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Original poster

To think it’s better to drive at 31 than 25?

143 replies

xla · 24/10/2025 08:44

When I was learning to drive my driving instructor told me it was always better to be five miles an hour under the limit than one over. I’ve been driving three years and it seems like most people actually seem to subscribe to this method of thinking?! I drove into work this morning and spent most of it sat at 24/25, despite the roads being clear, and at one point was actually undertaking people because otherwise I would be driving at 20 miles an hour. On a 30 road! Surely I’m not alone in thinking this is insane?

OP posts:
viques · 24/10/2025 09:45

These “30+ in a built up area is fine, sod the pedestrians, I am late for a very very important meeting” drivers need to keep away from London! Many London roads are now 20, and the safer for it. (Apart from the idiots of course)

singthing · 24/10/2025 09:45

None of this makes sense.

First it's described as a 30mph dual carriageway.
Then it turns out its two marked lanes going to different destinations.
Then OP isn't even in the same lane as the other driver?
Describes the masses and masses of everyone else doing this as old people who can't see over the wheel.
Then mentions of "doing 20mph on a motorway"?
Talk of "slamming on brakes" to go from 30 to 20 and being "forced" into dangerous driving by someone else going a bit slower than they want to?

Troll or very bad driver with no road sense. I hope for everyone else's sake it's the former.

Original poster
xla · 24/10/2025 09:43

Bagsintheboot · 24/10/2025 09:37

You shouldn't have to "slam" your brakes on to go from 30 to 20. Gentle pressure will suffice.

If you do then either you're going significantly faster than the legal speed limit or there's something very wrong with your car.

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You do if you are driving at 30 in the inside lane and then catch up with a dickhead in the outside doing 20!

OP posts:
Original poster
xla · 24/10/2025 09:43

KittyHigham · 24/10/2025 09:38

If the road was clear (as you have stated) you should have been in the inner lane already, not the outer one. Then you would have been able to continue past the slow driver and exit.

The driver in the outer lane was also at fault for being in the outer lane going slow.

Edited
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I was in the inner lane. The entire time.

OP posts:
Booboobagins · 24/10/2025 09:42

Speedos in cars by law must record speed higher than the car is really travelling, so there's no need to drive slower, it's stupid. Your instructor was stupid even saying that.

Driving 24/25 in a 30 zone would have been a failure to keep up with traffic according to my instructor. I used to drive at 27/28 with him.

Now I drive on the button mph and use cruise control to maintain the speed.

During a recent night drive in London, where speeds are 20mph, locals know where cameras are and , they were going on the wrong side of the road to overtake me when I was driving the speed limit, but I stated with the speed limit cos I had no idea where cameras are....

KittyHigham · 24/10/2025 09:38

xla · 24/10/2025 09:31

I was staying left (and coming off), but there was people behind me and I’m not going to slam my brakes on to stick to 20 on a clear road

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If the road was clear (as you have stated) you should have been in the inner lane already, not the outer one. Then you would have been able to continue past the slow driver and exit.

The driver in the outer lane was also at fault for being in the outer lane going slow.

00Platinum · 24/10/2025 09:38

GasperyJacquesRoberts · 24/10/2025 09:06

Yes. Yes you are. Because the time you saved is miniscule and doesn't justify you driving like a twat. If you're still unsure The Highway Code is available for free here - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code. I suggest you read it.

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Driving under the limit on a clear road (by more than about 5mph) can result in a fail on a driving test. It’s not about saving time, if you have a licence you should have a base level of competence.

Bagsintheboot · 24/10/2025 09:37

xla · 24/10/2025 09:31

I was staying left (and coming off), but there was people behind me and I’m not going to slam my brakes on to stick to 20 on a clear road

Show quote history

You shouldn't have to "slam" your brakes on to go from 30 to 20. Gentle pressure will suffice.

If you do then either you're going significantly faster than the legal speed limit or there's something very wrong with your car.

Original poster
xla · 24/10/2025 09:37

LillyPJ · 24/10/2025 09:36

They are not 'forced' into doing dangerous things. They just choose to. But I agree that drivers should be considerate of others and on a clear dry road, 20 would be ridiculous.

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Of course they are. You can’t sit and drive at 20 all day.

OP posts:
oldFoolMe · 24/10/2025 09:36

It infuriates me when someone drives under the limit on a clear road with good conditions. No one should be undertaking because the other driver is going too slow. I think it causes just as many accidents going too slow as well as going too fast. Just do the limit or as close to it as possible given the conditions.

LillyPJ · 24/10/2025 09:36

xla · 24/10/2025 09:31

20 on a clear dry road isn’t safe - it annoys other drivers and forces them into doing dangerous things

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They are not 'forced' into doing dangerous things. They just choose to. But I agree that drivers should be considerate of others and on a clear dry road, 20 would be ridiculous.

