I almost got popped during a pulse yesterday. In the quest for higher MPG numbers, I've been pushing the upper end of the pulse speed to get longer glides. I was headed for 10mph over the posted limit when I saw the patrol unit hiding in parking lot. Got lucky this time. What about you? Been busted? Don't speed ever? Or do you think the Prius is partially "cloaked" to police via stereotype? Edit: couldn't find a forum for this general driving question. The only mileage forums are Gen specific.
Ok I have never P&G as I drive where there is a 55 MPH limit and I assumed P&G was only useable up to the 41 MPH where the ICE has to turn continuously. Is there a reason to P&G at 45 as you tried?
Gliding uses neither the ICE or batt so you can do it at any speed. My understanding is you should pulse with the ICE but keep it inside the pwr side of the ECO zone on the HSI window. YMMV (literally) But this is not really what this thread/poll is about. I was just giving the mph figures as a reference to my particular speeding scenario. I have since deleted those figures to avoid side tracking the main point: do you speed during a pulse?
I'm intrigued by your cloaked theory. I think everyone assumes a Prius can't possibly go fast. I suppose this included cops.
Definitely use the "Prius is slow" to your advantage. I have seen a couple pulled over, but people do ask if you can go above 35mph because that is the legal limit for golf cart type EVs. So a car with a top speed of 35mph can't possibly be speeding. Similarly even if I saw a golf cart flying by at 70mph, I wouldn't believe it. When I spy a cop ahead and I am going over, I shift it into B. It is pretty obvious when the brake lights go on that you were speeding. In B mode you are just "passing" someone
Yes, 'they' will. No need to ask how I know. I tend not to pulse and glide in traffic, because it's unpredictable behaviour for most other drivers, and it just annoys people. I slow down a bit going up hills, provided there's no one behind me, and speed up going down hills. Fear of tickets is always the limiting factor. After a less-than-stellar record on my motorcycle in my wild and crazy youth, I've yet to receive a ticket in the Prius. My wife has, though. The speedometer's calibrated perfectly.
I don't P&G. From the very beginning, my philosophy has always been "Just drive it. And drive safely." I regard the erratic speeds of P&G to be discourteous to other drivers, and the attention required to be a distraction from driving. When I'm driving, driving is all I'm doing.
It's true. They don't pull over Priuses! At least in my experience (knock on wood): http://priuschat.com/forums/freds-h...d-traffic-violation-question-please-help.html
if you don't pulse over the speed limit, you glide below the limit, which really drives the persons behind you crazy.
Sometimes I go out with a guy who P&Gs and it drives me crazy. And yeh, it really is darned annoying to other drivers in traffic.
1) I don't pulse and glide with people behind me in normal traffic. I also don't do it with anyone else in my car. 2) I pulse and glide like there's no tomorrow in slow and go traffic (slow = Glide, Go = Pulse), but people don't like me because I leave way too big a gap in front of my car. 3) You can get a ticket for pulsing over the speed limit. I do some Pulse and Glide on city streets (much less traveled) where I might get up to 10 mph over the posted 25 mph limit (although I usually stop at 7 - 8 mph and glide to just below the posted speed limit). 4) I think, technically, my P&G's aren't extreme because I don't glide well below the speed limit. (example, if it is a 35 mph zone, I may pulse to 42 mph and glide to 35 mph). I glide more coming to a light, in case it turns yellow on me. Most people travel 5 - 10 mph over the speed limit, so I'm probably OK. You need to choose your streets well. Speeding in a school zone is much worse than a non school zone for example.
One 'quasi' pulse and glide technique I use often, regardless of how it's received, is coasting to a stop. It makes no sense to me to keep accelerating, so as soon as I see a stop sign or red light ahead, I let off the gas. Inevitably, the driver behind me decides I'm going too slow, pulls out to pass, and then stomps on the brake. Usually, I coast to a stop right beside them. On occasion, I time it just right so that I'm still moving as the light turns green, and I slide right on by the 'slowpoke' who passed me earlier.
Prius drivers are stopped for speeding proportionally more than other owners. Probably because they proportionally spend more time on the road.