What speed do you usually do on the motorway?

[StuntNun]

When driving on the motorway I drive at 70 mph when traffic conditions allow. I'm frequently overtaken by cars going faster than me. So who are all these people driving at 80 or 90 miles an hour and why don't they worry about getting a speeding ticket or being pulled over?

In normal conditions I do 70, will go up to 80 though but no more than that. I did once do 120 on an empty motorway , I had finished a late shift and was driving home and a car with more than one person in was definitely following me, I was afraid they were going to car jack me as my car at the time was a performance car, they were bumper to bumper with me around town so when I got to the motorway I went as fast as I could to get away, when I came off the motorway there were quite a few more cars around and the car following had a good look at me as they turned and went a different way, I was a wreck!

I don't need to have done to know that a 70mph speed limit means just that.

Go away & do some advanced training & then come back & make trite statements like that.

Until then, you don't know what you're talking about.

Who are 'they'?

The IAM or ROSPA instructors (many of whom are serving or ex Police).

If the motorway is not busy i normally do between 75-80.

@SlartiAardvark

Ah, the “you don’t know what you’re talking about” defence.

Ah, the “you don’t know what you’re talking about” defence.

But she doesn't - she was saying that they wouldn't teach you to exceed the speed limit on advanced training.

They Do - in certain situations & when appropriate.

You can put your fingers in your ears and go "lalalalalala" as much as you like - it won't change the irrevocable facts.....

Now if you could provide some input that isn't a snarky attempt at a put down, please feel free to contribute!!

The IAM or ROSPA instructors (many of whom are serving or ex Police).

Interesting. But being a member of an institute doesn't make you above the law, nor does it qualify you to tell others to break said law.

60. I hate driving fast but I keep to the left lane. I try and keep it up as I feel embarrassed when lorries overtake me

They Do - in certain situations & when appropriate.

Ah... but not just when you feel like it because you are such a speshul driver.

*No one is immune from a sudden situation unfolding in front of them, an animal or child running out suddenly, a car crossing the carriageway etc.

Your reactions at a higher speed are significantly impaired and the distance between you and the incident disappears in a instant. *

Scenario A

I am driving down the outside lane at 70 and the car in the middle lane, about thirty metres ahead has a blow out and veers in front of me causing me to crash, sustain multiple fractures and spend months recovering. I suffer life tong PTSD, and have years of legal battles to get compensation.

Scenario B
Same stretch of road, same car in middle lane has the same blowout but this time I am travelling at 120mph and am already home having my tea.

Therefore, faster is safer.

For reference I top 100mph most days on roads much narrower and feistier than a motorway but then I live on the Isle of Man where it is perfectly legal to do so.

Only on Mumsnet

Good grief

As far as safety goes, modern cars are so much safer than those of even 10 years ago never mind when the 70 limit was introduced. Not just in crashes but also better tyres, better brakes, and computer systems that help prevent a crash in the first place. So I think 80 is safe. Although the increased speed difference compared to lorries that can only do 56 is a concern.

But there are also environmental and traffic arguments against raising the 70 limit.

Ultimately like I said before, the law can penalise me for exceeding 70 mph, so I don't. Well OK I might briefly, but I'm not one for doing 80 or 90 as a cruising speed

Confusicated - that might be the stupidest thing I've ever read. Ever.

I usually set the cruise control to 77mph. I don't sit in the middle lane, and only move into lanes 2 and 3 to overtake.

Confusicated - that might be the stupidest thing I've ever read. Ever.

Thanks

So glad I live in a country with empty motorways and no cameras :)

But being a member of an institute doesn't make you above the law, nor does it qualify you to tell others to break said law.

But interestingly, being a member of those institutes gets you a nice reduction on your insurance premium - despite them being taught to drive faster than the law says if it's appropriate.

Bizarre eh?? It's almost as if calm, competent, trained drivers are capable of assessing situations & thinking for themselves. Leading to them having few accidents....

About 80ish generally. No I don’t worry too much.

The middle and outside lanes are for over taking. If the lane on your left is empty you should be in it!!

That's absolute bullshit! The middle and outside lanes are NOT for overtaking you dangerous suicidal twat! ONLY the outside lane is for overtaking. ONLY!

@CurlyWurlyTwirly if you don't have the confidence to drive properly at a reasonable limit then you shouldn't really be driving.

At least this thread explained to me who those twats are that try coming up your arse in the middle lane when you are doing 70mph exactly. In the middle lane. I often give them a thank you.

Easing through this I looked at was o was doing on the way to work. I regularly actually seem to be sitting at 80mph.

What shocked me though were the amount of cars still
Shooting past which must have been going well over 90, possibly topping 100.

What's lane 2 for, if not overtaking?

Of course you can! But you are to use lane 2/3 to drive at the speed limit. outside lane should be left for the drivers wanting to overtake quickly. However, as this thread demonstrates why that lane is never empty enough for overtaking properly, I am sure that's never going to happen in reality. And i also don't think that, if you are that good a driver who has such great awareness at 90mph, you should know the exit you want hence should have plenty time to overtake at 75 max.