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.

That’s terrible RE your near miss.

In those conditions, I’d have done the same as you. I think if the car behind you had hit you, you probably wouldn’t be posting on here tonight.

I too have an issue with people who leap out in front of you when it's your right of way, forcing you to slam on brakes, and then pootle along way below the speed limit. Why???

But a bigger question, is how many people understand what the white circle with the diagonal black line through it means? Judging from the number of people unnecessarily going at 30 on such roads near me (who then speed up when actually entering a 30mph zone - also why???), not many.

Absolutely! I do like when someone flies up the side of you in a 2 lane road because they don’t want to wait in the queue, only for the lane they used to be closed up ahead. No chance you’re getting back in ahead of me, big guy. Keep the indicator flashing all you want, you’ll wait until someone behind me lets you rejoin. 😈

Oh don't get me started. I live on the edge of Glasgow. At the top of the road near where I live the limit is 30 mph, then a mile further it's 40, through another roundabout, you're on open A-road and it's a 60. Yes it's a country road but there are not hairpin bends or anything which stops you driving at 50ish (assuming weather is clear and dry).

The NUMBER of people who pootle out of Glasgow at around 27mph and just stick at that speed is incredible. I wouldn't mind so much if they used their rear view mirror, saw the queue building up behind them and pulled over, but they are too fucking clueless. They sit there oblivious. Such poor driving.

I think this is uncertainty. They are comfortable in 30 zones, know what hazards to expect, are familiar with road markings and pavement, street signs.
Rural Lanes are a totally different skill set- less structure and guidance, and perhaps less feedback from the ‘stuff’ around you so speed is harder to judge.

I learned to drive on lanes so am very competent. My kids hang on for dear life because they are city bred and think I’m driving a roller coaster.

The ones who filter onto a motorway at 40 when the inside lane is doing 60-65.

I hang well back from them so I can join at 60, but I'm never sure if that's the right thing to do.

I’ve been on MN since it were a nipper and I’ve yet to see a thread where drivers who give up driving because they’re incapable of driving to the speed limit are on the receiving end of literal vitriol. Anyone who can’t drive more than 17 in a 30 (weather or other conditions excepting) really shouldn’t be behind the wheel.

Yeah I think that’s the right thing. Hang back, give yourself the road space to get your speed up to match the traffic flow, then you’re able to filter in without causing anyone else to stop, slow or swerve.

This! People think they're being smart saying this sort of thing, not realising they'd fail their test if they had to resit it. It's not acceptable to drive at 40mph in a 60 zone if its a straight road in good conditions. So many people have decided it is because they're no longer confident, but you'd fail if you did this during a driving test.

As someone else has already pointed out they're often the worst drivers too, all over the road a foot over the white line on blind corners etc. It makes trying to pass them safely on straights extremely difficult as they often weave and have no lane awareness. Even worse is the fact they don't even realise how dangerous they are and proclaim themselves to be safe drivers.

Tbh the only time I’ve ever driven significantly slower than the limit was when I was driving my aunt back from the hospital and every bump was agony.

You never know what’s going on in that car so have some patience if you can.

Driving is seen as an essential life skill and non-drivers as actual or potential CFs. All non-drivers who post feel obliged to make it clear that they NEVER, EVER request or accept lifts from anyone. If a non-driver posts about anything from a family disagreement to an abusive or controlling husband, there will be numerous posts about "tbh you really need to learn to drive" (conveniently ignoring the extortionate cost of lessons and huge backlog in driving test slots).

I'm with you, OP. Not complaining about reducing speed for conditions - that's good driving - but find it frustrating to go below unnecessarily. For me though it's the hoggers, the ones who could just do their thing in the left lane but insist all must reduce their speed too by sitting in the overtaking lane, overtaking nobody!

Sometimes I like to drive slowly. Why do you care? It's not like you're going anywhere important. Chill out and enjoy the journey.

But a bigger question, is how many people understand what the white circle with the diagonal black line through it means?

National speed limit ? round here if you tried to consistently drive at that speed , they would be pulling you out of ditch at best.
A friend recently hit a pheasant at 60, causing several thousand pounds worth of damage to their very nice car, so I do slow a little if I see them in the hedgerow , because they are the prone to just wander aimlessly into the road.

Have you ever had a phone call to let you know to get to the hospital ASAP to say goodbye to a loved one? Or the phone call to get a defibrillator to a rural property ASAP as an ambulance will be at least an hour.

It someone needs to pass you, indicate in and let them past. Don't be so selfish and self righteous, one day it might be you in this situation that needs to get somewhere quickly or needs help.

Haha, jog on.

Why don’t you get the bus and stop annoying everyone around you?

I find they're often not with it, their position wavering around on the road - drunk or very elderly

It's merge in turn though, not "everyone get into this one lane half a mile before you need to because you don't want to upset Mary up ahead"

Because experience has taught me to take into consideration some imbecile driving too fast on the wrong side of the road, so I factor in a bit of an allowance for other people's idiocy.

Have you ever been called to hospital because a loved one has been in a serious rta as a result of someone else's speeding. The vast majority of people driving up people's backsides are not on route to get a defibrillator, but are aggressive impatient drivers.

Hence my follow up, clarifying post: if you have a tail of cars behind you, give them a chance to pass.

Obviously I don’t know where you live, but in my experience 30mph is mostly in built up areas and there are loads of options, it’s hard to get stuck behind someone for long. More likely is the winding country roads that are theoretically 60 but absolutely not safe at that speed if you’re not familiar with them. Can get stuck behind someone slow for a while with no other options, but most people are good about allowing faster cars to pass. Certainly it’s something I was taught as a new driver.

It’s a limit, not a requirement. 17 in a 30 is slow but it’s not ridiculous, especially if there’s kids around or lots of parked cars or other hazards. 17 on a motor I’d absolutely agree with you, that’s dangerous because it’s so far from what’s expected and the prevailing speed of traffic. But I think you’re getting wound up too easily.

No they're not, but you don't know when someone is experiencing an emergency and it's bloody unpleasant to be tailgated anyway, so why not just let them past at the first safe opportunity?

I don't think it always is - depends on your tyres/wheels - and is usually set to read higher so it doesn't ever underestimate your speed.

What it is actually measuring is how many times the wheels/axel/driveshaft rotate not how far you have travelled. I notice it when I switch from winter to summer tyres/wheels - the gap between the Speedometer and the satnav changes because the tyres are different/chunkier in winter. It can be as much as 7 miles under the sat nav and those signs on the roadside that gives your speed.

You can see how accurate the sat nav is when it changes the speed limit at the speed sign etc - they are pretty accurate IME on the flat. Not as good up or down hill.

Maybe the driver is crying and therefore driving slowly.

If you are driving at 19-20 mph according to your speedo, you may well actually be driving at 17-19mph. Many car speedos are calibrated to show you faster than you really are. It varies by car and usually it's more pronounced at higher speeds