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.

Potholes mostly. Roads round my way are in a shocking state and I'm not risking bollocksing up my axle or blowing a tyre.

Speedometers have to be accurate at 30 I think.

That's not always possible though, is it? Thinking of the roads near me, which are one lane each way A-roads, not super busy but well-used by cars, vans and buses, not a huge number of long straight stretches to pass. Overtaking is not often easy - it can take a while to get past something very slow moving like a tractor or cyclist. But there are plenty of lay-bys or cut ins at the side where a very slow driver can pull over and let a queue clear - but they never do.

Have also experienced the people who brake every time another car comes towards them. Also the tourists who slow to a crawl to enjoy the scenery rather than just pulling into a car park.

Looking forward to the 'Speeding Drivers - Why do you do it? ' and 'Lane Hoggers - Why?' threads.

I drive a lot, I am usually a very calm, chilled person. Slow drivers bug the hell out of me, especially when they pull out in front of me or move over in front of me and slow me down, and stop at every roundabout even though there is literally no one else around.

But the most annoying ones are the ones in the middle two lanes pootling along at 50 or 60, pushing people right across to get past them.

I also drive on country roads and get that they can be an unknown, especially in the dark, so I give people a bit of leeway. Same with roads by houses.

Slow motorway drivers and middle lane hoggers have no excuse. Same with dual carriageway drivers.

Many of the roads around here are just National Speed Limit, but to drive at that on them would be incredibly dangerous.

This is definitely one of those conversations where people get really passionate. Slow drivers could be driving that way for a variety of reasons. Some might be nervous or not as confident behind the wheel, while others might just prefer to play it safe and avoid the stress of speeding. There are also people who don’t feel rushed or maybe just have a more relaxed attitude toward driving. And honestly, for some, it might just be a lack of awareness of how much they’re holding up traffic.

While it's understandable to get frustrated, sometimes it’s worth considering that their driving style might be based on comfort or anxiety, not intentional annoyance.

It absolutely stuns me how fast the speed limit allows you to drive on winding single track country roads filled with blind bends and zero lighting at night!

Most country roads are ‘national speed limit’ because they just haven’t been assessed and categorised.

Obviously driving for the road conditions doesn’t mean hurtling round blind bends on narrow roads with no pavement or verge, where there could be a pedestrian, cyclist, horse, oncoming vehicle etc.

But many idiots think it does.

3 teen drivers in one year were killed / involved in fatal crashes from a school one of my relatives teaches at in an area of picturesque country lanes.

Oh God, don't encourage them!

Mumsnet "why don't you drive?? It's a life skill", "why don't you drive exactly like I do??", "I could never be with someone who doesn't drive!"

Glad I'm a bus wanker

On the 30 MPH roads, I think slow drivers are often following their satnavs and expecting a turn off but they’re not too sure when

It's not that it's annoying so much as dangerous. I wouldn't want to risk a juggernaut steaming into the back of me.

Conditions don't have to be exceptional to make the speed limit unsafe. I drive in the New Forest where the limit is mostly 40. There are many things that are perfectly normal, indeed regular and predictable, that make 40 too high. Off the top of my head, foaling season when young animals are about, road salting when the animals stand in the roads and lick the salt, twilight when the deer are particularly active and can come out of nowhere at speed, and every night when it's pitch black (especially if you have older style headlights). Some of these may be conditions that only locals are aware of. Don't be so quick to judge someone driving under the limit in what looks to you like normal circumstances.

Nobody should be driving 50 in the left lane of a motorway. HGVs take time to build speed so want to maintain it. We don't need more reasons for HGVs to clog up the middle lane.

If you're driving 50 on a motorway because you're scared, go and get some more instruction.

Re narrow lanes, I baffled by the drivers who drive through a wider patch of lane just before they meet you in a narrower bit, so you end up slowing and squeezing past, when they could just slow down a tiny bit so you pass in the wider section. I assume that they're not used to back roads and haven't worked out all the nuances yet.

The ones, though, who meet you when they are a car length past a passing place and then expect you to reverse 50 yards round a bend... Nope. If you can't reverse, you shouldn't be driving roads like these.

This!

Everyone who is so incensed by this topic should probably do their blood pressure some good and leave the car at home ..

Drove on the a14 yesterday. Two lanes from m6 in the Midlanda to m11 in the South East (eg a long way).

One lane going 50mph another going 70mph (and more) and people changing lanes dangerously causing sharp braking.

While I'm not a fan of slow drivers, the most dangerous drivers are those wannabe formula one drivers who don't indicate and weave lanes into tiny spaces causing sharp braking all the time.

This. And if you can't deal with a variety of drivers of different styles and competences sharing the road with you, you should probably stay off it yourself.

My commute to work has 20,30,40 and 60 in an 8 mile journey, and 40 does seem to be a popular choice no matter what the limit is!

I can come up behind someone in the 30, stay behind in the 40, lose them in the 20 or 30, catch them up again in the 60, lose them in the next 30, etc etc.

Though what annoys me more is the person who sits right up my arse when I'm behind one of these drivers, like touching my bumper is going to somehow change what the car in front is doing. I will already give a car driving like that a bit of extra room, because I've learned they're more likely to do something stupid or suddenly and without warning like stopping dead for no apparent reason, and in one memorable case stopping and attempting to reverse back to their missed junction!
When you've left zero braking distance between you and me, I slow even more, because I'd rather not hit them up the arse as well when you hit me up the arse if we all have to brake suddenly.

I can't control other people's driving, but I can respond to it in a way that makes the situation safer for me.

I'll overtake if I can, but safely, and that's not always possible, but it's always my decision and my responsibility if I do. Of course it's frustrating, but frustration doesn't mean that the responsibility for my decision is someone else's.

I've been the person facing lights coming towards me in my lane suddenly around a corner and having to stand on my brakes to avoid a head on, as the overtaking car zips between me and the car they're overtaking just in time. I've done sod all in that situation to cause any frustration yet I'm the one going to pay for two people's shit decisions.

No idea

Looking at the car which I frequently come across which does 25/30 in a 50. On a long straight road in good conditions

Yes this, or get your nervous arse off the fucking motorway!

(I have chronically low blood pressure, before anyone pipes up)

If you’re not competent enough to merge your speed within the speed limit to the road conditions then you’re the one who should stay off the road - whether that’s driving too fast or too slow.

Very sensible post from someone who knows. And saved me having to write a long post disagreeing with this:

Driving too slowly for the conditions is just as dangerous as driving too fast as it causes other drivers to make unwise decisions re over-taking etc.

1. No it isn't AS dangerous
2. Nothing CAUSES other drivers to make unwise decisions. Would you say it was the farmers fault if someone made a stupid decision to overtake their tractor?

Yes similar with my aunt- she had bone cancer and she’d be crying next to me in the car as we drove along.

The agressive people who beeped me need to get over themselves and be patient!!!

No but it IS dangerous.
So dont do it.