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AIBU?

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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:
Original poster
xla · 24/10/2025 09:27

LillyPJ · 24/10/2025 09:20

Undertaking people on a 30 mph road? That sounds insane. Be patient. It will barely make any difference to your journey time if you're a bit slower and it would definitely minimise the damage if there was an accident. Impatience is a major cause of accidents.

They were driving at 20. That’s dangerous.

OP posts:
Original poster
xla · 24/10/2025 09:27

LillyPJ · 24/10/2025 09:22

Well actually, it IS safer.

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20 on a motorway is safe?

OP posts:
ContentedAlpaca · 24/10/2025 09:25

Rustymoo · 24/10/2025 09:20

I was taught to drive by an ex police driving instructor and was told to always drive to the speed limit if conditions allow. Driving slowly can be just as dangerous as speeding.

We have a real problem locally with temporary 50 signs for roadworks that aren't there, interspersed with national speed limit repeaters and some people driving in the 50s and others in the 70s. It has been that way for months and can be terrifying if trying to stick to 50 and cars are flying up behind.

CryMyEyesViolet · 24/10/2025 09:25

xla · 24/10/2025 09:15

Occasionally I’ll hit 31 because I’ve gone downhill and I always brake.

But perhaps I should drive at 20 everywhere. That’s clearly safer!

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I don't really know what point you are trying to make, but it is objectively safer to be driving 25 on a 30 road than it is to be driving 31.

I wouldn’t advocate 25 or 31 on a flowing motorway, but there is so little downside to going 25 on a 30 I can’t believe you’re this mad about it.

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.

LillyPJ · 24/10/2025 09:22

xla · 24/10/2025 09:15

Occasionally I’ll hit 31 because I’ve gone downhill and I always brake.

But perhaps I should drive at 20 everywhere. That’s clearly safer!

Show quote history

Well actually, it IS safer.

ContentedAlpaca · 24/10/2025 09:21

ErrolTheDragon · 24/10/2025 09:17

New vehicles will bing at you if they think you’re over the speed limit … they don’t allow for the speedo over reading.

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Interesting. My car measures quite a bit under but we have two 17 year old vehicles that are pretty much spot on.

Rustymoo · 24/10/2025 09:20

I was taught to drive by an ex police driving instructor and was told to always drive to the speed limit if conditions allow. Driving slowly can be just as dangerous as speeding.

LillyPJ · 24/10/2025 09:20

Undertaking people on a 30 mph road? That sounds insane. Be patient. It will barely make any difference to your journey time if you're a bit slower and it would definitely minimise the damage if there was an accident. Impatience is a major cause of accidents.

KittyHigham · 24/10/2025 09:18

xla · 24/10/2025 09:10

If I was then moving out to the right land I’d say it’s undertaking. But if I’m staying in my lane and then leaving the road there’s no good reason for me to drive 10 miles under the limit! That’s dangerous.

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I was quoting you!
You said you resorted to undertaking.
I keep getting the voice of Michael Winner in my head telling you to calm down dear.

Periperi2025 · 24/10/2025 09:18

Given that the majority of cars now have a speed limiter as part of the cruise control settings, if people really struggle with the concept of regulating their speed they could just whack their speed limiter to 30mph (or other speed limit) and then drive to the road and traffic conditions safe in the knowledge they won't go over the speed limit.

ErrolTheDragon · 24/10/2025 09:17

ContentedAlpaca · 24/10/2025 09:10

My car Speedo gives more than ten percent under. I would usually set my speed limiter at 34 to be doing 29/30 - depending if uphill is involved..
I think on the whole that could be why people in newer vehicles tend to be quite a bit under. They're either using a speed limiter or cruise control.

Edited

New vehicles will bing at you if they think you’re over the speed limit … they don’t allow for the speedo over reading.

popcornandpotatoes · 24/10/2025 09:16

YorkshireGoldDrinker · 24/10/2025 08:53

I do this. I've never got in trouble with the law. A few bees in the bonnet of the speeding nutters behind me, otherwise all fine.

What does get me raging is when people pootle along at 40mph on an entry sliproad when they should be doing at least 60mph. You're entering onto a highspeed road, so you need to be matching the speed of that highspeed road when entering it. Common sense, really. Otherwise it's downright dangerous.

Edited

Slip road slow coaches are one of my biggest driving bugbears! Thanks for making it dangerous for all the cars behind you, dickheads!

Iwantmyoldnameback · 24/10/2025 09:15

xla · 24/10/2025 09:08

It’s not a motorway. I’m in a small town, it’s very common for people to do this. Mainly because they’re all 75+ and can’t see over the steering wheels anymore

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And there we have it!

