fairly quickly, or fall in behind me (maybe using me as an excuse to go slow themselves, I dunno).

The sign also helps when I run interference for other slowpokes. Yesterday it was somebody on a motorcycle doing 50 on a 70MPH interstate! That's slower than I would choose to go (in fact it seems downright dangerous), but I was worried the poor guy was gonna be fatally rear-ended. I matched his speed about three or four seconds back to deflect faster traffic for him; I'd rather people curse me out and go around both of us than be on top of a 25 MPH slower motorcycle before they realize what's going on.

The 45 MPG I averaged on that run was just a nice karma-based bonus.

Cheers,
Rick

Just the kind of thoughtful discussion I was hoping for (a little bit OT I guess but that's fine)! You're describing just the things I run into when driving on the interstate. I usually coast down to 45 and up to 60 when possible, but watch my mirror and will prematurely start a pulse if I see someone approaching very fast.

I just made this up in Photoshop

OK TO PASS! by Tyler Linner... drinking the Kool Aid, on Flickr

But your comments are making me think it should just say

MPG TEST - OK TO PASS

It's classic graphic design- portray the vital information as quickly and clearly as possible. And yes, it helps with the on-lookers when the car is parked. I regularly go to car meets and other events and many people wonder why my car looks so "silly". Apparently the "45 MPG" sticker on the back is not clear enough?

Anyway thanks for the help.

Originally Posted by WD40

I was drafting a flat deck semi with a low load doing 90 kph on the highway for about 20 kilometers and the mpguino was reading between 80-120 mpg , for me P&EOC gets around 60-70 at that speed.
This is the first time drafting has worked for me, I was approx 3-4 car lengths behind which surprised me , I always thought you needed to be right up close.
I had my drivers window open an inch or so and as i was approaching the semi it was buffeting,then it all of a sudden stopped and the mpg shot up, so I stayed behind and enjoyed the run.
Disclaimer .. do so at your own risk

Very interesting. Does anyone else have experience (numbers) with this? I've been wondering how far back I can be and still feel the effects. It's interesting that having the engine on constantly while drafting could be more efficient than P&EOC.

I'm too poor to buy an MPGuino or anything so I'm relying on theory, experience and you guys to exceed that magical 45mpg mark! (Technically only 0.5mpg away but I rounded up hehe)

Edit: Here's version 2.


<< MPG TEST << OK TO PASS by Tyler Linner, on Flickr