How I got 50mpg on my Smart.......

[angel]

And lets not forget retreads. Tires coming unraveled is worse in the hot summer too.

[kurt013]

I used to draft semis with my Insight. I found about 1 1/2 seconds behind, instead of the recommended 2 seconds would still get me almost optimal milage. You do need to pay attention, but the 100 plus mpg readings always kept me interested.

[saskdiesel]

Whats a windshield for a Smart worth these days?

[Karl Roth]

Originally Posted by blackbeagle

I first read of someone drafting a semi and thought he/she was crazy. But when I did it today, I realize that I'm not actually tailgating the semi. That would be suicidal. I was actually about a good 10 yards back. I would say that is normal length to be behind another vehicle.

Again, like I said, I was paying close attention to the semi. I'm not fiddling with the Ipod or trying to eat my $5 Subway sandwich.

Driving here in MN, I notice that if the gap between you and the guy in front of you is too wide, some idiot will slide right in and and you'll have to put on the brakes.

I thought I was at a safe distance.

Are you familiar with the two second rule? Take a fixed object on the side of the road, sign tree it dosent matter the vehicle in front goes by you count one one thousand two one thousand and if you get to the point before you can do that you are too close...sorry
karl

[blackbeagle]

Originally Posted by Karl Roth

Are you familiar with the two second rule? Take a fixed object on the side of the road, sign tree it dosent matter the vehicle in front goes by you count one one thousand two one thousand and if you get to the point before you can do that you are too close...sorry
karl

Yeah....I know about the two second rule. I do think that I have better reflexes than most when it comes to driving but even at two seconds, that's a hard stop.

Also, like I mentioned before, during weekends or rush hour, you can forget about the two second rule. If there's a two second gap, some idiot is going to jump right in and make that a 1/2 second gap. I would then have to slow down until it becomes 2 seconds again. Then another and another. As long as there's an opening, someone is always going to take it.

[Dave777]

30 feet behind a semi at highway speeds.

No thanks.

[bull8042]

These arguments are the exact reason I only draft behind scooters. You can see around them without any problem! And it is funny watching them continuously peering over their shoulder trying to figure out what you are up to! hehehe

[Broken Kid]

Mythbusters did a segment about drafting behind a rig. It's amazing how big a difference you can make in mileage. It's funny because they furthest they tried was 100 ft (11% mpg difference), and then they say "don't try this! A safe distance is 150 ft." But they didn't try 150 ft. Oh well. Here's the write-up.

[JPaul]

Don't shoot me, I'm just the messenger. Posted this very morning on CNN Money:

"6 ways you're wasting gas"
"4. Bumper-buzzing
Tailgating is a bad move for many reasons. First of all, it's unsafe. You reduce your ability to react if the car in front of you slows or stops. It also means you have to pay ultra-close attention to that car which reduces your ability to scan for other hazards ahead of you and to the sides.
And tailgating wastes gas. Every time the driver ahead taps his brakes, you have to slow down even more than he did. (That's because you can't react immediately so you have to slow even more because you're slowing down later.) Then you accelerate again to get back up to speed and resume your bumper-buzzing routine.
Hang back and you'll be safer - plus you'll be able to drive more smoothly and use less fuel. A good rule of thumb is to allow two seconds of space between your car and the one ahead. You can figure that out by counting off two seconds after the car in front of you passes an obvious landmark like an overpass."

From: 6 ways you're wasting gas - May. 21, 2008

[Fredvon4]

Angel has the correct answer...the real danger is retreads eating you...

Drafting can be safe two ways depending on how you look at it... NEVER in congested areas... but 700 miles of Interstate 10 and only three trucks and you in the train... tuck in real real close (3~4 feet) and if truck has a panic brake event (very rare in open country) your closing distance is only several feet and blocker bar will catch you and both of you will decelerate at same rate

Back off 3,4,5 car lengths or 2 second rule and if panic stop by truck (remember very rare in open country) your reaction time and faster stopping rate of deceleration relative to the trucks deceleration rate will have you both still separated as you stop

I talk to truckers on I10 with the radio in the F350 and tell them I am going to hitch hike for a few hundred miles... some guys prefer you do not... and I respect that...most of the time they say "climb on in" ... smoking across Texas desert at 80MPH getting 19MPG in a 12.5MPG truck makes a significant difference..

That All said, I would NEVER draft anything in any area with ANY traffic...just too much risk