Hypermiling your car will save you money, but you’ve got to be smart about it. “Hypermiling” became a dictionary word two years ago, as a substantial number of people were discussing hypermiling tips on message boards. A number of Americans have found ways to save up to $1,000 per year simply by changing their driving habits ever so slightly. The most ardent advocates will tell you they shut off their engines while driving sometimes, while others simply slow down their driving a bit. In this article, you’ll learn about some of the best tricks of the trade and some of the issues involved.

Hypermiling is your best defense against rising gas prices and unemployment, says thirty-three-year-old Scott Kosinski of Newfane, New York. This hypermiler has several strategies he uses to increase gas mileage. For instance, when he drove nineteen hours to Alabama’s Talladega Speedway, he intentionally tailgated tractor trailers the whole way to break his wind resistance, which saved his Chevy Impala eight miles per gallon (MPG), compared to Environmental Protection Agency standards. Another trick he does to lighten his load is take the extra seats out of his family mini-van. When he’s pulling into gas stations or parking lots, he shuts off his engine and coasts in. He’s also famous for trying to time the lights just right, he says. When he sees a red, he immediately takes his foot off the gas and coasts to the light, rather than speeding up and slamming on the breaks. “Some people don’t like it, but hey, I’m gonna get there and save on gas,” he explains.

Hypermiling your car doesn’t have to be a dangerous or dramatic change, says Kevin Neumaier of Lancaster, New York. “I’m a hypermiler in a limited sense,” he says, explaining that his Toyota Prius gets 10 more MPG than EPA estimates simply by slowly breaking before stops and slowly accelerating, rather than “jackrabbiting” away from stops. His car automatically informs him what his MPG are and shuts off the engine when he’s coasting downhill, so as long as he drives cautiously, he’s fine.

When hypermiling your car, do not tailgate large vehicles, roll through red lights, skip stop signs or drive well below the speed limit, warns Buffalo State College psychology professor Dwight Hennessy. “Quite frankly, it’s stupid and dangerous,” he says. “We have this idea that people who drive fast have a greater chance of getting in an accident. That’s not always the case.” He adds that there are certain norms that are expected of drivers and violating these norms angers others and contributes to more aggression on the road and more accidents too. “We’ve shown that the aggression in driving can carry over to the workplace,” Hennessy adds. “How much gas are you gonna save by going five miles per hour under the speed limit, compared to the potential for personal conflict?”

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