Police warn about mileage-boosting tactics
WATERBURY, Conn. - Police and automotive specialists say that over-the-top attempts by some drivers to boost their gas mileage could be endangering them and other motorists.
The American Automobile Association and Connecticut State Police warn against extreme measures in "hypermiling," a practice in which unusual techniques are used to boost vehicles' mileage.
They include rolling through stop signs, turning off the engine to coast down hills, and overinflating tires to decrease rolling resistance against pavement, among other techniques.
One action that authorities say is particularly dangerous is called drafting, tailgating big rigs in hope of cutting wind resistance and being pulled along in a truck's wake.
"Every one of them is illegal," Trooper William Tate, State Police spokesman, said of the hypermiling techniques. "But more importantly, they're extremely dangerous. Every one of them is the cause of accidents."
Most accidents on secondary roads are caused by drivers who fail to obey traffic signals, such as stop signs or traffic lights, Tate said. Most highway crashes are caused by tailgating and unsafe lane changes, which are often related, he said.
"Following a tractor-trailer too closely, you don't have the ability to see beyond it, as you would when following a passenger vehicle," Tate said. "You're risking your life and the lives of motorists behind you."
Fran Mayko, a spokeswoman for AAA Connecticut Motor Club, said hypermiling has been around for a while, but has drawn more attention as gas prices have jumped and drivers are seeking ways to boost their mileage. This is the first time AAA has issued a warning about it, she said.
She said drivers should stick to tried-and-true mileage boosters: keeping up with routine maintenance, ensuring that tires are properly inflated, keeping unnecessary weight out of the car, and driving at the posted speed limit.
According to the US Department of Energy, gas mileage typically decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 miles per hour. Every 5 miles per hour that a driver goes above 60 miles per hour is like paying an additional 30 cents per gallon of gas, according to the government.
AAA said the average for regular unleaded gas nationwide was $4.07 per gallon yesterday, up $1.10 from the same time last year.
