For all the yacking about fuel mileage...

[VTEC_Inside]

Is it just me or does Joe Public have a lead foot?

I'm not talking about speeding, but rather simply accelerating.

Thankfully (or not sometimes), most of my daily commute is on the highway.

However on my way to the highway every day I often notice that everyone is flooring it (exaggeration of course) at every light the second the light turned green.

It didn't matter that you could see the next light was red, or that traffic would slow you down before that, just mashing the pedal off the line. Almost without failure I end up cruising by these people at my steady slower rate.

Which brings me back to the subject line. For all the apparent concern about fuel mileage its a shame that these people don't understand how much of an improvement they could make without spending a dime.

Disclaimer: I usually piss away anything I've saved the second I pull onto the highway, but at least I'm aware of it.

[ifcar]

It's not even lead foot so much as thoughtlessness. For example, when my father is driving up to a red light, he keeps his foot on the gas right up until he brakes. He could save gas and brake pads just by coasting up to the light, but won't. (Though he also had a lead foot.)

When I drive his car (2005 Focus), I get 34-36 mpg. He gets 29.

[The Phantom]

I notice a lot of dilly-dallyers getting on the highways via the on-ramps.  But yes, there are quite a few people who seem to like to race stoplight to stoplight.  I like to say, "see you in a few seconds, pal!"

[S204STi]

I'm with you guys.  Drive with your eyes down the road and anticipate lights.  It's not like you're saving any time anyway if you end up having to stop again at the next light.

[The Phantom]

What I really love is a different topic altogether, but I'll touch on it.  People hanging out in the left lane, behind one slow MF-er when the right lane is clear.  I go around them on the right and when the slow poke eventually gets over to the correct lane, everybody finally catches and passes me as I'm keeping to my 72 or so MPH.

I guess that's also something about fuel mileage...

[giant_mtb]

What's this got to do with law, anyhow?

[AutobahnSHO]

it's the law to be smart

[SVT_Power]

I don't care too much about fuel mileage but I try not to come to a dead stop at lights - if I see a red or expect it, I'll coast from that point. This way I don't have to clutch in, out, and then in, out again to get going again 

[TurboDan]

The only reason I usually step on it when the light turns green is so someone isn't trying to go around me and cut me off to get in front of me. I'd rather just move briskly and avoid it. New Jersey drivers are asshats... and it's way worse in the northern part of the state than where I live.

[ifcar]

The only reason I usually step on it when the light turns green is so someone isn't trying to go around me and cut me off to get in front of me. I'd rather just move briskly and avoid it. New Jersey drivers are asshats... and it's way worse in the northern part of the state than where I live.

What do you care if they get in front of you?

[Eye of the Tiger]

What do you care if they get in front of you?

Don't want to lose the race. Duh.

[VTEC_Inside]

What's this got to do with law, anyhow?

I was ignoring the law bit. I suppose it could be moved to general.

[TurboDan]

Don't want to lose the race. Duh.

Kind of. But more often, two-lane intersections around here turn into one-lane roads on the other side. So you have cars doing EVERYTHING they can to get around you (usually a teenager in a Civic or a hick in a raised pickup) and almost side-swiping you in the process as they go around and try to go in front of you.

Like I said, this doesn't happen in most other places. In all the time I lived in Florida nobody really cared how fast anyone else accelerated for the most part. But New Jerseyans are weirdos.

[ifcar]

Kind of. But more often, two-lane intersections around here turn into one-lane roads on the other side. So you have cars doing EVERYTHING they can to get around you (usually a teenager in a Civic or a hick in a raised pickup) and almost side-swiping you in the process as they go around and try to go in front of you.

Like I said, this doesn't happen in most other places. In all the time I lived in Florida nobody really cared how fast anyone else accelerated for the most part. But New Jerseyans are weirdos.

Wouldn't it be less dangerous to just let them go than to try to race them?

[Eye of the Tiger]

Wouldn't it be less dangerous to just let them go than to try to race them?

It's always safer to be in front. Then if they hit you, it's their fault.

[Byteme]

It's not even lead foot so much as thoughtlessness. For example, when my father is driving up to a red light, he keeps his foot on the gas right up until he brakes. He could save gas and brake pads just by coasting up to the light, but won't. (Though he also had a lead foot.)

When I drive his car (2005 Focus), I get 34-36 mpg. He gets 29.

Great gas mileage?

Coming back from Arkansas in the Mazda 3 a few weeks ago I drafted a semi going 75 MPH on the interstate.  The trip computer told me I was getting about 45 MPG.

[TurboDan]

Wouldn't it be less dangerous to just let them go than to try to race them?

I don't try to race anyone. If they want to floor it and go past me, that's fine. I just try to avoid a position where they are riding in the shoulder next to me trying to pass me, then wind up crashing into me when they attempt to get in front or find out they can't get back into the proper lane and another vehicle is blocking them. I've seen too many accidents happen like that around here.

You can kinda pick out the types who would do it. Normally, it's lifted pickups with tinted windows or dumb kids trying to be cool in their riced out Civics.

[AutobahnSHO]

Or people yakking on the phone, not paying attention.

[ChrisV]

man, I wish. even though people around here seem to like to fly on the beltway or on the major highways, it seems most people cant figure out where their accellerator pedal is when the light goes green. We talk about how much hp modern Accords and Camry's have but I don't see anyone using it...

[S204STi]

Great gas mileage?

Coming back from Arkansas in the Mazda 3 a few weeks ago I drafted a semi going 75 MPH on the interstate.  The trip computer told me I was getting about 45 MPG.

Score!

[the Teuton]

I somehow only got 28 mpg average out of my PlastiCar the other week. In other news, my brother thinks I drive like a maniac.

[Eye of the Tiger]

I somehow only got 28 mpg average out of my PlastiCar the other week. In other news, my brother thinks I drive like a maniac.

I think you drive like my gramma.

[the Teuton]

I think you drive like my gramma.

You can't judge me!

[Eye of the Tiger]

You can't judge me!

It's okay, I'm still hovering my gavel above whatever the hell that square piece of wood you bang it on is called....

[the Teuton]

swift.

BTW, what can the Swift achieve, mpg-wise, and what do you usually get with it?

[Eye of the Tiger]

swift.

BTW, what can the Swift achieve, mpg-wise, and what do you usually get with it?

No matter what I do, it's always 39 mpg. 39 mpg. I can drive the shit out of it in the city all week and get 39 mpg. I can drive the shit out of it on the highway and get 39 mpg. Actually, there was that one time when I got 47 mpg on a highway trip, but I wasn't driving the shit out of it. I always drive the shit out of it.

[Colonel Cadillac]

I don't pay for gas and won't for another year and a half, so I don't at all care about my gas mileage and love to hammer it at a light. I think my mileage sticks around 15 MPG.

[The Phantom]

I was getting 27 MPG last week until I hit the 70 zone and started going 80.  I ended the three hour trip at about 26.

[Eye of the Tiger]

I don't pay for gas and won't for another year and a half, so I don't at all care about my gas mileage and love to hammer it at a light. I think my mileage sticks around 15 MPG.

Wow. That's even worse than the Rodeo.

[GoCougs]

I'd suggest rethink your premise - the population as a whole by and large has never really cared all that much about gas mileage.