Quote:
Originally Posted by Arragonis
Drafting is different from Tailgating.
|
Semantics. The difference between drafting and tailgating is simply a matter of perspective. Drafting can only happen if you are in the aero wake of the car in front of you. Depending on the vehicle that you are following, that wake might be feet away... or mere inches.
In terms of tailgating, it is purely a subjective matter. All that is necessary to tailgate is to follow closely enough to make the driver in the vehicle in front of you uncomfortable. In my experience, being close enough to effectively draft a semi requires that you are no longer in the truck driver's visible range (if you can't see the driver in the mirrors, the driver can't see you), and most truck drivers I know are VERY uncomfortable when they know a car is following them in their blind spot. As a driver, given that I can out brake 99% of the cars on the road, anything less than several car lengths makes me uncomfortable.
It is not a matter of condemning or condoning drafting; drafting is listed as one of the hypermiling techniques. No one can question the effectiveness of properly implemented drafting (all you need is an instant mpg gauge to see that). I'm simply pointing out the irony in complaining about others doing something that can be interpreted as an effective technique (and an often used one) by the very people who are complaining.