Is it okay to drive well below the speed limit on a main road?

[ScarboroughFairy]

Hi all, tomorrow I’ll be driving on a main road where the speed limit is 60mph, but I’m thinking of sticking to 40mph. I know it’s well under the limit, but I just feel safer at that speed. Does anyone else do this

Absolute rubbish that doing 40mph on 60mph road is more dangerous than speeding. It's complete nonsense. I drive for over 20 years (including horse lorries across Europe) and it's ALWAYS more dangerous to speed. Going 60mph on narrow winding country lanes when incoming traffic can barely get past safely, is just madness and the cause of many accidents.

It's not a country lane, it's an A road. NOBODY should be driving at 60 on a fucking country lane. OF COURSE you should be making progress according to the conditions of the A road, up to the speed limit. It's in the highway code. You can fail your test for not making progress, and sticking to 40 maximum on a national speed limit road is pretty bad driving.

You should probably never drive at the speed limit on single track windy roads. I hardly ever would , and I’m a very confident driver. It’s foolhardy.

If I went round my city centre calling random blokes fat ugly trolls, at some stage someone will probably punch me. My actions would have been stupid and provoking, but I would not have 'made' the person punch me. The person to blame is the puncher.

Driving so slowly might be stupid and provoking, but if someone wants to undertake an overtaking manoeuvre when it's not safe, then the person to blame if there is a crash is the overtaker.

If someone died in that scenario, the overtaker would be charged with causing death by dangerous driving, not the bumbler. The bumbler might be charged with careless driving and get 3 points, but even that is a maybe.

Country lanes are different though. Yes it's the national speed limit on those roads but realistically you can't barrel along at 60mph unless you want to end up in the hedge. Driving is about using your judgement too - it's literally in the highway code.

A roads and motorways are different as there's an expectation that you'll drive at or near to the speed limit. That's what they're for.

You're being unreasonable. You're going to have cars driving at 60+mph catching up with you and either braking hard or overtaking suddenly. If the conditions are safe to do so you need to be aiming for the speed limit.

no. It isn't.

That’s not what I said, please don’t twist my words. When you are in an average speed camera area, it can be easy to go over if you are not speed dial watching or on cruse control.
You can’t use cruise control if you are having to slow down for people doing 40 in a 60 and to keep looking t your speed dial to ensure you are doing 58 for example, takes your attention away from the road.

You know most that most single track country lanes are national though right?

Obviously that's not the sort of road the OP is planning on driving on, but you can't generalise for the speed limit for national speed limit roads. Appropriate speed could be anywhere between 25-60.

I was told when I learned to drive that driving too slowly (in good conditions) is as dangerous as going too fast.

Having driven as a passenger in a car being driven at 40 on a motorway I can tell you it feels very dangerous.

Kindly? You need to book some driving lessons because you are too nervous.

That can be as dangerous as speeding.

Perhaps you could be more specific then because I don't know what you think I got wrong. I have driven in scotland and didn't get aggression from fellow drivers so I don't think I committed any cardinal english person sins. Can't honestly remember if I drove this stretch so I'm going on other posters descriptions of major road some dual some single.

So you are going to drive a route that takes over 3 hours at normal speeds at 40mph it is going to take you FOREVER

Did you know you can be pulled over by the police for going too slow. 50 would be okay 55 nicer but 50 okay, If you can't manage this then I don't think you should be driving.

Inverness to Edinburgh I would take the train, stunning scenery, sit back and enjoy

Driving at 40mph on the A9 - especially in single carriageway sections IS incredibly dangerous in normal road/weather conditions.

One of the reason it is slowly being dualed is because of driver frustation and dangerous overtakes. The main road to the North and you are planning in advance to hold up and cause heavy traffic, and risk people overtaking you because of your own lack of confidence is dangerous. You need to speak to someone about your driving anxiety and get some lessons with a pass plus instructor

Well....slow down for bends then! And speed up on the long straight bits!

Surely you won't need to look at the SatNav that much if it's just the one road all the way to Edinburgh?

No. It’s dangerous. People do t expect a car to be driving that slowly, especially on a dual carriageway. So more likely to get hit from behind.

Honestly if you have to ask this you absolutely shouldn’t be driving. Have you not driven for a long time? Consider some refresher lessons

It’s a limit not a target but no, you cannot drive 20 miles under the speed limit. If you are not capable of driving to the conditions of the road you shouldn’t be let loose in a car.

I assume you have never driven on the A9 ?

The A9 is not an "awful country lane". It's a main arterial route.

I agree. my driving instructor made a point of telling me to speed up when I went into a higher speed zone.

the point about "you shouldn't always drive at the limit" is that you should drive at an appropriate speed for the conditions, surely?

And on a well maintained, dual carriageway where all the other cars are fine at 60, driving at 40 is batshit. Especially if the reason is you are a nervous driver.

Nervous drivers are dangerous

It’s a limit, not a target. Having said that yes, some people do drive far too slowly below that limit.

You need to not drive at all if you’re this unsettled by going at the speed limit on that sort of road. The A90 is a major road and whilst it might be appropriate to not be at 60 the entire time if you’re not able to drive appropriately the entire time you present a hazard to other drivers.

@raspberetsas did mine.