Original poster
xla · 24/10/2025 09:15

singthing · 24/10/2025 09:14

"I’ve never been done for speeding. I’m talking the occasional 31 by accident"

"I’m in a small town, it’s very common for people to do this. Mainly because they’re all 75+ and can’t see over the steering wheels anymore"

You are very casual about the fact you are not paying attention to your speed. Maybe that's why you have so much time to peer into all the other cars and so accurately assess their ages and bodies.

You sound impatient and careless. Two things that never bode well to be behind a ton of moving metal, that you want to move even faster. Sometimes people drive slower than you, sometimes there are (gasp!) even slower road users - horses, tractors, cyclists. Deal with it.

Occasionally I’ll hit 31 because I’ve gone downhill and I always brake.

But perhaps I should drive at 20 everywhere. That’s clearly safer!

OP posts:
Original poster
xla · 24/10/2025 09:14

ErrolTheDragon · 24/10/2025 09:13

Yabu, especially in the context of 30 mph limits which are usually for the safety of pedestrians and other road users. The energy of an impact increases with the square of the speed.
However, there are people who don’t seem to realise speedos always read high and therefore think they’re going faster than they really are. Likely that’s the source of your annoyance rather than ‘nervousness’.

I don’t think you can be sat doing 20 and knowing it’s 30. It’s not a residential road, it’s just a 30 because the road designers are apparently stupid

OP posts:
singthing · 24/10/2025 09:14

"I’ve never been done for speeding. I’m talking the occasional 31 by accident"

"I’m in a small town, it’s very common for people to do this. Mainly because they’re all 75+ and can’t see over the steering wheels anymore"

You are very casual about the fact you are not paying attention to your speed. Maybe that's why you have so much time to peer into all the other cars and so accurately assess their ages and bodies.

You sound impatient and careless. Two things that never bode well to be behind a ton of moving metal, that you want to move even faster. Sometimes people drive slower than you, sometimes there are (gasp!) even slower road users - horses, tractors, cyclists. Deal with it.

ErrolTheDragon · 24/10/2025 09:13

Yabu, especially in the context of 30 mph limits which are usually for the safety of pedestrians and other road users. The energy of an impact increases with the square of the speed.
However, there are people who don’t seem to realise speedos always read high and therefore think they’re going faster than they really are. Likely that’s the source of your annoyance rather than ‘nervousness’.

Thickasabrick89 · 24/10/2025 09:12

AmIHumanOrAmIAYeti · 24/10/2025 08:47

Does my head in. There’s a 50 road near me - perfectly straight and clear and people pootle along at 35.

On a nearby dual carriageway which is 40 and has 2 lanes in each direction there are so many people that sit in the right hand lane at 35 for 2 miles before turning right when the left lane is empty.

Don’t get me started on the ones trying to join motorways at 45-50mph

I just get the hell past them all as soon as I can. Idiots.

Oh i do this. Join an A road at around 50. It's really hard for my car to build up speed going uphill as it's a C1 and I've never actually managed to get it to go over 60mph.

Sometimes you're only as good as the tools you have.

I have no issues in our family car though and regularly cruise at 70

GasperyJacquesRoberts · 24/10/2025 09:10

xla · 24/10/2025 09:07

I’d say the person going dangerously slow in the right hand lane is the one driving like a twat!

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They're driving at a speed they think is appropriate for the conditions and within the law. You, by letting your impatience get in the way of good judgement and so overtaking on the left , are driving like a twat.

The Highway Code is written to be easy to understand and has a lot of pictures. You should be able to get the gist quite easily.

ContentedAlpaca · 24/10/2025 09:10

My car Speedo gives more than ten percent under. I would usually set my speed limiter at 34 to be doing 29/30 - depending if uphill is involved..
I think on the whole that could be why people in newer vehicles tend to be quite a bit under. They're either using a speed limiter or cruise control.

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

KittyHigham · 24/10/2025 09:08

If you undertake you both are.

Edited
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If I was then moving out to the right land I’d say it’s undertaking. But if I’m staying in my lane and then leaving the road there’s no good reason for me to drive 10 miles under the limit! That’s dangerous.

OP posts:
KittyHigham · 24/10/2025 09:08

xla · 24/10/2025 09:07

I’d say the person going dangerously slow in the right hand lane is the one driving like a twat!

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If you undertake you both are.

Original poster
xla · 24/10/2025 09:08

KittyHigham · 24/10/2025 09:07

And how often have you found drivers doing 20 in the outer lane?
It appears to be routine for the OP 🤔

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It’s not a motorway. I’m in a small town, it’s very common for people to do this. Mainly because they’re all 75+ and can’t see over the steering wheels anymore

OP posts:
Original poster
xla · 24/10/2025 09:07

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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I’d say the person going dangerously slow in the right hand lane is the one driving like a twat!

OP posts: