Ray Gompf's Driving Lessons
Ray is a retired truck driver/author/friend.
Ray Gompf's "Driving Lessons"
08/18/2009 at 9:36am
Ray sent me this as a private e-mail, but I'm sure he won't mind if I share it.
Sorry I didn't get back to you yesterday but I was quite busy and wanted to give this answer a great deal of thought.
My driving lesson has always been done "in car" and it's pretty much in my head -- in other words, I haven't yet committed pen to paper but I'm working on that.
The "in car" is I pretty much allow the driver to drive as he normal would, screaming at stupid people and all. I make small notes about the driver's abilities and then we go for a second "go around" where I point out those things that the driver did wrong and why it's wrong and how to improve.
Maybe it's the methodology of delivery that's wrong and another form might have more impact -- I don't know.
What I do know it that GM was allowed to advertise that my pick up truck would get 17 MPG on the highway and I consistently get more than 22. GM was allowed to advertise 12 MPG in the city and I consistently get 18.
In my opinion it doesn't matter what fuel economy your vehicle is supposed to get, if you aren't meeting its advertised economy then you're doing something wrong. It all comes down to the driver and that's why these economy predictions the government allows to be advertised are so low.
If everyone were to try to maximize the fuel economy of their vehicles no matter what the vehicle, no matter a gas guzzler or gas miser, then the world would be a better place.
Now, to get down to the realities of the way to drive economically and this isn't rocket science or anything new. We've known this since the beginning of time.
No jack rabbit starts. That act all by itself decreases fuel economy by a lot.
Try to never "stop" for a stop light. OK, that sounds like an oxymoron, but it's not. Try to remain rolling. Time the light so that you get there as stopped traffic is starting to roll.
Don't exceed the speed limit. That in itself can add infinitely to fuel economy.
Don't make yourself rush. That's a big one. In today's world of cell phones and high speed communications in various forms we have bought into the concept that we need to always be in a hurry. Make driving time the time when you turn off the wired brain and take it easy. Concentrate solely on the job at hand, driving and don't become distracted by anything especially a brain in high gear thinking about every subject but driving.
Plan your trip. That sounds like a no-brainer. I'm going to the store for a loaf of bread, I know the route. But that's only a tenth of the planning. I call that the long term plan. There needs to be short term planning along the route. Like: The light is turning red up ahead, how much time do I need to lose so that I don't have to stop. OR: that car isn't stopping on the side street, so I'm going to have to take evasive action so not to disrupt my flow.
Eric, there are many other lessons that need to be taught but essentially, if there is a dramatic change in the way people drive, no matter what they drive, the world could see a 20% drop in fuel used. Now that's significant and without a question possible.
