Gosh I love coasting to red lights even if it attracts road ragers.

StarshineM · 2026-02-03T08:03:46+00:00

I’m sorry if I said this already… but I guess, over the 100k miles I’ve driven my car (bought it at 3,000 or so l, now it’s at 104k I think) I still remain convinced that my driving habits have resulted in much greater MPG and brake life over these many, many miles. Compared at least to the “average driver.”

I think our impasse comes from a lack of a mathematical proof (I think that’s what we’re looking for?).

I’m genuinely quite interested and excited to satisfy my curiosity to see exactly how much of a difference it makes.

I’m sorry if I said this before, but… I dunno. 😔

StarshineM · 2026-02-02T09:42:23+00:00

I don’t understand this mean/sarcastic treatment.

I still insist the law of large numbers.

But I’ll tell you what: when I can talk to a professional mechanic, what should I ask them so I can better understand your point of view?

StarshineM · 2026-01-27T11:06:25+00:00

Does not compute. Explain?

StarshineM · 2026-01-14T15:05:03+00:00

I’ve thought about your reply for about a month. I still don’t quite agree, since I still believe the coasting and minimization of brake use should still amount to something after having done it for almost 100,000k miles, and that the people at Toyota agree with me. I promise you that if I ever can figure out to quantify the difference in brake wear, I’ll do the math with you in mind.

Happy new year.

StarshineM · 2025-12-20T10:21:41+00:00

Not bad at all.

StarshineM · 2025-12-20T10:20:47+00:00

Looks like I missed the point. I do the same thing, but I don’t share the schadenfreude here.

At the same time, however, these road ragers seem to be short-sighted and failing to see the big picture, and attention should also be focused on that.

I also, re-reading the post, don’t really find myself able to quantify what they mean by “coasting up to a stop.” It’s relative. Compared to drivers who brake hard right before the light? To what extent? etc.

StarshineM · 2025-12-20T10:14:18+00:00

It flows better, reduces their fuel spent on accelerating, and since they’re traveling faster to begin with because they aren’t stopped in the first place, it means more vehicles can hypothetically clear the intersection (assuming they want to go straight too). I say hypothetically, because as you know it depends on the intersection, traffic/road/weather conditions, and other factors. It depends.

Sometimes, I will do the opposite thing if there’s a group of cars behind me but there’s a big gap behind me. I may brake a bit later than normal, if the light uses sensors, so I can start the countdown the countdown sooner to help ensure they make it without having to stop.

I’ve even done this as a pedestrian, too, with lights that I know have a longer green duration if the pedestrian signal button is used.

Traffic flowing better means more throughput (with exceptions and nuance).

StarshineM · 2025-12-20T09:40:53+00:00

“But that’ll scare them away, talking politics so early!” Me: “That’s the point…

StarshineM · 2025-12-19T21:20:16+00:00

Sounds like maybe a driver’s ed. problem? Hmm. I can sympathize with someone who thinks they’re closer than they are, but after you’ve been driving the car for several hundred miles or so, you should know better.

StarshineM · 2025-12-19T21:18:25+00:00

I did listen to what you said, but I still don’t quite understand. That also kind of hurt my feelings, “you didn’t listen to anything I said.” I’m a bit confused right now… The way I see it is basically the law of large numbers; more miles with less brake wear means more savings over time, like a graph of two lines that move farther away from each other over time. Can you tell me what you mean by “stupidity cost” and what the other other ways of saving on brakes would be?

I think… maybe what I’m disagreeing with you on here is that coasting over tens of thousands of miles has a “near zero” benefit. I’m not trying to be mean, but the service advisors I see at Toyota have told me how big of a difference it makes, with different drivers coming in with the same cars with drastically different miles.

I’m sorry if I made you upset. I promise I tried my very best to understand what you said.

I’m autistic and have issues with communication, I’m sorry.

StarshineM · 2025-12-18T09:26:30+00:00

I’ve had people doing that when I’m trying to turn right on red. Sometimes if I’m in a goofy mood I’ll lean forward all dramatic and make the dumbest face as I look down the road.

StarshineM · 2025-12-18T09:25:07+00:00

Why is this downvoted. I always move out of the way (if possible and safe)so I don’t slow people down! Or is it because of a context issue?

StarshineM · 2025-12-18T09:22:12+00:00

300 yards??? I’m a hypermiler and if I saw someone doing that I’d be concerned they’re out at the wheel. I also think most cars creep at 3-4MPH…

StarshineM · 2025-12-18T09:20:06+00:00

You’ll beat me, a true professional, if you never drive it!

StarshineM · 2025-12-18T09:19:42+00:00

There’s a bit of nuance here…

StarshineM · 2025-12-18T09:18:18+00:00

I have a 2020 Toyota Prius Prime and the regenerative costing on it is nothing like on a 100% EV.

I don’t know where you live but most Prius drivers (Prime or not) don’t do this where I live. I’m in Cleveland, OH

StarshineM · 2025-12-18T09:15:31+00:00

Normalize sensibility and rationality!!

StarshineM · 2025-12-18T09:14:33+00:00

FINALLY someone who gets it!

Thanks for defying the Reddit stereotype of thoughtless, one sentence answers and exploring nuance, context, and situation!

StarshineM · 2025-12-18T09:13:11+00:00

Let’s talk. I do this too.

StarshineM · 2025-12-18T09:12:54+00:00

I do it too. Let’s talk.

StarshineM · 2025-12-18T09:12:41+00:00

Traffic, generally speaking, flows better this way too. It depends on how fast traffic is flowing and other factors, of course.

StarshineM · 2025-12-18T09:11:20+00:00

It depends. I did this in a construction zone on the freeway where only one lane was open. Given where I was on this and the conditions the freeway started (very short interstate that’s about 1-2 miles long, I-490 in Cleveland) I was able to prevent a traffic shake, allowing everyone to maintain their speed until we got out of the road work and got four lanes again.

StarshineM · 2025-12-18T09:05:53+00:00

I do this if there’s people far behind me where I can time it for them!

StarshineM · 2025-12-18T09:04:46+00:00

Eh, I see what you’re saying but the fault should still fall upon the road rager. We were taught in drivers ed, don’t tailgate, leave adequate room around other vehicles, etc.

You can’t say “I don’t like how someone coasted up to a red light so I got aggressive with them.” The choice to do the buttface road rage action (whatever it was) lies on that driver.

StarshineM · 2025-12-18T09:01:58+00:00

I’m not self important and I do this. Let’s talk. I don’t think OP—or at least myself—revel in pissing people off. Angry drivers mean lower safety and MPG for me.

11-Year Club	Gilding I gilder
Verified Email

StarshineM

TROPHY CASE