Drawback of hypermilling

[TruckHyperMiler]

I've been driving around 50-55 on the freeway for the past few months, managed to get my '83 diesel f-250 work truck from 15 up to 19.5mpg (this is with various loads of furniture, boxes, dirt, appliances, etc in the back)

Last night on my way home, going 50, some cars merged very slow, and instead of accelerating to pass them, I slowed even more to let them in, but they were going SO slow I just moved to the left instead.

As I accelerated gently back up to speed I noticed a cop behind me, and just as I put on my signal to move back to the right, he moved to the right without signaling.
So I stayed where I was, and waited for him to pass on the right, still not having accelerated up to speed yet.

After a couple seconds, instead of passing, he pulled back in behind me.

And lit up the red and blues.

After answering a bunch of questions (last thing I ate was ice cream, 2 strawberries, and 2 almond cookies, I am not under the care of a doctor or dentist) I did a balance test, and when I passed that, took my first ever breathalyzer.

In an area where everyone goes 75, why would anyone drive slow unless they were drunk?
I told him I drive slow in order to save gas (and I was going particularly slow while I waited for him to pass - I didn't point out that he hadn't used his turn signal).
He said that I was going 20 under the limit.
I wasn't sure how pointing out that the "limit" was a MAXIMUM limit, not a minimum, would be taken, so I was just mostly quiet and agreeable.

In the end, no ticket, but I can imagine getting pulled over frequently wasting a lot of time and getting rather annoying.

[thisisntjared]

that cop is a weenier. how could he think that you should cut him off? or even worse speed up when someone tries to pass you? i dont think he is aware of his own road presence.

you made the right move in not pointing out his faults, that would have landed you some sort of ticket. police dont think they are above the law, they just think it doesnt apply to them.

[theholycow]

It's not 100% unreasonable for him to pull you for that. You were doing something very uncommon, so much so that usually it means something is wrong with the driver or vehicle.

The speed limit is technically the maximum, but treated like a minimum by the vast majority of road users. This means that going 20mph less than that is bound to get you into dangerous situations, annoying situations, and occasionally trouble.

Anyway, bummer about that. I hope you'll able to find strategies to help you save fuel with less difficulty.

[JanGeo]

I think there is a law that says if you are going below a posted speed by X mph you have to have your flashers on. You are expected to drive slower if conditions require it like fog, heavy rain, snow, etc. and you can be stopped for that reason if you are going FASTER than conditions permit safely.

[slurp812]

Originally Posted by JanGeo

I think there is a law that says if you are going below a posted speed by X mph you have to have your flashers on. You are expected to drive slower if conditions require it like fog, heavy rain, snow, etc. and you can be stopped for that reason if you are going FASTER than conditions permit safely.

In Ohio, it says this. I drive 60 in a 65 mph zone quite a bit, and they haven't messed with me, YET!

I. No person shall operate a vehicle at such a slow speed as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic. '4511.22(A)
II. A person, driving at less than the normal speed of traffic, shall drive in the right-hand lane then available for traffic or as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway. '4511.25

[thisisntjared]

Originally Posted by slurp812

II. A person, driving at less than the normal speed of traffic, shall drive in the right-hand lane then available for traffic or as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway. '4511.25

i do this if i am driving slow for whatever reason, including turning right. there are a lot of people that should....

[TruckHyperMiler]

Originally Posted by slurp812

In Ohio, it says this. I drive 60 in a 65 mph zone quite a bit, and they haven't messed with me, YET!

I. No person shall operate a vehicle at such a slow speed as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic. '4511.22(A)
II. A person, driving at less than the normal speed of traffic, shall drive in the right-hand lane then available for traffic or as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway. '4511.25

Thats exactly the same way its written in CA too (where I am).

I ended up getting some stickers





Although after going on this site and ecomodder's (originally just to post this story) and being inspired to start doing some physical mods, I recently was able to cross out the 30% and replace it with a big fat 60%!

[TruckHyperMiler]

I forgot to mention in the original post: I noticed once I got back on the highway that it was actually a 55 limit on that particular stretch, not 65, so I was only 10 under.
I'm sure I could have fought a ticket for speed, but since I had had a little wine with dinner (very little, but I have a low tolerance) I was only about 95% sure I would pass the breathalyzer.
Anyway, have yall heard much about tickets for driving too slow?
I can't imagine it being unheard of among this crowd.

[aalb1]

a few weeks ago i shared on here how I was P&Ging from 55 mph to 40mph with my hazzards on. Some people got on my case here on how that was illegal but in some parts of Pennsylvania on the highway it says use hazards for under 45mph. So it is a tricky situation.

In your case HOLYCow got it right. You were doing something unusual... you going under the speed limit instead of over

If going under the speed limit if wrong... I don't ever want to be right

[bigjimmysrock]

well by reading your post over you were only going 5 under so the real reason was prob. cuz you were driving a 83 work truck. (looking like poor trailer trash) and im not bashing because i like old trucks and still have one i had to sell my 84 k30 and buy the yaris because they were always giving me a hard time.
p.s. was restoring it and had not made it to the exterior so it looked trashy...