Slow drivers - why do you do it?

[Kibble29]

If you’re a slow driver who chugs along the motorway at 50mph in a 70 zone, or one that does 17mph in a 30, why do you do this?

Are you afraid of driving? Or is it something else?

Yes the limit is a limit, not a target. Yes there can be roadworks or lane closures, or torrential rain. But I’m just talking about a standard road with no issues or adverse weather.

I agree that sticking to 65mph in middle lane is a million times worse and more frustrating than sticking to 50mph in left lane on a motorway.

I do it to annoy the tailgaters. Had one today, about ten foot from the rear of my car. To be fair I was driving slightly over the limit, it changes frequently along our country lane due to villages and hazards that continue to catch out those who are unfamiliar with the road.
Last summer we were in an accident. DS was driving ( typical 20yr old boy racer), a car three cars ahead turned left without indicating and stopped mid turn to chat to a mate.
Everyone had to stop very quickly but all had left plenty of stopping distance, we were hit from behind by the one who wasn’t paying attention ( he was on his phone, he was still mid conversation when I got out to see if he was ok). Fortunately DS’s car has collision avoidance system which automatically applied the brakes and stopped us from being pushed into the car in front but it did mean DS and I ended up with quite severe whip lash a couple of weeks later.

So as a result I now tap my breaks a lot when drivers are too close. I do drive a reasonably high performance car so will pull away when the speed limit allows.

I have done numerous speed awareness courses since like most posters I don’t like to hang around but get caught out at times by the power of the car (3L). One of the lessons I did learn was that if the car in front is using their brakes a lot, it’s likely that you are driving too close to them. And if they slow down on a clear bit of road they may be doing so to allow you to overtake safely.

Driving at the limit is not always safe. If you are always rushing, set off earlier. Maybe, as a rural driver, I just plan ahead a little to accommodate the tractors and farm vehicles that slow progress. Also, now I’m retired I just have more time so I’m a little more tolerant of other people’s driving styles.
I have had to change my car recently from a 3L to a 2L so DS can drive it when he reaches 21. No one would consider insuring him in the more powerful car. I miss being able to burn off the boy racers at the traffic lights although the new car is only a second slower so still gets me out of trouble particularly in sports mode.

If you are on an unfamiliar road, driving behind a cautious driver, always remember that they may know the road and their caution may be well placed. Our road has three 90deg bends in quick succession, we have great fun scaring the shit out of drivers following us because I don’t always use my brakes to slow down. We usually leave them for dust after the first one if they don’t know the road.

I drive as fast as I deem safe within the speed limit. If you want to go faster, feel free to overtake.

The time difference between traveling a mile at 30mph and 40mph is just 36 seconds, hardly worth getting angry or aggressive about is it ?

Of course drivers will become impatient if a driver at the front of the queue has decided (for no good reason) to drive 30 miles under the speed limit - it’s one of the reasons why it’s important to be a considerate driver and that includes being mindful of what’s in front of you as well as what’s ahead. No problem to drive much slower if you’re not competent or you’re not sure of the road - just pull in when you can and let drivers behind you pass. I do it when needed, I feel no desire to hold people up unnecessarily.

No-one should be speeding over the limit of course - and no-one should be driving in a way that’s not appropriate to the road conditions. That goes both ways.

The difference in surviving a crash at 30mph and 40mph is significant too.
Although a close friend’s daughter was killed by a car that hit her at 25mph.

Some people just prefer driving more slowly? Feel safer and more in control? The examples you gave are hardly ridiculous and wouldn’t normally cause a major disruption. Motorways have space for overtaking, 30mph roads are rarely very long and you’ll end up going your separate ways soon enough. Chill out

That said, if you have a tail of cars behind you it’s definitely good manners to ensure they can get past periodically. Pull into a passing space, for example.

