Engine braking and stop lights

[cfguy2000]

I road trip from Dallas, TX to Jacksonville, FL quite a bit (just over 1000 miles one way). We usually drive Xena, the 2002 Nissan Xterra (3.3 V6 4x2). Just slowing down from 70 to 55 improves the gas mileage from 17 to 21-22. This is with the AC running the whole way (since we bring our dog with us and summer heat in the south is horrible). We have gotten up to 24 mpg with AC off.

In the city the freeway speed limits are usually 55-65. Outside the cities we have seen speed limit signs that read MAX 70 MIN 50 and MAX 60 MIN 40. We average 55 so legally we are fine either way. I can definitely tell when someone is coming up on me from behind at speeds higher than that. I just pull to the right side of my lane to give them more space and do my best to avoid them. I sometimes tap on my brake a few times just to make the light come on and hopefully alert the other driver.

I think the button brake light is a great idea for situations like this, since I don't actually want to slow down.

[cfguy2000]

NCSA Publications & Data Requests

http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811166.pdf

There are a bunch of statistics about auto accidents on NHTSA's website. So far I have yet to read anything about slow moving vehicles being a major cause of accidents or fatalities. The #1 cause of fatalities is Driver Inattention. Speed is a contributing factor to over 30% of accidents with fatalities. Alcohol is also a huge contributing factor.

"Speeding reduces a driver’s ability to steer safely around curves or objects in the roadway, extends the distance necessary to stop a vehicle, and increases the distance a vehicle travels while the driver reacts to a dangerous situation." -NHTSA

[comptiger5000]

Speeding can be dangerous, but typically only if the driver isn't paying attention, is inexperienced, or is driving faster than the safe limit for their vehicle on a given road.

[dcb]

speeding IS more dangerous because of the physics involved. a 4000lb vehicle going 80 has twice as much kinetic energy (and 4 times as much drag) than one going 40. WHEN something goes wrong the faster vehicles will cause the most trouble.

[cfguy2000]

Actually, a vehicle going 80 has 4 times the kinetic energy of a vehicle going 40.
Kinetic Energy = 1/2(Mass * Velocity^2) (one half, mass times velocity squared)

A vehicle going 78 MPH has over twice the Kinetic Energy as one going 55.

[user removed]

Most of the people who ride with me fall asleep. It would require a real idiot to run into me, when I generally accelerate and decelerate so gradually. If you need to tailgate a smooth operator who goes the speed limit, then you are a moron. Or maybe a sneaky drafter trying to get even better mileage than me .

72.3 MPG today.

Had a gal riding my butt at 28 in a 15 zone going down to the free ferry to ride across the James River. Tossed it in neutral for close to .7 mile as I coasted down the perfect grade to drop from 27 to 15 at the inspection station.

Some of them will never learn.

regards
Mech

[Arragonis]

The clue is always in the question.

A speed limit is a limit, not a target.

[Arragonis]

Originally Posted by Old Tele man

...ah, but some drivers treat it as the minimum speed...limit.

Darwin in action I suppose.

[Arragonis]

Originally Posted by Old Tele man

Darwin-ism: but unfortunately, more often to others, than to themselves!

Strictly speaking (tapping) thats true, but then again defensive driving is also something I think should be taught. Maybe there is an extended Darwinism ?

The guy on my left

<<<---- Him, the baldy one

once took part in a debate about car safety. His cars could handle very well - better than most others - and some people thought that made them unsafe - people would get too complacent.

His answer ?

"Lets put a row of carving knives along the dashboard, then we shall see about secondary safety".

[Arragonis]

Originally Posted by Old Tele man

...ah, yes, the "...confessions before a mirror..." syndrome.

...it's funny how the word "they" also encompasses "we/us" (ha,ha)

As our new UK government says, we are all in this together...

Enjoy.