Colleagues complaining I'm too slow

I'll probably get shot down in flames but I think that a common issue is that people aren't capable of sticking to a particular speed which can be incredibly frustrating to those behind. In a 30mph zone for example, people rarely drive at 30mph. They will often drive anywhere between 24mph and 28mph. I always set my cruise control for 32mph as I know that it equates to 30mph. I've been through enough VAS's (Vehicle activated speed signs) to know this and 32mph always flashes up as 30mph and a 'thank you'.

The problem is that if the car in front of you is doing 25mph in a 30mph (especially if they dont keep that speed but drop even slower or increase and decrease their speed constantly) it can be frustrating.

If your worried about going over the speed limit try using your cruise control (it can be stopped at any time by changing gear, touching the switch or braking). Its best for traffic that moves at a constant speed and not stop/start traffic. Or you can put your speed limiter on so you literally can't go faster than 30mph for example.

GPS is far more accurate for speed. It uses satellites and even uses Einstein's theory of relativity to keep the timing accurate!

Cars tend to be just under.

I live in an area of 20 mph limits and other than down residential streets where it's sensible to do 20 (usually less), most people ignore them on the main trunk roads as they're tedious. In my area we usually say it's only old people who have too much time on their hands or people with a black box in their car that stick to 20 mph!

Same. I was doing just over 20. I'm not sure there's any leeway these days. I think they're pretty strict.

Just keep doing what you are doing. If you are driving at the speed limit, then you can't (or at least are understandably unwilling) to go any faster. But don't pull over for faster cars, that really is wasting your time, and is unnecessary - let them wait.

If colleagues moan about it, just tell them you are driving at the limit, and are not happy to do more than that. If the time between visits isn't sufficient, you should raise this with your manager, as that is totally unacceptable.

The satnav will be displaying the correct speed, speedos are usually over especially in older cars.
Also although speeding is an absolute offence the tolerance in most forces is 10% + 2. So in a 20 you can do 24, a 30 35 etc, before any action is taken.
I'm not suggesting you wizz around like Jeson Button between calls, but you can probably afford to unclench a little bit.

They shouldn't be doing that! The client pays for full hour and that's what they should be getting. The care agency needs to plan accordingly and they need to be told that they are putting their carers at risk by encouraging dangerous driving.
Not that they would listen. I always used to say to my partner that I love the job but I hate "the office". Honestly, they were causing me so much grief, it made the whole job absolutely unnecessarily awful. With staff shortages what they are, you'd think they look after their employees better.

I got sent on a speeding course for doing 32 in a 30 and we were told cameras were more advanced now so the old teen percent leeway didn't apply. Lots of people going a bit over 20 there too

Speedos overestimate speed, not underestimate.

The 10% 'allowance' isn't actually true.

If you are pulling over to let a car pass. Even though you are doing the speed limit. Then it’s going to take you forever to get anywhere

Just keep going what you’re doing. As a new driver the penalties are probably higher anyway.

I do call outs as part of my role.

I sometimes get there later than others or vice versa, no sweat.

It isn’t because I’m doing anything wrong or they are doing anything wrong it just is what it is.

This.

Heavy vehicles always have to have accurate speedos and whem I drive them I notice that they align with Google maps. My car can look like I'm doing just shy of 80 and GM will tell me something like 71.

Don’t let the fact you’re a new driver make you feel inadequate. Just remember you’re not dying to get there. Ignore them and unless you’re driving at a snails pace under the speed limit you’re fine.

Is there a driving on work business type e learning module you need to do. If you do that and say to boss you are following training (it will say about adherence to speed limits)

Passengers don’t get to dictate how a driver drives. It’s your licence, OP, your car, your choice. (FWIW, I think your approach is the right one, speeding kills.)

Are you running late on your rota'd time? If not then it's their problem not yours. If they want to start on a double up call on their own, then that's their prerogative as long as they don't do anything that requires 2 carers, they can crack on.

Don't let them pressure you just because they want to knock off early or cut call times.

Rota software should plan the time required to drive at the speed limit between care calls. If it doesn't, it's because the care coordinator is cramming calls.

You really don't need to do that. All you're doing is making yourself even slower, and more likely to be late!

If I'm on a 20 road and a car is driving right behind me, I hate that so I tend to let them pass

Do you mean that you're slowing down to let them pass?

@Stuffedandbloated35

just highlighting this post in case you miss it, this is the kind of attitude you need to develop. Their driving is their business & you're driving is your business! Don't let them pressure you into exceeding the speed limit.

if they ask you to go more quickly just say ' I prefer to stick to the speed limit and not get a ticket thank you'. No need to be too preachy. about driving more safely than they do or whatever.

I will say, though that most cars speedos are a bit higher than what you're actually going so I would say that The satnav or Google Maps 30 when your car is saying 32 is probably you driving at 30.

do you go past any of the digital speed things that tell you your speed? That would enable you to check your car speedometer and what the satnav is saying.

Obviously, it's going to take you a minute more until you get to know the houses and the routes

try not to stress about it, shut them down just by saying you're not going to exceed the speed limit & it'll all work itself out.

It's a very tough job you're doing and greatly appreciated by those of us that have needed you, I hope other than this they're a good bunch to work with because it makes all the difference!

Sat nav is more precise
Speedos underestimate
You can do 10% over or something without being flashed by speed camera. So there's an allowance over/under
So don't feel like you'll get shot and slam on the brakes just bc you're going 32 in a 30 or 22 especially if it's off a hill or what not
Just tell them you're still new at driving so don't know all routes if they complain about you being slow. Simple as

There have been quite a few community carers in the two speed awareness course I’ve been on.
It’s obviously a stressful job - too much to do, too few hours. The answer is not to speed, but the actual solution (decent working terms and conditions) won’t come soon.