Hypermiling

[Jocko]

I drive the same route, twice a day, five days a week. As a result I am able to refine my driving technique over that route. It has been less than a month since I started to try and improve my fuel figures by employing some of the tricks I have read here and elsewhere.
The first thing I changed was the route I used. In the morning I went the shortest quickest way, but at lunch time I went a longer route, just for a bit of variety. The shorter route has one set of traffic lights, the longer one, eight. Variety was the first thing to go!
What I have been able to refine is the points where I slip into neutral, to do a bit of coasting, and the places I select a lower gear for Deceleration Fuel Cut Off. I use both methods quite a lot, choosing which gives me the best option for the given condition. For example, there is a long gentle downhill section where even 5th would slow me down quickly (my Honda Jazz is light and has very little inertia), so there I coast in neutral. As I approach the end of the slope, and the right hand turn at the light controlled junction, I know when to select 3rd, for DFCO and the management of my speed before making the turn.
My entire route is like that. Places where I know if I go into neutral I can reach a turn at the correct speed and other spots where in gear coasting is the best option. My selection points are pretty precise as well. I know if I slip into neutral at the white gate I have enough speed to crest the rise and if I select 3rd at the big house I can use DFCO right up to the roundabout at the bottom of the hill. I refine these points with experience.
My lunch time trip is not so simple. Traffic is much heavier than it is at 06:30 and the best laid plans as they say! It is much more a case of forward observation and trying to second guess other drivers.
What really scunners me are the drivers who sit at a red light and are never ready to move off when they change. Let’s face it. You have only the one thing you need to do at a traffic light and that is watch for it to turn green. While you are sliding slowly up behind them they are staring into space, oblivious to all around them. Now I know that with auto stop and the like some cars are not ready to go the moment the green light comes on but at least, here in the UK, we have red and amber to let them get ready. Get three dawdlers ahead of you at a set of lights and you are lucky to get through before the amber, never mind without needing to stop.
And don’t get me started on roundabouts!
I never coast with the engine off. In my car that is downright dangerous. Okay, my brake servo is good for three or four applications before I need Bigfoot but my steering has electrical power assist which requires the engine running to operate. Now I am a big fella, but to turn the wheel without the power steering I would need arms like Garth. It is like the steering lock is on. I have never known a car with such heavy steering without the power assist.
Well I say I never coast with the engine off. I do when I bring the car out of the garage. I always leave my car in 1st gear, wherever I park, so it is foot on the clutch, start engine, clutch up, start rolling, clutch down and engine off. The car can then roll clear of the garage ready for me to go and lock it back up.
I follow that initial procedure all the time. My start is always everyone belted in, check for other traffic, once all clear start engine, clutch up and off. No unnecessary idling.
So that is what I have learned so far. A long way still to go for probably little extra mpg, but it is a good game, and I enjoy playing it.
What about you?

[culzean]

I also found that staying in any gear on long shallow hills would slow the car down too much,  so I coast in neutral as well (I got some flack on this forum a few years ago for admitting I coasted out of gear with engine running). Coasting with engine off is a definite no-no as brakes cease to work.

I get frustrated with people on islands and traffic lights as well,   some people seem to want an empty island before they will venture on to it.  Personally I think traffic lights waste much more fuel than the speed bumps that councils have been told to tear up now,  when the lights on a big island interchange by us were being replaced recently (well it took them about 8 months) the lights were replaced with temporary 'give way' signs,  in all the time the lights were out of action I did not see even a sign of a traffic build-up,  now they have fitted 'state-of-the-art' computerised lights that respond to traffic flows, yes the queues are back,  admittedly not so big as before but considering the millions they have spent I would expect some improvement.

I have sent letters to local council many times about how counter-productive traffic lights are,  and how traffic flow improves massively when lights are broken and you always get 'they have been fitted for health and safety reasons as well as improving traffic flow' - I smell BS,   One big island was taken out a few years ago and replaced with a bewildering array of traffic and filter lights,  there have been numerous accidents on this junction due to people mistaking filter lights for straight ahead etc.

[Jocko]

Not only do some drivers want an empty roundabout but they want a written invitation as well. I tend to breenge on and let the deil tak the hindmost. In busy traffic, as long as there is no risk of a collision between me and the car on my right, I just go. I'll hang a bit if there is no one behind him.
Traffic lights have their place, but it is amazing how traffic flows freely when they break!
They have just re timed most of the lights near me. One set I hit in the morning sits on red for about 3 - 4 minutes, irrespective of traffic (we are talking 06:30) I turn off the engine as soon as I stop (you can see the glow of the green light on the other road), and sometimes nothing else passes while I sit there.
Perhaps it was driving for a living that made me impatient (especially the buses, where you have a schedule to keep to), but, despite my hypermiling, I cannot stand drivers who dawdle and hold up other motorists.

[Kenneve]

I'm with you Jocko on dawdling. I mentioned recently on another post about my regular trip from Solihull to Stratford-on-avon. This is the A3400 restricted to 50Mph and the number of drivers that amble along at 30-35Mph has to be seen to be believed.
Also there is a section where the limit is 30Mph, controlled by average speed cameras. Again many drivers stick to around 20-25Mph for this, I suppose frightened that they might get nicked, can't they read their speedometer better that that?

[Jocko]

I think a lot of the problems with slow traffic through average speed cameras is speedometers tend to read a bit low. Add to that a driver who sits a smidge below the prescribed limit and traffic slows. I regularly use the Forth Road Bridge, which has a huge section of 40 mph average speed cameras. When the opportunity arises I try and stick to about 44 mph on my sat nav or dash cam (it has GPS too). That gives me my +10% allowance, but also any drop in speed pulls my average back down so I probably average less than the 40 mph allowed.

