What do other drivers do as they pass?

[user removed]

What do other drivers do as they pass me?

Increase my fuel mileage .

I had a moron in a pickup truck who wanted to tailgate me off an exit ramp on the Interstate, the one just past the overpass with the 270 degree curve.

I tossed the VX in neutral and hit the curve at 60 MPH letting the cornering forces bleed off my speed, down to about 45 MPH. By the time I merged into traffic at the top of the overpass he was 250 yards behind me.

regards
Mech

[Olympiadis]

Originally Posted by Thymeclock

Considering your final statement, maybe you can understand why a police car legitimately keeps the motor running and the video camera running during a traffic stop. I'm not a big fan of traffic patrol but your gripe about conserving 10 cents worth of gasoline in the idling of a patrol car is truly petty and also absurd.

Why would you be picking on my statement? Besides it being true, what is your motivation?

In actuality, all the patrol cars are running full time from the time their shift starts until it ends, and sometimes through to the next shift. It's not just during traffic stops. Two months ago a cop was killed in STL in broad daylight. The running engine didn't help.

Waste seems to be more accepted when everybody foots the bill. Individuals only have to worry about paying their tickets.

[Olympiadis]

Originally Posted by Old Mechanic

I tossed the VX in neutral and hit the curve at 60 MPH letting the cornering forces bleed off my speed, down to about 45 MPH.

Whoa! watch out for the coasting police
J/K

[Frank Lee]

What do other drivers do as they pass?

All indications are, they continue to blab on their cell phones, and within 15 seconds of passing they need to lay on the brakes in order to make their next exit.

[Thymeclock]

Originally Posted by Olympiadis

Why would you be picking on my statement?

Because it is petty and absurd. There are legitimate reasons for an officer to leave the motor running whether you realize it or not. If you feel you are being 'picked on' it shows you have no tolerance for opinions that differ from your own.

Besides it being true, what is your motivation?

Apparently you wanted your statement to be unanimously accepted with no disagreement. My motive was to respond, and that is most of what takes place on discussion lists. But what is YOUR motivation?

If you are so bothered by a patrol car with its engine running while the officer is on duty I suggest you address your complaint to the chief of police in your community. I'd like to hear the reply you receive.

[dcb]

I think Oly has a point, if %99.99 of the time the idling cop cars were just wasting gas and not killing the engine made no difference in the outcome, then it is wasteful.

I could think of infinite speculations how idling might theoretically help, doesn't mean they are all terrible or likely, or worth .7gph per cop car. thats a concrete reason not to do it.

[doviatt]

Before I put up my MPG stickers I would get flipped off. Now I get a lot of thumbs up and smiles. Mostly I'm ignored as they pass me talking away on their cell phone. Twice I was passed on the right. The person passing decided to use the break down lane even though they had 5 lanes to the left to legally use. Go figure!

One guy gave me two thumbs up (no hands on the wheel) and then indicated his pickup only gets 11 MPG with a silly smile on his face.

I usually try to ignore them unless they go out of their way to get my attention (good or bad). It is evident that my bragging rights take the sting away from their middle finger. :-)

[Weather Spotter]

Today I was at the hardware store buying a tap so that I could finish my smooth wheel covers (tap had snapped on last hole). Once I had the new tap I put the second cover on in the parking lot. While I was doing this a nice guy came up and asked about my car. I explained what I had done and why, he thought that I was "on to something".

I just wish my ecomodder stickers had come so that people would have an idea where to find out more info.

[rmay635703]

Originally Posted by Thymeclock

Considering your final statement, maybe you can understand why a police car legitimately keeps the motor running and the video camera running during a traffic stop. I'm not a big fan of traffic patrol but your gripe about conserving 10 cents worth of gasoline in the idling of a patrol car is truly petty and also absurd.

Actually given the average duration of a cop stop, the actual cost is in the neighborhood of $0.35-$0.65 cents idling, also remember many police sit on the sides and between roads idling to a tune of roughly $2 an hour depending of coarse on which motor and which local we are talking.

Good reason to develop instant on gasoline motors for NON hybrids, like the old spring start diesel prototype from many years ago.

Also the police camera can likely function regardless of the motors operation, I have one that only uses about a half watt.

[comptiger5000]

I agree. Good deep cycle batteries, instant start ability, and a charger to make sure the batteries stay topped off while the car isn't being used, and they should be able to idle a good bit less. There will be times when it's still better to have it running, but it certainly won't be necessary as often.