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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

...to drive at 50mph on motorways and dual carriage ways...

267 replies

BistoBear · 17/11/2011 22:05

...when the speed limit is 70mph?

I used to drive at 70-75mph but have cut down to 50mph and I am saving so much money due to reduction in fuel being used :) Before, on a full tank of petrol I could do two return journeys from halls/uni back to my home-town (150 miles) and I would need to refuel pretty quickly. I can now do THREE return journeys on one full tank and still have some left :)

I'm really happy to be saving money but I am a little bit worried about hindering other road users? So, am I being unreasonable?

OP posts:
thenightsky · 17/11/2011 22:39

I save money by sticking to the proper speed limit, but NOT buying expensive coffee and buns and overpriced motorway service stations Grin

Original poster
BistoBear · 17/11/2011 22:40

I wonder if it's tolerated more up here in Scotland where we have fewer cars on the road?

OP posts:
said · 17/11/2011 22:41

Well, 50 in crowded conditions makes some sense and is probably not much less than the can be achieved anyway, safely. I thought 55 was supposedly the optimum for fuel consumption/ Isn't the speed limit in America 55 (or it was)? And was that imposed during the Oil Crisis?

HappyCamel · 17/11/2011 22:43

YANBU if you don't mind someone crashing in to the back of you, especially in the dark. That wouldn't be your fault, of course, but the consequences probably wouldn't be pleasant. If you must then for heaven's sake make sure all your lights are working.

Petisa · 17/11/2011 22:44

Nope OP, I drive on v quiet motorways and it is most certainly not tolerated.

maxybrown · 17/11/2011 22:44

well our car doesn't travel at more than 55 tops anyway Hmm

MayaAngelCool · 17/11/2011 22:45

Well, you're not reponsible for other drivers causing accidents because they don't want to tail behind you. They are responsible for their own dangerous driving decisions, not you.

But yes, YABU because the driving community is responsible for keeping the traffic flowing. You are making that difficult for other drivers.

trixymalixy · 17/11/2011 22:45

No, I'm in Scotland and it's not acceptable.

Petisa · 17/11/2011 22:45

I can understand people on busy motorways with loads of traffic having to go at 50, however.

Petisa · 17/11/2011 22:47

OP it must take you forever to do 150 miles at 50! 150 each way? You are patient, I'll give you that much! Grin

Original poster
BistoBear · 17/11/2011 22:50

But that's my point! I have driven the return journey 3 times now and there has been no intolerance displayed by other road users Confused That's why I posted, I don't want to be an annoyance.

Blimey, I've changed! I'm turning into my Dad! My life used to be break-neck speeds and getting from A to B ASAP. :)

OP posts:
sarahtigh · 17/11/2011 22:50

often there is a more minorroad going in same direction as motorway ( the road everyone used before the motorway) this might be more suitable for most cars most efficient spped is around 56mph with very little difference betweeen say about 48 and 64, going 70 plus will increase consumption but not by as much as going at 30mph, make sure you drive efficiently in town using gears not slipping clutch pulling away smoothly changing gear at 1500 to 2000rpm driving in 5th gear when possible

when seeing a lorry up ahead i am expecting ti to be doing 56 ( limit for really big lorry) if i see a car behind it I would assume car was nly going slow as waiting to overtake not that car was going slower so yes YABU as you may cause accident by going slower than lorries I am assuming reasonable driving conditions not surface water thick fog etc, around here there are signs all the time saying "frustration causes accidents please permit overtaking" this is highlands and there is no second lane like a motorway

but going too slowly (and i would say 50mph is too slow) can cause accidents i think you should go 60 or find alternative route, or drive at 3am

ElaineReese · 17/11/2011 22:52

yes, well I do think 50 is very annoying and potentially dangerous, so YABU. As I say - save money in other ways like not running a car rather than inflicting it on people who actually have to get to places on time!

RustyBear · 17/11/2011 22:53

Slipstreaming doesn't work unless you are 100 feet or less from the lorry in front - considerably less than the recommended safe distance at 55 mph....

