this show on NPR - National Public Radio? I've heard a couple of callers to the show ask about the "economy" of driving close behind a tractor trailer. This past weekend there was a call from a trucker asking if someone doing this was negatively effecting his fuel mileage. The two hosts Ray and Tom Magliozzi, AKA Click and Clack - the Tappet Brothers, said that a 4-wheeler consistently riding within 2 feet of a truck, actually improves the fuel economy of not only the car, but the truck as well. Of course, they have insisted that "drafting" is unsafe and not to do it. But one has to wonder what goes on inside of the mind of the American driver. As I have said in previous posts, as I slow down to improve my mpg stats, the incidences of both cars and truck tailgating my trailer has significantly increased. It is long overdue for all 50 states to incorporate into their driver training and testing a whole lot more information about sharing the road with big rigs. Many 4-wheelers, especially senior citizens, have trouble getting on and off the interstate. Newer drivers think that trucks are fixed objects that you can buzz around. Even CDL Class A drivers could use more education about tailgating, speeding and interfacing with smaller vehicles. And, the entertaining guys over at Car Talk must make every effort to discourage their listeners from "drafting" trucks. The link to Car Talk is: http://www.cartalk.com/
Monday, April 28, 2008
Do you listen to...
this show on NPR - National Public Radio? I've heard a couple of callers to the show ask about the "economy" of driving close behind a tractor trailer. This past weekend there was a call from a trucker asking if someone doing this was negatively effecting his fuel mileage. The two hosts Ray and Tom Magliozzi, AKA Click and Clack - the Tappet Brothers, said that a 4-wheeler consistently riding within 2 feet of a truck, actually improves the fuel economy of not only the car, but the truck as well. Of course, they have insisted that "drafting" is unsafe and not to do it. But one has to wonder what goes on inside of the mind of the American driver. As I have said in previous posts, as I slow down to improve my mpg stats, the incidences of both cars and truck tailgating my trailer has significantly increased. It is long overdue for all 50 states to incorporate into their driver training and testing a whole lot more information about sharing the road with big rigs. Many 4-wheelers, especially senior citizens, have trouble getting on and off the interstate. Newer drivers think that trucks are fixed objects that you can buzz around. Even CDL Class A drivers could use more education about tailgating, speeding and interfacing with smaller vehicles. And, the entertaining guys over at Car Talk must make every effort to discourage their listeners from "drafting" trucks. The link to Car Talk is: http://www.cartalk.com/
