Drafting vs low speed

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by SentraSE-R

It's insane to follow other cars at 70 mph with <1/2 second separation between cars. It's a massive chain reaction pileup waiting to happen.

I think it's even more insane, and more dangerous, to be going much slower than all the rest of the traffic in such conditions.

Inconsiderate, too :-)

[phunky.buddha]

Originally Posted by CigaR007

It is better to follow a line of cars at a higher speed than to cruise on your own at a lower speed.

TRUE.

Not that anyone should attempt to duplicate the results I've found but...

There's a very specific route I used to drive almost every weekend between a tiny town in East Texas and Dallas, mostly along I-20. Anyone who's driven this piece of highway knows how high the speeds get.

Setting the cruise at 70mph and just driving as smoothly as possible would always net me 27mpg for the trip. Drafting people and running 90-100mph the whole way always got me 29-30mpg. It's not an A-B-A comparison, but I did it enough times to prove it to myself. Same mile count, same pumps at both ends, same weather conditions.

[PaleMelanesian]

Originally Posted by PaleMelanesian

I tested in my Odyssey once. Drafting at 70 mph gave the same mileage as driving solo at 65. You don't have to be much slower to make up the difference.

Originally Posted by phunky.buddha

TRUE.

Not that anyone should attempt to duplicate the results I've found but...

There's a very specific route I used to drive almost every weekend between a tiny town in East Texas and Dallas, mostly along I-20. Anyone who's driven this piece of highway knows how high the speeds get.

Setting the cruise at 70mph and just driving as smoothly as possible would always net me 27mpg for the trip. Drafting people and running 90-100mph the whole way always got me 29-30mpg. It's not an A-B-A comparison, but I did it enough times to prove it to myself. Same mile count, same pumps at both ends, same weather conditions.

Same stretch of road. Keeping the speed below the limit and using a smart foot instead of cruise control regularly gives me 30+ mpg in a 3.5 V6 Odyssey.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by PaleMelanesian

Same stretch of road. Keeping the speed below the limit and using a smart foot instead of cruise control regularly gives me 30+ mpg in a 3.5 V6 Odyssey.

OK, but if the rest of the traffic really is doing 90-100 mph, it seems like your odds of being rear-ended, or causing a chain-reaction collision somewhere behind you, have just gone through the roof.

[gone-ot]

...just because OTHER lemmings jump off a cliff, are you gonna do it too?

[user removed]

Originally Posted by jamesqf

I think it's even more insane, and more dangerous, to be going much slower than all the rest of the traffic in such conditions.

Inconsiderate, too :-)

I guess there are two types here, those that drive in a specific fashion regardless of the average speed of the traffic around them, and those who try to be as inconspicuous as possible while getting the best mileage that is practical and safe.

I could get 60 MPG in my Altima if I wanted to crawl around averaging less than 30 MPH, when I could do the same on my bike and get 100 MPG. If you are driving alone in decent weather and your only priority is fuel mileage then ride a small displacement bike at 25 MPH, or even better you could ride a scooter and save a lot of money on insurance, taxes, as well as gas, and depreciation.

I wonder if those who average such low speeds ever consider pulling off the road to let all the aggravated drivers behind them pass, or just rationalise their behavior by denigrating the "idiots" behind them.

Beating EPA is great but I would rather not be the best unless it is also the least conspicuous.

Each driver makes his own choices, those who are fortunate enough to live where deserted roads allow more extreme methods without traffic disruption will always lead the pack if time is of little importance. I guess I could P&G my Rebel at 20 MPH average speed and get 200 MPG, if it was really that important, but 80 MPG and normal riding is just fine with me.

I mean really, if you only need to go 6 miles at 20 MPH, why not just ride and electric assisted bike?

regards
Mech

[SentraSE-R]

Originally Posted by jamesqf

I think it's even more insane, and more dangerous, to be going much slower than all the rest of the traffic in such conditions.

Inconsiderate, too :-)

ROFLMAO. It's insane, more dangerous and inconsiderate to drive the speed limit. It's safer to be 1-2 car lengths behind a car going 90 mph, with another car hanging off your butt 2 car lengths behind you. I learn something new every day on Ecomodder.

[user removed]

511 - Traffic Cameras

Check it out in the afternoon between 3-5 PM eastern.

regards
Mech

[Jesse]

It's dangerous to go 20-30mph slower than the rest of rush hour traffic, but it is also dangerous to go with rush hour traffic riding someones tail end. Pick your poison, risk being rear ended, or risk rear ending someone.

My father was pulled over a few years back when his vans u joint went out. The posted minimum was 40, he was going 50, the rest of traffic was going 70. If it werent for the fact his van wasn't able to go any faster, the state trooper was going to cite him for impeding traffic.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

[dcb]

I love the "why can't you be more like the other sheeple and go as fast as I want you to" arguments, or the making excuses for not being able to avoid collisions. You are responsible for your car, if a bonehead hits you with theirs then talk to your legislature about getting better standards for issuing licenses.