Original poster
BistoBear · 17/11/2011 22:53

It's 150 miles return! When going at the national speed limit and a wee bit quicker when safe to do so- it would take about 1.5 hours, today it was closer to 2 hours. :)

OP posts:
Ilanthe · 17/11/2011 22:55

50 is fine. Slower in bad weather is fine. 50 as a matter of course, even in the inside lane is not. Lorries have to go into middle lane which slows everyone down.

PS Anyone who drives at 45mph in the outside lane of the A627(M). It is a motorway. Hence the blue signs and the M. Not a single carriageway road. Undertaking is illegal so I can't do it. Speed the fuck up or get the fuck out of my way. Thanks.

sarahtigh · 17/11/2011 22:56

oh i'm in scotlamnd and its not good to go too slowly as most roads even seemly small roads are the major route ie the A82 past loch lomond very pretty but the only road up the west coast

someone going at 40 instead of 60 means it takes 2 hours from glasgow home instead of 1hour 15 and yes i do mind, not in this case the OP but if you are the tourist that thinks you can stop and take photos without pulling in at 4.30pm beware!!!!!! they did this 6 times within 10 mile stretch because of bends and the way they stopped no one could get past the cheerful wave did not help!

trixymalixy · 17/11/2011 22:56

Other drivers may not be beeping you or flashing their lights at you but that doesn't make driving way below the speed of the rest of the traffic any less dangerous.

Ilanthe · 17/11/2011 22:58

Ooops. 60 is fine.

AnnaBegins · 17/11/2011 23:02

I'd say fine by me as long as you do 56 not 50, else lorries will have to overtake. Also drivers are used to lorries being the slowest things on the road, going even slower than them might be dangerous as people don't expect that. Lorries are limited by law to 60, but most are further limited to 56 as this is the most fuel efficient speed for them. They wont thank you if they have to overtake you! But good on you for trying to save fuel!

Original poster
BistoBear · 17/11/2011 23:03

The A82 is right on my doorstep :) I would drive at 60mph+ on there, love that road on the bike. Apart from the really keich bit at the top between Tarbert and Crianlarich...

I think my rationale is that other drivers can get past on the dual carriage ways/motorways but they cannot get past on the tighter, twisty roads?

Despite this, all points have been taken on board and I will be going at 60mph from now on :)

OP posts:
Petisa · 17/11/2011 23:12

yay good for you OP

ShellyBoobs · 17/11/2011 23:21

Slipstreaming doesn't work unless you are 100 feet or less from the lorry in front - considerably less than the recommended safe distance at 55 mph....

Was about to say the same!

Using the '2 second rule' you should be at least 160 feet behind the vehicle in front at 55mph. At that distance, there's no effective slipstream.

Lorries are limited by law to 60, but most are further limited to 56 as this is the most fuel efficient speed for them.

It's actually not because 56mph is the most fuel efficient speed for them but because 56mph is 90kmh which is the limit for HGVs across Europe.

I know a lot of drivers think that 56mph is some magical speed where the best fuel consumption is found. That's because manufacturers quote a range of fuel efficiency figures at accompanying speeds and 56mph is the lowest constant speed that the tests are carried out and hence it's the speed at which the best mpg figure is quoted in official figures.

Hardgoing · 17/11/2011 23:28

I had to drive at 50 miles an hour on a dual carriageway recently as I had a flat tyre and was using the spare which is limited to 50 miles an hour. It was FAR too slow and extremely dangerous, as lorries and other cars were veering around me. It was worse when it was only two lanes as the lorries would try and overtake, then cars would build up behind. In the end I had to drive at 60 for safety reasons.

YABU, I would say 60 as a minimum.

bananaistheanswer · 17/11/2011 23:36

YANBU bistobear. It's not dangerous to drive at 50mph on a motorway. It's the idiots driving too fast that are then too slow to react that are driving dangerously. Anyone needing to slam breaks on because another car is travelling at 50mph needs a wee refresher in safe driving IMO. Speed in itself doesn't cause accidents - it's the manor of driving that counts. I've never had to 'slam' my brakes on when coming up to another car driving slower than me.

People can get irritated by the OP's style of driving if they like, but telling the OP they are driving dangerously? Hmm

In the current climate, saving that kind of money makes total sense bistobear. So, no, YANBU, not at all.