To think some speed limits should be changed on rural roads.

[CeeJay81]

I'm a new driver and live in rural area(also quite hilly). At times when driving I feel very uncomfortable seeing several people overtake me, at what I think are dangerous speeds. Bendy single carriage A roads that are often narrow in places. People think cause they are national speed limit, that you should be doing 60(sometimes over that too).

It makes me doubt myself and think maybe I'm going too slow but there are often many tight corners. Is it people who are very confident or are they dumb and stupid? I guess it's a combination and I'm just inexperienced. However i def think more parts of these roads should have a lower limit.

@Kibble19 what you described there sounds sensible to me and is how I do it. I slow down for the tricky bits and go faster where it looks safer, on wider stretches of clear road but someone upthread ( @User0ne ) is saying that’s dangerous? As a new driver trying to get this stuff right this is confusing

Yes. I think we will feel differently once we've been driving a while. I think my issue is down to anxiety partly but will def get easier with experience. It's all practice. I didn't get a car till after I passed my test. So my only driving was weekly lessons. So in a different car and on different roads, there is a more learning.

Yep, driving on rural roads with their blind bends can be incredibly dangerous. I'm absolutely stunned at the lack of speed restrictions on some of them! And then you have local drivers getting impatient behind you because they know the roads - but afaik, "knowing" the roads doesn't make you magically able to see around corners.

The key point is that speed limits are the maximum* and not the speed to be driven, and definitely do not override the most suitable speed for conditions

If all rural NSL roads had a more specific speed limit then there is the risk that it gets considered to be a blanket safe speed. Make a small road 30 and some drivers will think it is fine to drive at 30 around a tight blind bend, whereas with NSL drivers have to think and may be down to 20 on a short stretch and slowing for the blind bend, but if the stretch is longer with a clear view can accelerate until slowing for their braking distance prior to bends

Drivers are responsible for their decisions

(*the exception being that there is such a thing as a minimum speed limit - usually in some tunnels or bridges where it would be unsafe to be slower)

This. In reality it’s a likely a combination if the two. And it doesn’t matter if drivers overtake you. Try not to be bothered by it. You drive at a pace that feels safe for you.

I read their post. I think they’re referring to people who go waaay under the limit then boot it on the open bits (thus stopping anyone from overtaking them in the safe area) before hitting the brakes and going way under again. I think they’re saying that people who do that annoy other drivers, which is dangerous.

If I wanted someone to overtake me, I’d probably keep it steady for the starting part of the open road, let them get past then speed up.

Hope that all makes sense!

@Kibble19 ah ok. I think I understand! I’ve got to do a stretch of road like this Thursday so I will bear this in mind

I am 64. I passed my test at 22. I have never allowed any other driver on the road to pressurise me to go faster than I feel comfortable with. Yes I have raged at fuckwits doing 25 in a 40 zone, and if I can pass them safely I will, otherwise I just put up with it. Drive assertively but safely OP.

Over time you will gain experience. Added to which not everyone wants to do 40 on a rural road where actually parts are ok to overtake. I say this as someone who lives rurally

and you are incredibly naive if you think that reducing the limit will stop people from goes faster or still trying to overtake you

So. OP, those of us who want to drive at the speeds we (with a lot of experience under our belts) deem appropriate are not 'dumb and stupid' as you say in your OP. We perhaps just have more experience than you.

I know that a previous poster called me 'ill-mannered" but I think 'dumb and stupid' is a lot ruder than "irritating"

On the subject of slowing down and taking ages to get your speed back up, OP, do you drop down a gear as you come out of the bend and accelerate out of the bend? That gives you a bit more oomph. You can also drop a gear on hills when your speed drops to get the car to pick up a bit.

You can’t see round bends any better than the OP though, can you?

NSL on those roads just mean drive according to the conditions. There might be straight stretches where 60 is fine and then narrow tight corners where you might need to do 20mph. You get the odd aggressive nutter but most people are reasonable and want to stay safe so if this is happening to you a lot then chances are it’s your inexperience and underpowered car rather than them being ‘dumb and stupid’. Doesn’t mean you should ever drive faster than you think is safe though- just do you, don’t be pressured and pull in if you can. In time you’ll probably feel more confident.

No. Can't see round bends and would never overtake on one. Not really the point though

I passed my test about 2 months ago now.

I thought the same as you, and I still do. However, "learning" my roads and driving them repeatedly you soon get more confident. You'll notice that a similar car took a curve at a higher speed than you and you'll see it manage fine. You might take it as a slightly higher speed next time and realise oh that was fine, or be like oh god that felt scary. You soon get a feel for it and become more confident.

Drive at the speed you feel comfortable driving for the road.

With regards to P plates. Ive had mixed experiences, I had to fit in to the only space left at a hospital which was tiny (big car) and the guy who had left the space kindly offered to park it for me. I was so grateful, I'd only passed my test 2 days before. I found that people would try to be helpful and let me out first but all that did was confuse me. There was a couple of dick heads who decided to over take on like a quadruple bend, at speed, clearly racing eachother.

I don't want to take the risk, they're free to if they want.

I actually prefer it without the P plates. Because im just another driver and blend in with everyone else

I live in a rural place with hills and windy roads (Argyll&Bute). I'd say it depends if you have the occasional speedy driver overtaking you or if there are queues building up behind you. If you are causing queues then you are going slower than most other road users think is appropriate for the road and the conditions. If that is the case please pull over when it is safe to do so and let people pass. I can totally understand that these roads are daunting for new drivers, or tourists, but you will get more confident with time.

It's not happening to me a lot. It's just that road so far. I do think more practice will help.

I was driving behind an absolute fuckwit the other day who was so scared of the road that we were crawling along at 15-20mph where you could very safely do 35-40. No opportunities to overtake as the road isn’t wide/straight enough to safely do so. Didn’t have the manners to pull over either.

people have places to be - if you’re causing a queue of traffic then pull over and let everyone else past. One day you’ll be just like the rest of us. Try not to let anyone intimidate you though - if someone is worrying you then pull over better that they’re in front of you.

Do you still feel that it's appropriate to insult drivers who don't need to practice that road, or fo you stand by 'dumb and stupid' ?

Fair enough. That does sound rather slow though. We are stuck with this in Wales in built up areas cause of the speed limits they brought in . It's actually quite difficult to stay at 20.

I'll be taking all the things said into consideration in future and hopefully will feel more confident with more experience.

OK. I will apologise. I wasnt saying all drivers. I still believe some do drive recklessly but many are just more experienced and know the road well.