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One way to improve gas mileage on the interstate is to slipstream a larger vehicle, just don’t follow to closely.

In an effort to conserve gas and their wallets, some motorists are risking their lives.

Sgt. Sheldon Lyon with the Missouri State Highway Patrol recently was made aware of a new driving tactic and, after a little research, has decided to speak out about a possible growing trend.

Hypermiling, sometimes called ecodriving, involves techniques used by some motorists to increase the fuel efficiency of their vehicles. The techniques save fuel but are dangerous and, according to Mr. Lyon, should not be used.

“There are things you can do that work and are safe, but we just wanted to let the public know about the unsafe techniques,” Mr. Lyon said.

Some of the techniques include: not coming to a complete stop at a stop sign, shifting the vehicle into neutral or turning the car off to coast down a hill, timing traffic lights and drafting.

While slowing instead of stopping may save gas, a traffic ticket — or worse, a crash — will negate any savings, the Highway Patrol said. Timing lights can be dangerous due to the sequencing of intersections. Some intersections have turn-only lights while others allow both the turning and cross traffic the right of way.

Drafting, also known as tailgating, also is dangerous. The Highway Patrol said it is true that following closely behind large trucks on the highway will dramatically reduce wind resistance, but it also causes blind spots.

Mary Lou Kleinlein, agency owner of with All-State Insurance, hadn’t heard of hypermiling before but sees its danger.

“That’s crazy,” Ms. Kleinlein said. “I’m just thinking of the ramifications and, my stars.”

While Ms. Kleinlein said the techniques are new to the industry, she said she is almost positive there is nothing in the policies that would preclude coverage for a person using such techniques.

She remembered a time when putting a manual transmission into neutral wasn’t out of the ordinary but said with new technology in cars today, doing so is much tougher on the engine and drive shaft.

Safe techniques supported by the Highway Patrol include: removing unused roof racks, checking tire inflation, avoiding peak traffic times and reducing speed.

So far the Highway Patrol hasn’t seen any cases of hypermiling, but Mr. Lyon said it’s a tough practice to witness unless a victim to the dangers admits to it.

“Like my father always said, ‘That just doesn’t make sense,’” Ms. Kleinlein said.

Megan Tilk can be reached at megantilk@npgco.com.

Correction: A reporter listed the wrong insurance affiliation for an owner/agent in a story about the safety of some fuel-saving driving techniques that appeared on Friday morning’s front page. Mary Lou Kleinlein is an owner/agent with All-State Insurance. She is not affiliated with, nor has ownership in, the Dickens Insurance Agency, which is owned by Larry Dickens.