A heart-felt, gear-grinding situation

[BabyDiesel]

Hey y'all,

so I am not new to this site, but I am new to voicing myself/posting on here. Bear with me cuz I'm a talker. I have very recently started to hypermile and eco-mod my 98 Ford Escort ZX2 for greater FE. And it's been going great! Started in the low 30's for FE, and today I had a personal best trip of 44.9 mpg over the 32.8 miles from my college to home

But I'm considering giving up being dedicated to eco-driving

Hear me out y'all.

I'm scared that my driving technique is going to cost someone their life. Over the past couple weeks, I have had several instances of other people using nothing but complete stupidity with me, such as passing me and the other 2-3 cars behind me with a double line heading into a curve! The scariest one was today when a young woman passed the 18-wheeler behind me and me going downhill with vehicles approaching her head-on. The big rig slammed on brakes and I nearly hit the ditch while N-coasting to give her room. She was able to get behind me in time... but dag gone! Has shook me up. I seriously do not want anyone to get hurt because of me... even if they don't use their best judgement trying to save 45 seconds of off a trip.

It might be beneficial to tell my driving habits... I accelerate with the SG LOAD reading ~60% and then cruise 48-52 mph where the speed limit is 55. Coasting down hills is something I do when someone is behind if I know I won't lose more than 2-3 mph. I'm not doing very drastic stuff... and I live out in the country for all it is worth! These are moderately used country roads (Route 50/55, 701 in North Carolina). You'd think people around here would not be in a hurry... but oh are they ever.

I know that these people are just ignorant and don't realize what I'm doing... nor what they're doing. I do not want anyone hurt or killed... they have people who need and love them, and I have compassion on them. It irritates me and hurts my heart at the same time to see this. Trying to be different and save gas with my vehicle is tougher than it appeared... I could use some encouragement and some wisdom from fellow EcoModders.

Thank y'all in advance. Look foward to hearing what others did as EcoNoobs in regards to overly aggressive drivers.

JP

P.S. - I cannot not give a crap... it is against my nature

[dirtydave]

Just pull over and let them pass, or when it is safe for them to pass start to coast and put on the flashers and go into the shoulder. My dad taught me this trick when someone would be on his ass on the road. It is not your fault that people are stupid

[whatmaycome14]

I've had people pass me on the shoulder and almost run into a disabled car that was parked there. I've had people who were tailing me cut into the left lane and almost get run over by a semi truck. I've had people pass on double yellow lines...

This was all BEFORE I was driving like this (Slow).

My point is, that people will be stupid regardless of what you do or how you drive. Just focus on you and not hitting anything.

Let nature run its course with those people.

[Baltothewolf]

Well said dirty Dave, I have personally seen 3 people get pulled over because they passed me on a double yellow because they found they needed to go 5-10mph over the speed limit (I always go at least the speed limit when Hypermiling). OP, just go the speed limit, if people can't handle you obeying the law, to bad? It's their life, their car and their choice to act stupid.

Think of it like this, if they lose their license as a result of acting stupid because you obeying the law, 1 less stupid person to deal with!

[Edit]: It took me about 3 weeks to get emotionally used to getting cussed at, flipped off, brights flashed at me and all the other road rage symptoms that come with going the actual speed limit. Once I saw my first asshole get pulled over for passing me on a double yellow, all the feelings went away.

[theaveng]

(1) On a single lane road CA law requires you pullover if you have 5 or more cars behind you, unless you are doing the speed limit. (2) It also requires you use the left lane for passing only. (3) It's very likely NC has the same laws.

Yesterday a guy gave me the finger because I left 3 car spaces between me & the guy in front. I'm not sure what he thought I was supposed to do? Speed-up to 80 and then slam the brakes when I almost rear-ended the line of cars? That's just a waste of energy (and intelligence).

So I fingered him back.

[Cobb]

In a nonhomosexual way?

Originally Posted by theaveng

So I fingered him back.

[Cobb]

I dont see what the big deal is. There is always someone going slower than the speed limit where I travel in VA. I just go with the flow til I meet one of these people, then match their pace.

[user removed]

I pride myself in my situational awareness and my techniques do change depending on the traffic situation. Dead or injured aren't options in my book and it makes no difference whether the person who killed you is stupid, inattentive, or just wrong, you're still dead or spend the rest of your life in pain, or permanently disabled.

Just because you can drive a certain way legally does not mean you should impose your will on other drivers. Sooner or later you will aggravate the wrong person. Pop (still a good driver at 93) always told me "I would rather have an idiot in front of me instead of behind me". I will adjust my average speed to try to "play nicely" with others, but on occasion I will let them know that I just ain't interested in their little world of obnoxious tailgaters and red light racers.

It helps to be old and I'm sure many think I'm just a feeble old man who drives slower than most but I will intentionally make it difficult for someone to ride my rear end, just pulse a little higher and glide a little further. One driver wanted to stay two lengths behind me in a 45 zone, on a 4 lane road with no other traffic around. I coasted down to 25MPH before they finally passed me when I usually average just under the speed limit.

Understand that some drivers just tailgate others so they don't have to pay attention to anything else. They need a "bird dog".

My advice is to adjust your techniques to avoid coupounding the circumstances around you and contributing to an accident.

regards
Mech

[ksa8907]

Driving in such an unsafe way (the other drivers) is stupid, and you cant fix stupid. You could speed up to whatever speed they are going, but they will still want to pass, they will still cut you off, they will still tailgate and text and drive and run lights etc...

[XYZ]

Originally Posted by Old Mechanic

I pride myself in my situational awareness and my techniques do change depending on the traffic situation. Dead or injured aren't options in my book and it makes no difference whether the person who killed you is stupid, inattentive, or just wrong, you're still dead or spend the rest of your life in pain, or permanently disabled.

Just because you can drive a certain way legally does not mean you should impose your will on other drivers. Sooner or later you will aggravate the wrong person. Pop (still a good driver at 93) always told me "I would rather have an idiot in front of me instead of behind me". I will adjust my average speed to try to "play nicely" with others, but on occasion I will let them know that I just ain't interested in their little world of obnoxious tailgaters and red light racers.

It helps to be old and I'm sure many think I'm just a feeble old man who drives slower than most but I will intentionally make it difficult for someone to ride my rear end, just pulse a little higher and glide a little further. One driver wanted to stay two lengths behind me in a 45 zone, on a 4 lane road with no other traffic around. I coasted down to 25MPH before they finally passed me when I usually average just under the speed limit.

Understand that some drivers just tailgate others so they don't have to pay attention to anything else. They need a "bird dog".

My advice is to adjust your techniques to avoid coupounding the circumstances around you and contributing to an accident.

regards
Mech

This is so well said, I have little else to add.

Yes, you have the "right" to drive under the speed limit - but as Mech said, if it compounds the circumstances around you, you are contributing to an accident.

And now, let us not forget the old rhyme that applies to all driving, both slow and fast:

This is the grave of Mike O'Day
Who died maintaining his right of way.
He was right, dead right, as he sped along,
But he's just as dead as if he'd been wrong.