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

There are no roads connecting the Highlands and Central Belt that are 40mph limit roads.

oh you are very funny
and so superior

This is not a country lane, it's the A9! The arterial trunk road from North to South Scotland. Can nobody read?

No, it isn't.

The whole point of a road is to get people from A to B in a timely and safe manner.

If your actions are impeding either of those objectives then you are not using the road correctly.

40-mile-an-hour drivers are among my pet peeves. Crawling along on A roads holding up everyone else - and then they don't slow down to 30mph when they go into a residential area and the speed limit changes. Just stick to that 'safe' 40 mph at all times. I live near the A40 where there are loads of fatal car accidents. Go figure. Loads of 40mph drivers around here, unfortunately.

And so correct.

We're not talking about a narrow country lane, the A9 is a trunk road. Police Scotland will tell you that people driving too slowly on the A9 are absolutely the cause of a lot of accidents. That's why they treat it seriously if you are crawling along like a snail.

she did say A 90 for a start and where there are A roads there are B roads but tell me you are a knowitall without telling me!

I agree with this!

Haha I've noticed drivers who seem to be stuck at 40mph in all situations too 😂 they annoy the hell out of me!

Why are you all slabbering on about single track, country roads? We've plenty of them and know very well the difference between that and the main trunk road!

we are not all familiar with the A90 you know?
tell me how ignorant you are without telling me

OP I am responding to a post for the first time ever as I am so concerned by your post.

you should not be driving from Inverness to Edinburgh by yourself if you are so anxious that you are considering setting an arbitrary speed for yourself. You must drive to the road conditions. Many others have pointed out the potential issues with driving too slow.

Re the specific route, this is a 3 hr journey. If you drive at 40mph max it will take you much much longer. Increasing your tiredness and potentially affecting your concentration. This is especially an issue if you are driving in a state of high anxiety which would be exhausting.

Also the A9 doesn’t go to Edinburgh. You will need to navigate major roundabouts round Perth and join the dual carriageway A90/M90 for the rest of the journey.

id strongly advise you get a bus. City link have options which would be quicker and probably similar in price to the cost of petrol.

then you should arrange advanced driving lessons before any future attempts to drive outwith your local area.

What does that even mean - where there are A roads there are B roads? This is a very rural part of the country with high mountain passes at Slochd and Drumochter and the "diversion" route would potentially double the length of your journey. Or more.

You'd fail a driving test for driving that far under the speed limit. It's called 'failing to progress'. Slow drivers cause people to overtake which is dangerous and can lead to accidents.

if i dont want the A road, i take the B road - try that op

@Willowywisp
I've given you an "agree" for "Don't talk pish" alone.

There's a lot of posters on this thread who should take 2 minutes to look at a map. Just what alternative route to the big fucking line right up the middle of Scotland do they suggest?

That isn’t an option. Scotland is mainly mountains between Inverness and Perth. There is basically one road. The A9.

So if you are not familiar with the road or the geography, why do you feel the need to comment? It's like me wading in on a thread about cricket in Somerset or roads in Suffolk - things I know nothing about so therefore my opinion adds nothing.

B roads are potentially worse - they're still national speed limit but with less room for overtaking and a nervous driver like the OP isn't going to like a trail of angry tailgaters directly behind them.

why did the op call it A90?

Both roads are required to get between Inverness and Edinburgh.

sounds like she will get angry tailgaters either way she goes

Dear me. There aren't B road options that will take her less than a day.

It isn't a windy wee country road. It is a main trunk road. It's like someone announcing they want to drive at 50mph on the M6.

Perhaps @ScarboroughFairy or @mumsnet could change the title to include A9 to prevent further wittering on about country roads...

To be fair, the OP does say "main road". Which it is. She clearly knows the route. Unlike the posters wanging on about country lanes and B roads who have no clue.