‘Hypermiling’ chosen as Word of the Year

“Hypermiling” was named the 2008 Word of the Year by the publishers of the New Oxford American Dictionary. It’s defined as the “attempt to maximize gas mileage by making fuel-conserving adjustments to one’s car and one’s driving techniques.” Hypermilers try to exceed the EPA rating for miles per gallon on their car by using cruise control, properly inflating their tires, turning off the engine at stoplights rather than idling, and rolling through stop signs or riding close behind big vehicles to cut down on wind resistance.