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Original poster

To wonder how so many people are comfortable breaking the speed limit?

513 replies

AngeloMysterioso · 16/08/2024 10:50

Is it just me? I’m pretty vigilant about sticking to the speed limit but more and more I’ve noticed recently that I’ll be doing 70 or just below on a dual carriageway or the motorway and someone will go flying past. God forbid I be driving at the limit on the outside lane, even if I’m going faster than everyone in the middle lane it’s only a matter of time before some knob is either flashing their headlights at me or driving up my arse (or both) while I wait for a big enough gap to move across so they can shoot off before doing the same to the next car in front.

It tends to be most often 4x4 drivers or Mercedes/BMW/Jaguar etc types. Maybe they just don’t think they should have to see the back of a 16 year old Fiesta!

OP posts:
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JaneTheVirgin · 16/08/2024 11:19

You're not doing anything wrong OP, the people criticizing you both can't read, and are what's wrong with drivers.

You're not supposed to go over the speed LIMIT to overtake, nor are you supposed to stay in the 'fast' lane because you're doing 80MPH for a long period of time. OP is the one driving appropriately.

Original poster
AngeloMysterioso · 16/08/2024 11:18

Itsjustmeheretoday · 16/08/2024 11:17

I feel the speed limit is a guide, and I hate slow drivers. I doubt you are passing vehicles tbh

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It’s not a guide. It’s the law.

People who drive at the legal limit are slow drivers?

OP posts:
vodkaredbullgirl · 16/08/2024 11:18

Don't go in the fast/overtaking lane.

Itsjustmeheretoday · 16/08/2024 11:17

AngeloMysterioso · 16/08/2024 11:14

So in your opinion, driving at the speed limit is driving slowly? Even if I’m passing traffic to my left?

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I feel the speed limit is a guide, and I hate slow drivers. I doubt you are passing vehicles tbh

Original poster
AngeloMysterioso · 16/08/2024 11:17

GasPanic · 16/08/2024 11:15

It is the fast lane not the overtaking lane.

Officially it may be called the overtaking lane. But it has lots of cars going fast in it. Fast lane is a better adjective to describe it than overtaking lane, despite what it may officially be labelled.

If you are not overtaking, or keeping up with the traffic in it you shouldn't be in it. And if you are using it for overtaking you need to do so safely in a way that respects the speed of the traffic in it and doesn't impede the progress of the cars travelling in it, like you should do with all lanes.

But I am overtaking. That’s my point.

OP posts:
Original poster
AngeloMysterioso · 16/08/2024 11:16

Jeezitneverends · 16/08/2024 11:15

Happy to go over 70 in my wee vw polo dodgem…was equally happy in my Audis and Mercedes

You are literally breaking the law.

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Backtothedungeon · 16/08/2024 11:15

I am guilty of driving a little over the speed limit at times, but I am with you on the idiots that race up the outside lane, and sit on your bumper. It is not massively more dangerous to drive at 80 than 70, but driving aggressively and too close to the car in front is an accident waiting to happen. It is perfectly acceptable to be doing the speed limit in the outside lane, as that is the fastest you should legally be driving.

GasPanic · 16/08/2024 11:15

It is the fast lane not the overtaking lane.

Officially it may be called the overtaking lane. But it has lots of cars going fast in it. Fast lane is a better adjective to describe it than overtaking lane, despite what it may officially be labelled.

If you are not overtaking, or keeping up with the traffic in it you shouldn't be in it. And if you are using it for overtaking you need to do so safely in a way that respects the speed of the traffic in it and doesn't impede the progress of the cars travelling in it, like you should do with all lanes.

Jeezitneverends · 16/08/2024 11:15

Happy to go over 70 in my wee vw polo dodgem…was equally happy in my Audis and Mercedes

Original poster
AngeloMysterioso · 16/08/2024 11:14

Itsjustmeheretoday · 16/08/2024 11:10

Driving slow, if everyone is passing you then you're not going with the flow of traffic

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So in your opinion, driving at the speed limit is driving slowly? Even if I’m passing traffic to my left?

