Benefits of drafting "dirty" trucks?

[Christ]

I, too, have several truckers in my family.. and due to the nice little gift I bought myself a few years ago, I actually CAN hear them talking. And by the way, if they were both to stop quickly, nothing would happen... they wouldn't crush the car. It would require the guy in front of me to stop, and the guy behind me to stop slower... it would also damage both the trailer in front of me, and the truck behind me... you realize those bodies are mostly fiberglass?

Not to mention that it would cause a huge problem for other traffic in the area.

You speak of road rage like it's the same thing, but you know it isn't... you and I can rage all day, and it doesn't affect us the same way. We lose our driver's license, we get it back. (I've been through this process too.) A trucker loses his driver's license, he loses his CDL, and thusly, his way of life.

When you stop and think about it, the trucker has ALOT more to lose than either you or I do by committing an act as stupid as intentionally ramming another motorist, especially ramming another motorist into another truck.

No rational person is going to risk his/her livelihood that way.

I'm not saying it COULDN'T happen, I'm just saying that it's an illegitimate fear, due to the actual odds of it happening. Based on the number of times you hear about that scenario vs. anything else, you have a better chance of being farted on by an ape.

[ATaylorRacing]

My wifes V6 05 Mustang gives out mpg info on the odometer section and I have been playing with it on one trip......if I follow about 80-100' behind a full sized car at 65 it gets .8 mpg better FE than driving alone. The gauge shows average mpg for the trip, but can be reset at any time...so I set the cruise and then reset it after someone pulled in front of me and we both held the same speed.

[i_am_socket]

20' behind a truck? That's SOP here in Jersey, especially on the Turnpike. Less space than that if they're swerving in and out of lanes like a 17 year-old ricer.

I've never seen a tire blow on a truck, but I did see one 2 months ago where the wheels were compressed against the bottom of the box and smoking like a fiend (also covered in that mythbusters episode, I believe), so I guess I saw the pre-blown condition.

Road rage does happen, even with trucks. A couple weeks ago I was almost run off the road by an out of state charter bus: and I mean quite on purpose with the see-through bus door right next to me (quite obvious I was there) to the point where I had to slam on the brakes and nearly cause a huge pile-up or end up being pushed over the guardrail into the swamps so the bus could continue not driving as fast as he wanted since it swerved into other lanes a few more times nearly taking out a few more people.

Yes, there is aerodynamic benefit (the amount is variable) but also some increase in danger; though the amount of danger from following is relative to the amount of danger already present.

[EXPIOWA]

Drafting is for rich rednecks who only know how to turn left. Driving right up somebody's butt shows limited intelligence.

I prefer the term slipstreaming. It is the science of placing your car in the proper wake area of the vehicle ahead conscidering wind, traffic, road conditions and vehicle speed in relation to safety. It need not be dangerous or irritating to either the lead or following vehicle's occupants.

Having an older car, that is not as sealed up as new cars, I have noticed a dramatic reduction in wind noise while slipstreaming. How can that not help your economy. You don't have to get all that close to see the benefits. All you have to do is get your car into the turbulent flow.

[Christ]

I'm not sure if I should be offended or pleased by that comment...

[Clev]

Originally Posted by Christ

I'm not sure if I should be offended or pleased by that comment...

I just ignore it. Think of it as the left-wing equivalent of the "ZOMG HIPPIES!" comments that keep flying around this board.

[Christ]

Oops... hold on, let me fix that last post...


[Sarcasm]I'm not sure if I should be offended or pleased by that comment... [/sarcasm]

Sorry for the confusion... as you get to know me, you'll realize that I really don't care what people say about me.. we all have our opinions.

[Clev]

Originally Posted by Christ

Sorry for the confusion... as you get to know me, you'll realize that I really don't care what people say about me.. we all have our opinions.

They're like mufflers--everybody has one, and they all stink?

[Christ]

Erm.. yeah, we'll leave it at "mufflers".

[roflwaffle]

Originally Posted by Christ

In fact, I'd venture to say you're in less danger, considering the number of times you hear about accidents even involving a truck, versus the number of times you hear about accidents involving a car and no trucks.

That depends. Compared to the U.S. average (miles/death), driving around semis is more dangerous for the drivers on the poor end of the spectrum so to speak. In other words the miles driven compared to number of deaths is half of the U.S. average for auto involved in accidents w/ semis if the auto driver is at fault in some way. Otoh if the driver is relatively safe, then the number of miles per death is twice the U.S. average when the semi driver is at fault. Anyway, the moral of the story is driving around semis is only safer if you're a safe driver.