Anxious about possibly killing someone.
I don't go significantly under the speed limit, but always stick to it. I'd say I'm careful, I know others would say slow (I am in comparison to folk who speed I suppose.)
I don't like being a passenger in very fast/ speeding cars either.

Can we add in the drivers who drive up fast to a junction and overshoot it with their bonnet by a good couple of feet, what the chuff is that all about ? It seems to have become a more frequent occurrence locally. Are they completely lacking in spatial awareness ?, should they be made to get a much smaller car until they can learn to abide by the road markings ?

The only people I see driving slowly are older people, so I’m annoyed, but know that they are usually doing their best, and I don’t want to begrudge their freedom.

We are pretty rural. In the depths of the Welsh countryside, they need their independence

I agree.

If I do it's usually because I'm carrying something fragile that I don't want to risk shaking around too much, or my dog who will get sick if I turn too fast.

Because I assess risk differently from you. When in charge of three tonnes of metal moving at speed that could potentially kill someone, I tend to take a conservative approach and err on the side of caution. I drive at speeds where I feel in control and that I can respond to unexpected hazards and road conditions safely and in good time.

I am not responsible for any dangerous driving on the part of you or other drivers in response to this. If you choose to overtake, you are responsible for ensuring that you can do so safely.

30mph roads can be miles long, so that’s nonsense right away.

17mph in a 30 is noticeably slow. If people need to drive in that way to feel safe, they should get off the road.

17mph in a 30 is noticeably slow. If people need to drive in that way to feel safe, they should get off the road.

And yet non-drivers come in for a lot of vitriol on this site. Driving is seen as a basic life-skill.

Engine size has little to do with performance these days. Plenty of 2 litre engines out there that are more powerful than some 3 litres. I’m interested to hear what this rocket ship 3 litre car was that no insurer would touch him on, I know numerous 21 year olds with actual quick cars.

What’s people’s issue with non-drivers?

Slow drivers annoy me too but I have no problem being one if I’m driving in an area I don’t know or conditions mean I need to reduce speed. I will happily move over though which is what pisses me off when cars don’t let others past.

I was recently nearly taken out with my 7yo dd in the back by an idiot who decided they didn’t want to reduce speed to suit the conditions. Dark, severe fog, very little visibility on an already poorly lit motorway with a high crash record. I would normally be in the fast lane as it’s my local stretch of motorway I know well, however I stayed in the slow late, car in front was doing a steady 50mph I stayed behind them as I could clearly see their rear lights and was happy to take my time following safely behind the car in front. Car in front had slowed to about 40 then slammed their breaks on, I was lucky enough to see, slam my breaks on just in time missing hitting the car in front, I also hit the hazards. Idiot behind came flying up behind me skidded and flew down the lay-by beside me, finally stopping about 6 cars in front of me, if the lay-by had not been there they would have taken myself, dd and other people out completely.

Have you been on Mumsnet very long 😂?

Haha I have acrually, but I can’t recall any specific issue with non-drivers. Is it that they’re seen as thick because they can’t drive? Or lazy?

17mph in a 30 is noticeably slow.

It is , but if you are driving too close to someone and are one of those people who seem to lack the ability to read the surroundings/assess for hazards, it may be that there is a perfectly legitimate reason for it ? so they may be following a cyclist , there may be a hazard up ahead that they have slowed for ? But if you are concentrating on their bumper and seething, you probably won't have noticed it ?
I have been overtaken a few times by people who drive like above, only for them to come a cropper/look like a massive knob because as soon as they overtake the reason for my speed becomes blatantly clear, and if they had kept a safe distance and used their eyes they would have seen the reason too !

I think the motorway thing is an older/ bad car. We have one good SUV (I’ll do 70-80 on motorway) and one banger. When I drive the banger I have to drive in the slow lane at like 60-65 max. It also takes me a while to get to 60’haha and the car is struggling. With the SUV I just put my foot down lightly and it flies

What a prat.

DS is limited on company cars at work for the same reason. Engine size limited until 25.