OP posts:
Original poster
AngeloMysterioso · 16/08/2024 11:13

This reply has been deleted

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

I use a sat nav with a digital speedo which shows my true speed.

OP posts:
CantHoldMeDown · 16/08/2024 11:13

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Original poster
AngeloMysterioso · 16/08/2024 11:12

Fluffyunicorn1 · 16/08/2024 11:07

These people saying its an overtaking lane, i'd be giving you evils etc. Alot of people drive slower than 70MPH on the motorway both in the left lane and the middle. If you need to overtake then do so, however, if you are flying up someones back end and that person is doing 70MPH whilst overtaking then you are legally speeding. No matter which lane you are in you shouldn't be going over 70MPH

Thank you! That’s the scenario I’m describing and it seems most people have taken from that that I constantly drive “slowly” (at the SPEED LIMIT) along the middle/outside lanes for the fuck of it.

OP posts:
CantHoldMeDown · 16/08/2024 11:11

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Itsjustmeheretoday · 16/08/2024 11:10

AngeloMysterioso · 16/08/2024 11:01

For what?

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Driving slow, if everyone is passing you then you're not going with the flow of traffic

PhilosophicalCheeseSandwich · 16/08/2024 11:09

IcecreamWhatSandwich · 16/08/2024 11:02

When driving at 70 mph on the motorway I have never had a situation where I had to be in the third lane for more than a few seconds.

This is my experience too. Overtaking a middle lane zombie or lorry slowly crawling past another lorry are the only times you'd reasonably need to get into lane 3 or 4 doing 70mph.

TimeForTeaAndG · 16/08/2024 11:09

Oblomov24 · 16/08/2024 11:05

I don't think 70mph speed limit is suitable for some motorways anymore. Cars have changed and are more efficient, better braking systems and capabilities. Despite the speed test accident/crash data, I'd rather be allowed to drive at say 80mph.

Have people's reaction times also improved? Cos you can have all the best brakes in the world, if you can't react in time for the speed you're travelling you're still going to have an accident. The lack of distance some people have between themselves and the car in front is going to be an issue regardless of brake quality.

Original poster
AngeloMysterioso · 16/08/2024 11:08

To be very clear - I only drive in the middle/outside lanes if I’m going faster than the cars in the inside/middle lanes. When there are no more cars to pass I move
back to the left.

OP posts:
Fluffyunicorn1 · 16/08/2024 11:07

These people saying its an overtaking lane, i'd be giving you evils etc. Alot of people drive slower than 70MPH on the motorway both in the left lane and the middle. If you need to overtake then do so, however, if you are flying up someones back end and that person is doing 70MPH whilst overtaking then you are legally speeding. No matter which lane you are in you shouldn't be going over 70MPH

labamba007 · 16/08/2024 11:07

You should not be in the outside lane for more than a few seconds.

GasPanic · 16/08/2024 11:07

Because it is often not actually that dangerous breaking the limit.

What is most dangerous is driving too close to a car in front, driving inappropriately for the conditions and weaving in and out of lanes.

Modern cars have huge amounts of safety features including much better crumple zones, air bags, ABS brakes that stop them in really short distances, traction control and a whole load of other stuff.

The speed limits were set in the 1960s when a lot of people didn't even wear seatbelts.

CantHoldMeDown · 16/08/2024 11:05

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Oblomov24 · 16/08/2024 11:05

I don't think 70mph speed limit is suitable for some motorways anymore. Cars have changed and are more efficient, better braking systems and capabilities. Despite the speed test accident/crash data, I'd rather be allowed to drive at say 80mph.

vitahelp · 16/08/2024 11:04

Because there are people out there who like to take risks, and aren't really considerate of people around them. And a lot of people in a rush, and also many who just enjoy driving fast. It's nothing new and they exist outside of vehicles as well.

Original poster
AngeloMysterioso · 16/08/2024 11:04

YellowphantGrey · 16/08/2024 11:01

Well your first mistake was driving in a lane that is designed for over taking.

How slow does everyone else drive if you've got to skip the middle lane and go straight to the outside lane to overtake, whilst sitting firmly at 70mph?

Where did I say I do that?

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