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

I HIGHLY disagree with this advice. As someone who lives up here! Those are not the roads to be cutting your teeth on. Try the dual carriageways in and around Inverness and practice driving at the speed limit before attempting the A9, A90, A96, M90 or any other combination she chooses as a route between Inverness and Edinburgh. OP how on earth do you plan to negotiate the motorway at Edinburgh? This thread is making ME nervous. Take the train for goodness sake....or the bus.

The dual carriageway bits are definitely not safer as everyone under the sun that's stuck behind her will be trying desperately to make it past before it reverts to single carriageway. And going on and off the road to try to avoid dual carriageway sections is impossible and incredibly dangerous. This journey, at that speed, will take the entire day!

You can in Australia 🙂

The A9 is not dual carriageway all the way between Inverness and Perth so if you drive at 40mph you will be holding up other road users and cause a lot of frustration. This is one if the reasons there are so many accidents on that road. Other road users end up taking chances to get past slow moving vehicles.

If you’re not confident enough to drive at the speed limit please get the bus or train.i don’t know about the bus but there are definitely direct trains between Inverness and Edinburgh Waverley.

Most journeys are made there and people switch off on familiar routes and pay less attention.

There are far more crashes on country roads than motorways. Besides, there are no motorways within 110 miles of Inverness so, unless you're travelling to Edinburgh or Glasgow frequently, I wouldn't bother. What you need are some general lessons as I have no idea how you negotiate the dual carriageways around Inverness. OP, are you from Scotland? You don't seem to have much of a clue about the roads here. Lots of people retire to Scotland without the foggiest idea of what it is actually like.

i didn't realize i would get so many responses at this time of nightI've got, had so much anxiety about it. I've not got enough sleep. And that's the worst thing for a long journey. I'll see how I feel in the morning. I doubt I can get public transportat short noticei might not go at all or i'll set off later

Your point is moot because people absolutely will do risky overtaking on that road if someone is driving at 40mph and the police would class the driver of the slow vehicle as also culpable of dangerous driving. It's not a matter of opinion, it's fact.

OP, you'll be fine. Don't go deliberately slowly, but find a vehicle you are comfortable driving behind and just stick behind it. Both easier and safer. Changing lanes/overtaking is really the only slightly hard thing about main roads, apart from that they're much easier than city driving - so if you're not in a rush and don't need to go out of the slow lane, you'll be just fine.

If you're feeling uncertain about the navigation, have a look at key points on google street view before you leave. It's really reassuring.

I got minor faults on my driving test for driving too slowly! It’s bad driving and causes accidents, particularly on certain roads with long stretches of limited overtaking opportunities.

None of the A9 is motorway.

You sound extremely anxious about driving.

You need to be confident on the roads. For your own safety and the safety of others.

If I were you, I would find alternative transport and book some extra lessons with a reputable and patient instructor who can take you on these types of routes.

If you cruise along an A-road at 40mph when everyone else will be wanting to do 60; you’re going to cause some tailbacks, traffic and overtaking, not to mention the road rage from others.

Do you mean the A9? In which case please do not drive at 40! Most of the crashes on that road are caused by frustration because there's so much of it where passing is impossible/dangerous so people take huge risks. Obviously they shouldn't but people crawling along at 40 does not help at all!

Get the train or the coach, it isn’t safe to drive so slowly on the A9 you will cause accidents, it is completely irresponsible.

The instructor should have also told you that there is something called National Speed Limit which on some roads is ostensibly 60 mph, but that you would be REALLY FUCKING STUPID to do 60 on some of those roads because they are narrow country lanes, or they are not so narrow but caution is required as there are several tight bends. And also about the effect road conditions should have on your speed.

But that's not the point. Whether or not you think people should or shouldn't act on that frustration, they will! Have you ever driven the A9?

I’ve just looked at trainline. There is plenty of availability for trains to Edinburgh. If you go on the site now you can book a train for about £50 return, probably about the same cost as your petrol.

Why can't you get public transport at short notice? You just turn up at the train station, buy a ticket and get on the train. You don't have to book public transport in advance - you can do but you don't need to.

You've never driven the A9, have you? Or in Scotland?

Well that’s bollocks

for example, national speed limits aren’t always safe to go at 60. Most aren’t.

most driving should be dynamic. Depends on the car, too. Jimneys, for example, struggle to corner. A hatchback can turn tight going 50. It depends on the car. And obviously road conditions.

road surfaces are so bad a lot of 60s near me are closer to 20s. Unless you want to be swerving around potholes at 60?

Specialist subject the bleeding obvious.

Exactly! No need to book anyway, they won't be full at Inverness, just get on!

Drive in the slow lane, but take it up to 50mph if you can.

40 is too slow on a 60mph road.

You'll get harassed to let people pass. Rightfully so. Go through the slow route.

Which slow route would that be?