[JohnAlways]

Jocko you missed out cyclists and their group runs on the narrow twisty roads riding three abreast

Cat amongst pigeons?

Sorry but my wife was off like a trooper on Sunday can't they pedal faster than that? look they're coasting down hill!

Me I'm chilled, too much time behind the wheel, we'll get past sometime

[culzean]

Jocko you missed out cyclists and their group runs on the narrow twisty roads riding three abreast

Cat amongst pigeons?

Sorry but my wife was off like a trooper on Sunday can't they pedal faster than that? look they're coasting down hill!

Me I'm chilled, too much time behind the wheel, we'll get past sometime

As a rule the more flashy lycra they are wearing the worse they are,  they use the excuse that it is easier to pass three abreast than a line of three LOL.   No road tax, no licence, no insurance and they assume highway code does not apply to them but they will spend up to £10k on a bike - unbelievable.

[Jocko]

Worst thing I ever encountered with cyclists was a group time trial on the dual carriage way between Dundee and Perth. As myself and others filed past in lane 2 they suddenly did a U turn into the other carriageway, to head back. No signals, no signs, no marshals. It didn't surprise me to see that 91 year old cyclist killed last week doing the same.
I normally give cyclists the time of day and good clearance. The louts that cycle on pavements and disregard traffic lights I'd happily lock up.

[pb82gh3]

Jocko - I was told in no uncertain terms on my Speed Awareness Course that there is no 10% "allowance" and that discretion might be allowed but should not be relied upon.

[richardfrost]

No road tax, no licence, no insurance

A bit harsh? Most of them are probably drivers also, paying 'road tax' and a fair proportion will probably have cyclist insurance too, given the value of their bikes will be significantly more than that of a ten year old Jazz.

I do take your point though. You wouldn't see squadrons of swimmers just randomly deciding to swim the English Channel in a group and hang the maritime traffic.

[guest5079]

Why oh why can't people who possess a driving licence understand the mini roundabout rule, give way to traffic from your right. NO if there is more than one vehicle anywhere they sit there like lemmings.
It's not rocket science and if you have good vision ( it seems local authorities seem hell bent on making sure there isn't) and someone is approaching from your right but still at a distance, please don't stomp on your anchors, you may proceed providing you do not interfere with their progress.
Cyclists: They ARE supposed to comply with the highway code. I would like to know the result of a cyclist riding the wrong way along a one way street and knocks an ususpecting pedestrian flying.
Now we have this impending requirement to give them a 1.5 m space when overtaking. I do not know where these people that come up with these ideas come from. Hedgerow,gap cyclist .75mwide  occupying more than their fair share, 1.5 m gap, car 1.75 m wide and what do we have somewhere approaching 6/7 m. A lot of roads in the UK would struggle to make 5.5 to 6m total. So I presume we either have to sit behind some fat arse ( sorry) for miles or demolish the hedgerow to get past.
Pigging= cyclists pay nothing want everything.
Just to add fuel to the fire, this am electric cars. Government could lose 10's of billions in lost fuel duty. Oh yes then why do they only spend 5 billion on our roads and I expect the cyclists get all of their bits out of that as well. Tax bikes Insure bikes and give them a number plate. If the can afford the ridiculous amounts they spend on the bike and kitting out then they can pay something BACK.
My experience is that many do not insure their bikes just expect everybody to find it when it's taken not even bothering to make a note of the frame number.. If I own two cars I have to pay VEL and Insurance on both so I think claiming that some cyclist pay via their car so they contribute is hockum.

[Jocko]

Jocko - I was told in no uncertain terms on my Speed Awareness Course that there is no 10% "allowance" and that discretion might be allowed but should not be relied upon.

My brother is a retired police inspector and my nephew a serving sergeant, and both have told me that Police Scotland's instruction to officers is 10% +1 mph, as speedometers on cars only require to be + or - 10% accurate. After 50 years of driving I have never had a ticket.
I know there is no 10% "allowance". I also know that the fixed cameras and camera vans, here in Scotland, don't even trigger until you exceed 10%+1.

[richardfrost]

I know there is no 10% "allowance". I also know that the fixed cameras and camera vans, here in Scotland, don't even trigger until you exceed 10%+1.

Good to know. In a momentary lack of concentration (Mother in Law in the back), I allowed my speed to approach 80 on the A19 heading South near Thirsk and lo and behold there was a police camera van. This was nearly 4 weeks ago now and nothing in the post yet, so there may be a formula like this...

10%+1 + another 1 if you have an endearing relative in the back rabbiting on about nothing.

[culzean]

Jocko - I was told in no uncertain terms on my Speed Awareness Course that there is no 10% "allowance" and that discretion might be allowed but should not be relied upon.

My brother is a retired police inspector and my nephew a serving sergeant, and both have told me that Police Scotland's instruction to officers is 10% +1 mph, as speedometers on cars only require to be + or - 10% accurate. After 50 years of driving I have never had a ticket.
I know there is no 10% "allowance". I also know that the fixed cameras and camera vans, here in Scotland, don't even trigger until you exceed 10%+1.

The police are pragmatic enough to know that if they tried to take action against everyone who was traveling 1 mph over the limit they would get bogged down in court with people asking them to verify the calibration of their cameras etc.

I have heard 10% + 3mph as the formula,  which means that 80mph on a motorway is still OK,  but you can't rely on that,  depends if they have reached their quota for the day or not.

[guest1372]

Why oh why can't people who possess a driving licence understand the mini roundabout rule, give way to traffic from your right. NO if there is more than one vehicle anywhere they sit there like lemmings.

I think the only place this does not apply is the Hemel Hempstead 'magic' roundabout (6 x mini in a hexagon). The local rule is every feed gets one turn each and is all very civilised.
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TG