AAA Identifies Dangerous Hypermiling Techniques
AAA, the roadside assistance and insurance group, has issued a warning against certain hypermiling techniques. Of special importance to the group:
Drafting – The bane of big rig drivers, drafting involves pulling up behind a larger vehicle to improve your Fuel Efficiency but puts you in a dangerous position.
Coasting – Turning off your engine, or switching to neutral, while going down the highway.
Rolling stops – Hypermilers may be tempted to slow down vs. stop at signs and lights, putting them at risk for tickets as well as accidents.
Unsafe Speeds – Less is more as far as fuel efficiency is concerned, that goes for speed as well as the demand placed on your engine. Hypermilers may pay more attention to maintaining the pressure they put on the gas pedal than the flow of traffic.
Overinflation of tires – There are people who swear by this technique for boosting MPG, but the Rubber Manufacturers Association says it damages tires and puts drivers at risk.
Using the Wrong Oil for Your Car – Using a lighter weight oil than is needed can damage your engine.
So many ways exist to boost fuel efficiency without putting yourself, others on the road, or your car in danger. Obviously, an insurance company is going to err on the side of caution when it comes to modified driving techniques or maintenance, but it doesn’t hurt to check them out. How do you feel about hypermiling safety?
Source: PRNewswire-USNewswire
I was really glad to find this post and I have bookmarked it so that I can promote these tips information as well.
I think hypermiling can be a great thing when it is done safely but I hate to see people being STUPID on the subject.
Wish I would have read this earlier. I over inflated my car tires (hey it worked on my bicycle – easier to pedal) but then I had a pretty dangerous blow out on a curve. This is good advice people. Thanks.
I’m all for hypermiling when it doesn’t affect other drivers. But when you disrupt traffic, you cause frustration. Frustrated drivers become aggressive drivers, and aggressive drivers do a lot of flooring and passing. As a result, one hypermiler can cause a number of vehicles to use more fuel than they otherwise would if traffic was moving at a decent rate. In turn, the hypermiler may have saved gas, but more gas has been used due to his or her driving style. In which chase, hypermiling is *not* eco friendly. So don’t hold up traffic.
Both of those comments give very good points to keep in mind and remind others of. Thank you for sharing these. I had looked at the danger of driving with over-inflated tires in terms of the loss of traction, but I had not even thought about the possibility of a blow-out. This is something else which can be mentioned in warning people who follow that incorrect advice.
I think it’s also a very good point on the waste of gas that can occur when other drivers get frustrated when people drive stupidly!
A rational word here, if I may: More tires blow out due to underinflation than overinflation. Not suggesting you over pump your tires, but don’t be lazy about keeping the maximum recommended pressure in them.
All those tires carcases you see on the roads? 90% are from underinflation.
Jared
30 Ways to Save Gas
I’d suppose there are more blowouts from underinflated tires because there are more of them on the road. I’ll try to find some actual tests on this though. Thanks for stopping by. :)