does driving close to car in front on mway save fuel?

jase1

swifthorn wrote: »

That ^

Tailgaters are idiots I am more then happy to slam on my breaks.

Ah the old "I'll teach him" trick again.

globalds

We will all be tailgating soon .

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/01/19/tech/main7261375.shtml

Harry_Flashman

Am I the only one who sees the OP as a joke post?

diable

GabbaGabbaHey wrote: »

So instead of being concerned that the tailgater MIGHT run in to the back of you, you slam on your brakes (not "breaks") and ensure that it happens.

(I'm not condoning tailgating, but the IAM/police advice is to either pull over and let them get past you, or to slow down gradually. Slamming on your brakes is just a moronic and dangerous response, and makes you no better than the tailgater).

Just use your handbrake and have a friendly doctor on call to fill out the forms and claim 1000's of the insurance when they pile in to the back of you..........

jase1

diable wrote: »

Just use your handbrake and have a friendly doctor on call to fill out the forms and claim 1000's of the insurance when they pile in to the back of you..........

Heh... the sad fact is that there are people out there that'll take your words seriously diable.

ridcully

Teams in the Tour de France do it, and it works.

Lorries on the motorway do it, and it works.

In fact, if you sit behind a lorry, even at a safe distance, you'll save a very small amount of fuel (you'll probably save more from the fact you're going at 50-60mph than from the slipstream). Mythbusters tested this one out a couple of years back, and it worked.

But you can't do what the OP's trying, for two reasons:

a) It's suicidal - actually, it's homicidal, given chances are you won't be the only victim.

b) The lorries in the slow lane will travel for 50 mile stretches at a constant speed, and they create a huge slipstream. If you tailgate a car then the effect is much smaller, but chiefly you'll find yourself changing speeds all the time. That acceleration and deceleration will cancel out any benefits.

Pump your tyres up and take all the crap out of your boot, and don't drive like an !!!, and you'll save a few quid that way.

ajuk

tod123 wrote: »

Do you get like a drag effect from the other vehicle and save on diesel?

I tried this the other day , but the guy in front kept breaking for no reason which made it difficult to stay close.

Why do you think he was breaking, are you mental or just joking?

esmerobbo

ajuk wrote: »

Why do you think he was breaking, are you mental or just joking?

Neither its just Tod!!:D

spugzbunny

Todd *pist*. I don't think the motoring board understand the lifeboating humour here.
See you on the M1, beautiful

hora

OP, is your post/topic a serious question? Its abit worrying if I am honest.

Tailgating can have an impact on innocent motorists around you when it goes wrong.

If you are that worried about saving such negligable savings I feel you need to look at expenditure/outgoings elsewhere in your life or changing where you work.

You drive a diesel which in theory should already be giving you savings.

*Are you driving it correctly? i.e. Ride the torque- do you drive the car as you would a petrol?

*Do you need driver retraining/refresh? This is a serious question.