Has anyone else had a similar experience? ( Conserving Fuel)

[Earth Bound Misfit]

Yesterday I had to go to Atlantic City to attend a Union meeting and rather than driving (I live about 1 hr north of A.C.) decided to take NJ Transit bus, as it is less expensive. As I exited the GSP to go to the local park & ride, I was "stuck" behind 4 or 5 VEEERRRY SLOOOWWW Moving vehicles (about 10-12 mph) and quickly became annoyed. As the 3-4 cars ahead of me passed the lead vehicle, and I was about to do the same, we approached a red light. It figures, I remember thinking. It was then I noticed the car that "caused" the slowdown had 4 homemade paper signs taped to it's rear window, which read: (1st sign) FOOD=FUEL, FUEL= FOOD (2nd) PEOPLE ARE STARVING, GAS IS EXPENSIVE (3rd) DRIVE SLOWLY (4th) RED LIGHT WILL BE THERE UPON ARRIVAL. I honked my horn twice to get the driver's attention, and gave him a Big THUMBS-UP, he waved back at me, and as the light turned green and I had to turn right, I just thought to myself HOW COOL IS THAT!!

[tabasco]

1. No, I think you're the only one making up stories like this.

The people I know, who are concerned about energy conservation, are not so stupid to do something so counterproductive.

[Earth Bound Misfit]

2. BUSTED! You're right, I made it up.

I went there to GAMBLE.

:hi: Pleased to meet you!



Buh-Bye!!

[SpiralHawk]

5. "Remember, the House always wins." - Spiral Hawk's beer-inspired Old Man

Meom

[Earth Bound Misfit]

7. You're preachin' to the choir...

I work for a casino in AC-- More accurately stated "The House doesn't always win, but they NEVER LOSE"

Edit for emphasis

[Silent3]

3. If you think that kind of very slow driving...

...saves energy, you're wrong. Typical gas-powered vehicles get their best gas mileage when moving somewhere between 40-60 mph. It's very energy INefficient to drive at 10-12 mph, on top of being annoying and potentially dangerous.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/question477.htm

This driver you have described is an asshole, not an environmental hero.

[Earth Bound Misfit]

6. What I described in the OP took place on a parkway exit service road...

--not a major thorofare--after a HARD, sharp, short exit (exit 81 south, for those of you who are familiar with the area)--as a way of bringing attention to his "message". One would think the driver in question would not be so intent on bringing attention to himself that in doing so he would be putting other people's lives in danger by driving this way all the time.

Or maybe I misjudged the incident and he's just an asshole.:dunce:

[independentpiney]

8. He may have been coasting up to the red light

rather than keeping his foot on the accelerator until 100 feet before he needs to stop like many drivers do. Otherwise 10-12 mph is being a counterproductive asshole. The whole exit 81 area is a fubar traffic design.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. I don't drive that slowly,

but I've found going around 40 to get to work gives me the best gas mileage. I've thought of putting up a sign that says "Be Patriotic-Save Gas-Slow Down". I take lightly traveled roads into work, but every so often some lead foot has to pass me. And they are usually driving some big stupid pickup truck that gets 10 mpg. I get 33, and I drive a 1990 Geo Prizm.

[Wiley50]

9. `Did You Know that there is already one "earthboundmisfit" on DU?

She lives in Tulsa and has been here for a long time. She's been my friend since 1975,
long before there was a DU or even an internet.

She does disable her profile though. Not because of anything nefarious, but just because she's always been a very private person.
maybe that's why you were allowed to register under that screen name. or the spelling.

This could get really confusing though. Usually the registration software catches these things.

Just thought you should be aware of this

[logosoco]

10. I've been driving slower

well, not just slow, really just going with the speed limit (oops!)
I've been thinking of putting a sign on my car to, to tell the person on my tailgate that I am helping them conserve too!

[snooper2]

11. my Grand Prix gets the best mileage at around 64-65 mph

It has all the computer options, instant mpg/average mpg/miles driven/average mph/etc.,etc.,

If I coast at 30-40 mph with foot off gas, it shows like 57mpg...anything over 55 and it shoots up to 99mpg (upper limit)..gets decent at 5-10mph but shitty driving anywhere between 10-30mph...


Just drive your car normal, don't race around...take it easy when taking off...and you will get the best mpg.

(Oh, and the average mpg is currently at 25.2)