Hoppinggreen · 24/10/2025 09:35

xla · 24/10/2025 09:31

20 on a clear dry road isn’t safe - it annoys other drivers and forces them into doing dangerous things

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If you drive dangerously that is your responsibility

BadgernTheGarden · 24/10/2025 09:34

LillyPJ · 24/10/2025 09:30

Obviously (though maybe not obviously enough) I was not referring to motorways, but to the 30mph roads the OP was talking about. (Although if everyone drove at 20 on a motorway it actually would be safer! It would also be very annoying.)

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If they were doing 20 on a motorway they have a problem and you should be very careful, some motorways don't have hard shoulders now or only sometimes (hard shoulder used as a lane in peak times) so cars with a problem really have to keep going to find a safe place to stop.

Fiftyandme · 24/10/2025 09:33

CryMyEyesViolet · 24/10/2025 09:01

All I know is that it’s invariably the people like you in my court rooms explaining why they shouldn’t lose their licence as it would ruin their lives and they were “only” X miles an hour over the limit.

It’s a speed limit, not a speed target. I’d rather get there 30 seconds later and have been a safe.

Well said.

KittyHigham · 24/10/2025 09:32

HelloCheekyCat · 24/10/2025 09:29

Try driving round Nottingham or derby, there's loads! some are 30mph, some are 40mph

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And are you plagued by drivers going 20 in the outer lanes?

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 24/10/2025 09:32

Depends totally on the roads.

Road me it’s all residential streets with parked cars down the sides. Many are 20 mph but those that aren’t really should be for safety’s sake.

Original poster
xla · 24/10/2025 09:31

LillyPJ · 24/10/2025 09:30

Obviously (though maybe not obviously enough) I was not referring to motorways, but to the 30mph roads the OP was talking about. (Although if everyone drove at 20 on a motorway it actually would be safer! It would also be very annoying.)

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20 on a clear dry road isn’t safe - it annoys other drivers and forces them into doing dangerous things

OP posts:
Bluevelvetsofa · 24/10/2025 09:31

Well, you’re very definite in your opinion of others behaviour OP. Very definite too, that you are correct. I hope nothing happens to prove you wrong.

Original poster
xla · 24/10/2025 09:31

BadgernTheGarden · 24/10/2025 09:30

If you are going to the place on the left fair enough, if you are intending to cut back out to go to the place on the right then a bit more iffy, often the right lane traffic closes up near the split and cars then have to try to force their way in.

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I was staying left (and coming off), but there was people behind me and I’m not going to slam my brakes on to stick to 20 on a clear road

OP posts:
LillyPJ · 24/10/2025 09:30

xla · 24/10/2025 09:27

20 on a motorway is safe?

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Obviously (though maybe not obviously enough) I was not referring to motorways, but to the 30mph roads the OP was talking about. (Although if everyone drove at 20 on a motorway it actually would be safer! It would also be very annoying.)

Original poster
xla · 24/10/2025 09:30

Hoppinggreen · 24/10/2025 09:29

Its a limit not a target
As for other people driving slowly causing other people to do dangerous things that is utter nonsense - if you drive dangerously that is on you not someone driving at 25 in a 30 zone.

It’s absolutely on someone driving at 20 down a clear, dry, 30mph road.

OP posts:
BadgernTheGarden · 24/10/2025 09:30

xla · 24/10/2025 08:58

I don’t know if it counts as a dual carriageway or not. It’s two lanes but they’re going to different places. The right lane goes to a different place to the left.

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If you are going to the place on the left fair enough, if you are intending to cut back out to go to the place on the right then a bit more iffy, often the right lane traffic closes up near the split and cars then have to try to force their way in.

Hoppinggreen · 24/10/2025 09:29

Its a limit not a target
As for other people driving slowly causing other people to do dangerous things that is utter nonsense - if you drive dangerously that is on you not someone driving at 25 in a 30 zone.

HelloCheekyCat · 24/10/2025 09:29

KittyHigham · 24/10/2025 09:04

A 2 lane road with a 30mph limit is unusual. The issue in your scenario is the driver being in the outer of 2 lanes leaving an empty inside lane. However that doesn't make it legal or safe for you to undertake.
I find it hard to believe that this unusual 2 lane road is full of drivers doing 20 in the outer lane.

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Try driving round Nottingham or derby, there's loads! some are 30mph, some are 40mph

ErrolTheDragon · 24/10/2025 09:28

Chasingsquirrels · 24/10/2025 09:23

Not my experience at all.

I tend to drive at the speed limit in speed limited areas, based on various detector displays and how that compares to my own speedo, i.e. 31 on my speedo is 29-30 on detectors, 42-43 is 39-40 etc.

I am almost always being tailgated by people wanting to go faster, particularly in 20 & 30 areas.

In particular coming into and leaving speed limited areas, most drivers dont slow until into the limited areas and increase speed before leaving it.

They’re suffering from thinking it’s a target rather than a limit. ‘Thinking’ may be overgenerous…