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Friday's First Person essay.

Here, I thought I was driving like a grandma — thriftily trying to squeeze a few more miles per gallon as I crept along in the far right lane on I-40/85.

Seems, though, I’m part of a hot trend: I’m a hypermiler, listed as No. 2 this week on an Internet trend watch list. If I can be a member of a movement I didn’t know existed, then count me in. You, too, may be taking part if you drive your car so that it exceeds its federal fuel economy standards.

I became introduced to hypermiling this week when I saw a CNN story. It featured the movement’s guru, Wayne Gerdes. He demonstrated some driving techniques that I’ll leave by the roadside, such as shutting off the engine while driving or tailgating a tractor-trailer to ride its downdraft.

Once I read more on the Web about it (see www.cleanmpg.com), I realize I am probably to hypermilers what the after-dinner bike rider is to the serious cyclist. Still, I’ll keep trying in my own way to bump up my mpg in my ’99 Neon. My personal best was in the high 30s, maybe 40. (My car’s 2008 highway rating is 29 mpg.) But I can’t take complete credit. That day, the wind was my friend.

Interested in hypermiling? My advice will sound like it’s from your long-ago driving instructor: Drive slowly. Exchange the lead foot for a light one. Accommodate what’s ahead. See that red light? Make sure it’s green by the time you get to it.

Hypermiling hasn’t taken off in the Triad. The speed demons still reign, and I’m often their nemesis. I know not to be too offensive in my slowness. When there aren’t multiple lanes, I’ll almost do the speed limit.

I do get my kids antsy. There’s a stretch of little-used road next to the train tracks near where I live. When driving home I’ve practiced my hypermiling techniques on it, with kids as companions. It’s amazing how far you can coast without hitting the gas.

— Elma Sabo