Life in the "Legal Lane"
 

Some may see it as a late behavioral mod, but I've decided to abide by the speed limit on long Interstate hauls with rental cars for work...

As part of my job, I drive many miles with rental vehicles across the Great Plains and beyond. It's easy to bump-up the cruise speed to 5-7 over the limit (which is 70-75 translated to 75-82 mph), but honestly, that small reduction difference in top speed cruise has recently produced significant results in FE.

What is gained by higher speeds? Perhaps some time -- what happens when I arrive? I hang out at the hotel and fill the evening with things to do. I have decided that speed reduction is worth the extra time -- I'll get there when I get there.

"So, why the thread?"

It's a paradigm shift that evolves over time -- a realization that this forum emphasizes the importance of fuel consumption and emissions. I used to be a 9 mph over-limit cruiser in the state of Kansas (10 MPH is a moving violation, below that is not). 79 MPH drops the FE dramatically. These days (even though I don't pay for it, work does), I can't live with the emissions and consumption.

This has been applied to personal driving, but it takes some extra attention to other drivers.

Today I was nearly run off of the road by an RV pulling a Ford Explorer. Tooling along in the Cobalt Coupe 2.2L, the rig passed me and encountered a hill. I slowed to let it pass as traffic was piling-up behind it. Suddenly, the RV signaled and started to merge, while the RV rear was at my front bumper. I ended up on the shoulder and on the horn, or I would've tangled with the Explorer in-tow. The #$#@! went back over and merged later.

I don't want to discourage slower driving, but it takes additional awareness.

That's my Tuesday folks...

RH77

Glad to hear you made it out in one piece!

Seems to me that with bigger vehicles comes a bigger sense of "I'll do whatever I damn well please."

Maybe they just can't see out of all those gaping blind-spots :confused:

Thanks Man :) My guess is that they figured that they lost momentum on the hill and I was moving ahead. Instead, I cut the power and let them go forward. Hard to tell what they were thinking, but it took quick, evasive action. We're talking inches from the vehicle in-tow. It was windy, so it was hard to discern if it was lane drift or intended movement -- until the turn signal came on -- then... :eek:

I don't want to discourage slower speeds -- I just to make folks aware of what you'll run into. I'm reassured that Hypermilers are more aware of their surroundings, so I have confidence that when slower speeds are common, the differences with "competing" vehicles are quickly realized. If you're new to it, then prepare for the differences. It's more than worth it, but at the same time, behavioural modifications on your part may be required.

Another inconvenience: Semi-Trucks geared for 75+ mph while you are at 70, will merge at close tolerances even if you perform the courtesy of flashing lights to indicate that it's OK to merge. At least the passing of the rig offers some aero benefits...

Tomorrow: headed to Southern KS, and then over to Dodge City (hrmph)...:(

RH77

Blah blah KE, blahblahblah speed, blah breaking distance, blehblahblehblah safety... Blah couple minutes.

Ya know where I'm coming from. :thumbup:

In my daily commute half is 55 mph zone, half is 65 mph. I average 55 in the 55, and 60 in the 65. Seems to work out pretty well.

RH77 -

People are flashing me more often in the slow lane on the freeway, but I don't care anymore because it's the slow lane and they usually have 3 other lanes to the left that they can use. I just give them a friendly wave.

And I have to hit the brakes also, because there are always slower-than-me-pokes trying to merge into the slow lane from on-ramps. I guess I should think of those as "grumpy credits". Every time I have to brake for them, I get a "grumpy credit" that I can trade for someone who comes up on me. And if they flash me, I get my "grumpy credit" back, because I didn't do it to the other person. Orrrrrrrrr, I could go with a generic "karma credit".

I am lucky not to have a heavy foot because I stared driving in the era of the 55 MPH speed limit, so that or below is my comfort speed. I keep trying to come up with the perfect bumper-sticker slogan :

Time is Money, but Gas costs MORE
Will Speed for Gas
I CAN drive 55!!!

CarloSW2

on long trips, I've found that 10mph over the whole way saves about half a day (i'm talking trips that take 9 hours now take 5) and my butt doesn't have to suffer. But, if i was alone, F-ya I would drive the speed limit!!!


I really don't like it when my family starts yelling and whining and aching and everything else on trips over an hour and a half. "Why are we going so frikken slow?" "are we there yet? cause when mom drives it only takes 2 hours, but it's been 3 and a half" and stuff like that...

That just ticks me off soooo bad. that's when I gun it to show my sheer frustration, and that's when my brother goes "there you go again, you always floor the friggen car when your really mad" And it just escalates from there.

And he wonders why I don't like driving him places :rolleyes:

Insert speed number here ___ it's the law!!
or ____ it's the law, Dang it!!!:)

seems that when I drive, (long trips) I hit all the stop lights, but when everyone else drives, we hit all the green. that's why it takes 1hr 15min. for me to get to E-ville, but my mom only takes 45 (40 mile drive, a couple-minute long red lights (about 15-20), and traffic buildup at each light).

Who puts stop lights on 60mph+ highway roads :confused:

EDIT:

What would save you more money? driving 10 over to get all green or drive the limit and hit all red?

Hey Rick - congrats on the paradigm shift.

I consider that a pretty accurate indicator of a person's efficiency motivation: when they're driving someone else's vehicle, burning fuel that they don't have to pay for, how do they drive?