Hypermiling - The new menace on the road?

The other day I’m following a Honda Insight hybrid driving rather quickly down a hill. But as the hill flattens and we start climbing another hill, the little Insight slows down. As we approach an intersection, I see the light has just turned green and I’m sure we’ll make it. But we’re still climbing and the Insight is continues to shed speed. Finally, the light turns yellow and then red. But instead of stopping, the Insight drives right through the red light and continues puttering down the road.

Was this driver driving slowly to be safety conscious? No. I was following one of the new breed of fuel-sipping fanatics that are menacing our roads. (And you know who you are!) The driver of the Insight was doing everything to maximize fuel mileage. Speeding down hills to maintain momentum, slowing up the hills to prevent pressing too hard on the gas pedal, coasting through red lights, and even tailgating semi-trucks to save fuel are all symptoms of this new threat to drivers everywhere.

The phenomenon is encouraged by the colorful fuel economy displays in some hybrids that have turned driving into a video game. The point of this game is to get the highest score... er… mpg figure. Why? Some probably believe they’re minimizing their strain on the earth, but more likely they’re looking for bragging rights. Maybe you’re trying to keep your Prius-o-meter above 50 mpg so you can post your results on Priuschat.com. Maybe people keep asking you what kind of mileage you get on your hybrid, and you want more impressive figures to report. Or perhaps you just want prove to your spouse that you know the right way to drive your new green machine.

Don’t get me wrong—there’s nothing wrong with driving to maximize fuel economy. I try to do the same and have to admit that I have a hard time not staring at the pretty fuel consumption screen on my wife’s Prius. But there are many ways to modify your driving to maximize fuel economy and not become a rolling road hazard. In fact, sites like Hypermiling.com and cleanmpg.com promote many safe and effective ways to maximize fuel economy. But you should always be courteous to others around you. And, yes, a Prius can make it up the hills without losing speed if you push your right foot down a bit. Most importantly, watch the road not the fuel economy gauge. You’ll make the roadways safer for all, and may even help non-hybrids save fuel with an even, predictable driving manner.

—Jake Fisher

For more suggestions on how to live more green, visit Consumer Union's Web site Greenerchoices.org and our Earth Day special section. For tips on saving gasoline and alternative fuels, see our fuel economy guide.

Comments

[Don B.]

What about the hundreds of speeding egomaniacs (+65) that pass me on my daily commute?

Are you judging my driving (hypermiling) because of someone who ran a light?

I have lost some respect for CR on this one.

[Kpac]

I drive a Honda Ridgeline. I have applied hypermiling techniques and have increased my MPG by 29% Yeah, it pisses people of when I don't race away when a light turns green, or when I coast to a red light instead of racing to a red light. People also have issues when I drive at the speed limit instead of breaking the law and speeding. Of course, if there road rage gets out of hand that is what my guns are for, by guns I mean my big muscles. People that speed create more danger than any hypermiler, and they are criminals! This article is a joke. My 2 year old nephew has more logic than the author. Hypermiling is what we should all be doing.

[Matt Rutherford]

Hypermiling makes no sense. The ammount of gas your going to save even in the long run isn't worth the extra thinking and planning and general trouble going through. Spend more time paying attention. Shutting your car off and driving stupid slow just creates bigger traffic jams and makes the rest of us low MPG'ers idle more. Driving and burning fuel just is what it is.

[rich]

I hypermile in my Nissan Titan while towing a 23 foot travel trailer and it works. I culd care less if anyone gets pissed. I have as much of a right to be on the road as they do.

[BrokenShovel]

I Hypermile and I could really care less about Greenhouse gas I do it because $4 dollars for a gallon of gas that I purchased with my money should be used the way I what to use it as long as I'm not breaking laws. Media has already start mis-informing the public about hypermiling the fact is driving slower isn't illegal in my state 40 mph is legal is a 65 mph zone and Hypermilers get bashed but people ripping by at 75-80 mph seem to have special rights and a lack of patients.

I save up to $50 per month by hypermiling legally.

