Hypermilers ever encounter road Rage?
Created April 9, 2008, at 1:31 pm by ranger1
I may be making a false assumption, however my question is based on my thinking that 'hypermilers' drive slower and more erratic than the average. If I'm wrong then my question is not that valid.
Consider this. Here in Canada, and my US driving experience (considerable), informs me it's no different down there, that driving the speed limit is going to very often lead to a grill or bright lights in your rear view mirror, from an impatient driver. Further, when that driver is able to pass, you might sometimes get a not so friendly 'salute.' Driving less than the speed limit, well there's a good chance you'll have an angry rather than impatient driver behind you. Pretty much everywhere at least 10% over posted is the norm. Lately it seems to have creeped up to 20% over!
So, have any of you hypermilers induced or encountered road rage?
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Yes it can happen regardless of what vehicle you drive and regardless of whether you are hypermiling or not. Sometimes, traffic patterns demand changes to your driving habits-better safe than sorry. I sometimes pull into parking lots to let those aggressive drivers pass by.
Hi Ranger
It took me a while to learn how to do extreme hypermiling and when to use it. I always try to drive defensively, but here in Florida with the elderly and tourist, even I get a bit pis**d off at the way people drive. For this reason, I carefully choose my routes regarding the speed limits, stoplights, lanes of the road etc. There are plenty of unsafe drivers that will exceed 50% of the speed limit whenever they get a chance, but I have no mercy if their riding my tail when I'm exceeding the speed limit already. The fact is your going to see a certain amount of road rage no matter how you choose to drive. I like to be reasonable to traffic behind me, but I don't exceed the speed limit by over 10mph that much to maintain a good driving record and not hurt anyone.
When I'm free of traffic, I hypermile to bring up my average whenever I can. Many of our beach roads are perfect with speed limits between 25-35mph where sightseeing is a main reason for those that travel them. Most of those roads are also manned heavy by the police when their not at the Dunkin Doughnut. I've saved hundreds of people from radar traps who may have otherwise exceeded 10mph over the limit if they had not been behind me.
There are limits to hypermiling that will make you into an aggressive driver by driving to slow for the road your on. What I enjoy is driving and staying up with a pack of vehicles when I know my techniques yield me far better mileage than even the better FE vehicle in the pack. Often times I'll pass everyone when I time the stoplight like I try to do when there is no traffic. One good trick I also try to do is let a car trigger a light green before I have to come to a stop. Knowing the distance to draft on the highway that truckers will allow is also important and much safer.
The bottom line, I don't try to give anyone a reason for road rage and prefer to except a loss of a few MPG on my tank averages. There are so many ways at speeds under 70mph you can save gas in the FEH, if you just put your mind to it. Just don't get greedy and share the road responsibly.
BillyK says:"...can happen regardless of what vehicle you drive..."
So true! Some drivers are just.., well you know what they are.
Interesting topic. I would have thought I would have recieved some horns or your number one salutes by now driving here in Ocean Springs, MS. After all were I live is really not a great place to own a hybrid. But I take off from lights at a pace that allows me to milk every foot of pavement out of my batteries before some damn pothole causes my foot to sink into the accelerator. I can usually get up to about 30mph. If I have just exited the interstate getting to that speed is quicker. People usually just go around.
Do not get bully in excedding he speed limit. If you are truely interested in saving gas stay below 70mph and use EV mode as much as possible. It amazes me that people are still driving there cars as if gas was $1.25 per gallon.
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