[gershon]

It seems like those who aren't learning to hypermile aren't driving. Here it is, Saturday night and I hardly hear any cars going down the road. I went out earlier when it's usually busy, and it's the same thing. Almost all those who were out were driving like hypermilers.

What do you call a person who doesn't hypermile?

ans: Broke.

[Sheila P.]

I take offense at this article as well as some of the comments posted in response. I hypermile in my Honda Odyssey. I do not slow anyone else down. I DO pay very close attention to my driving and that of others around me. I coast to red lights when no one is close behind me, use my cruise on straight, flat roads, and use my cruise to gradually increase speed and to slow down when I see brake lights ahead of me. I turn off the engine at well-known lengthy lights and turn it back on and am back in DRIVE as soon as the other light goes yellow. I do not roll on under-inflated, whimpy tires or enter from a on-ramp slowly. I do not haul around extra weighty items that won't be used until later. Just by making these simple changes, I've increased my mileage by 15%. Saving money and helping preserve the planet for my decendants, Boy, what a bad southern, woman driver I am!!

[Prashant Kshitij]

good blog
these people should be severly punished

[jennifer]

Going too slow can be just as dangerous as going too fast. I wonder how slow these people are driving on the highway. If the speed limit is 65 mph, what speed are you driving? You can be ticketed if you drive too slowly, as you should be.

I drive a Prius but I would never drive so as to endanger myself on the road. A few MPGs isn't worth it.

[Lorraine]

I seriously wonder why you thought that driver was a hypermiler.

Was there a sticker announcing said? Did they tell you that was what they were trying to do? Because hypermiling would have been the last thing I would have thought they driver was doing. I would have thought they were stoned, stupid, or both.

From what I have read, a real hypermiler would have timed it to hit the green light, not run the red, just so you know.

[john l]

Here's another hypermile technique that i use on the interstates--safely changing lanes to go the shortest distance through a curve. No matter what the radius of a circle, the circumference of another circle with a radius 12 feet (the width of interstate lanes)longer than the first circle will be about 75 feet longer. Driving around a smaller circle saves gas.

[Mark B]

Been "hypermiling" since 1978. Nothing new - just a new term and many people think they invented this garbage. Ah, to be young and foolish again....kids today - think they are discovering new things - when in fact they just didn't listen to those of us who already knew!

[johnny]

I think the most of you are nuts,probably from the left.seems that none of you drive AMERICAN vehicles as i do.I obey the speed laws and that's enough for me.

[Lyle]

Ther is nothing wrong with trying to improve your gas milage, but people are getting carried away and doing things that are clearly illegal. Hypermiler gurus like Wayne are adding to this menance because other people follow his whacked out advice. Many of the things he does (and suggests other drivers copy so they too can be hypermilers) are both dangerous and illegal.
Example #1 -Turning the engine off at 50 miles per hour is illegal in most states. Most cars will loose steering & braking control within a few seconds.
Example #2 -Hitting a 25mph exit ramp at 52 mph (as Wayne suggests) is very dangerous and will net you a $300 ticket from the next cop who catches you doing it.
Example #3 - Tailgating a semi on the freeway is very dangerous and, again, will net you a $300 ticket if you get caught.
Example #4 - Going very slowly on the freeway will also net you a ticket for "impeding traffic".
The few dollars you saved by extreme driving will be quickly eaten up by the tickets and higher insurance rates you will be paying. By all means you can save gas by driving carefully but don't follow the advice of some nut who claims he was getting 100mpg -- right before he crashed.

[Scott]

I think all Jake means is "keep your priorities straight." The ultimate objective of travel is to arrive at your destination in one piece. Arriving a bit early might be nice, and it'd certainly be great to use the least amount of fuel to do so... but priority one is arriving safely.

Ask a race car driver. They'll tell you the focus is on finishing the race. Winning is of secondary importance. It doesn't matter how fast you are (or how much fuel you save) if you don't cross the finish line.

If you want to see an example of "real" driving, search YouTube for "India Driving" where uncontrolled intersections are the norm. While you're watching the video, think about how long it would take to move that much traffic through the intersection if it were controlled by traffic light.

How much idling, how much needless pollution... and <0 mpg!