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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

JUST BECAUSE THERE IS A SPEED CAMERA ON 50MPH ROAD

296 replies

NotYoMomma · 02/06/2013 17:06

Does NOT mean you should drop your speed to 35MPH!!!!

Ianbu!

HATE this, seriously why do 50, traffic moving nicely and then bang on the break just as you go past?!

Note I didn't nearly crash but we had to slow right down and of course it was muggins here who got stuck at the next set.of traffic lights of doom

GRrrr twitch

OP posts:
LastTangoInDevonshire · 02/06/2013 17:08

Because some people are just like that.

drinkyourmilk · 02/06/2013 17:09

Couldn't agree more! Drives me batty.

Original poster
NotYoMomma · 02/06/2013 17:11

I've ended up doing 23mph on a 40mph road once.

There was a.police car and a speed camera. Surely that is more suspicious?!

OP posts:
jammiedonut · 02/06/2013 18:48

I agree it is very annoying to be caught behind someone who slows down for speed cameras etc when there is no apparent need, but also get slightly annoyed at anyone who drives up my arse when I'm driving anything below the speed limit (not saying you were btw) 50 is the upper limit not a target that has to be reached. Drives me insane! Similarly when everyone creates traffic on the motorway because they're too chicken to overtake a police car! The Highway Code even allows you to briefly break the speed limit when overtaking! Crazy (sorry for the slightly off tangent rant!)

CrabbyBigBottom · 02/06/2013 19:14

but also get slightly annoyed at anyone who drives up my arse when I'm driving anything below the speed limit

If the conditions are favourable, why wouldn't you drive at or near to the speed limit? Or do you enjoy holding everyone up? Hmm

Notyo it's because they aren't paying attention, therefore aren't aware of what the speed limit actually is, therefore panic and slow down. Hmm

Can you tell I've been stuck behind particularly fucking numpty drivers today? Grin

WineNot · 02/06/2013 19:17

My personal favourite are people who do 40mph in a 50 mph. Then stay at 40 mph when they enter a 30...

1Catherine1 · 02/06/2013 19:23

Similarly when everyone creates traffic on the motorway because they're too chicken to overtake a police car! The Highway Code even allows you to briefly break the speed limit when overtaking!

I'd be very careful of this one. I who got flashed for doing 44 mph on section of the motorway that had only just changed to 40 mph. I was slowing down at the time. Lesson learnt - I will be going slowing way before rather than after - and if that Royal Mail truck wants to sit on the arse of my tiny car then so be it! (sorry for my tangent rant too but jammie started it Wink)

LillethTheCat · 02/06/2013 19:32

I failed a driving test once for not driving the speed limit, I was going too slow and was marked down for it. I was so scared of speeding I consciously stayed under speed limit by 5 miles or so. My driving instructer was always saying I want fast enough and need to get up to speed limits too.

specialsubject · 02/06/2013 19:38

wow.

My route to the nearest town is on a road that has a 60 limit once you leave my village. It also has a couple of dangerous junctions, tight curves and a narrow bridge, and is just one lane in each direction.

I usually go up to 50-55 as otherwise I am always speeding up and slowing down, which is bad driving, a waste of fuel and dangerous.

The morons who blast past me, often on the blind bend, are always to be found 50 metres in front of me by the time we reach the town. So worth the near massive accident, not.

speed limits are NOT targets.

StripeyYogurt · 02/06/2013 19:38

people drive like utter twats.

I hate people.

littlepeas · 02/06/2013 19:44

I was told when learning to drive (passed test 5 years ago) that the speed limit is a target and unless conditions dictate otherwise, you should always aim to do the speed limit, slowing down for potential hazards. Things change - I was taught not to indicate around cyclists/parked cars/etc, but dh (who passed 18 years ago) was taught to do this, he was also taught to change down the gears and I wasn't.

MissStrawberry · 02/06/2013 19:46

Sounds like you were too close to the car in front if you had to slow right down.

StickEmUpPunk · 02/06/2013 19:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OrangeFireandGoldashes · 02/06/2013 19:48

This is one of my pet hates too, OP. Along with people who don't appear to know what the national speed limit is (clue: if you're in a normal car, it's NOT 40mph. Trust me on this.)

Picturesinthefirelight · 02/06/2013 19:49

On a Speed Awareness Course I went on Blush I was told the speed limit is NOT a target it is a LIMIT and to drive at the speed we felt safe at taking into account all the conditions , road, wearher, potential hazards ev

edam · 02/06/2013 19:52

Stripey Grin, sometimes I know how you feel!

Littlepeas, your instructor was an arse.

OrangeFireandGoldashes · 02/06/2013 19:57

Littlepeas's instructor was correct. Assuming normal safe road, traffic and weather conditions, you should aim to drive at or very near the speed limit, and you will fail your test if you don't do so. Equally, if conditions are not conducive to driving at that speed or there are hazards, you would fail your test for not adjusting your speed accordingly.

I have family and friends who are driving examiners, so I know of what I speak.

Trills · 02/06/2013 20:05

You are being unreasonable to write your thread title in all caps.

BumpAndGrind · 02/06/2013 20:05

it means people don't know the speed limit. If your doing 50 in a 60 and then slow doen to 30 for a camera, you must have thought the road could be 30, but you were still doing 50?

Montybojangles · 02/06/2013 20:42

You don't live on the Essex/Hertfordshire border do you?

Original poster
NotYoMomma · 02/06/2013 20:48

I didn't mean to write all in caps but I'll be ducked if I was going to delete it all and retype it on this infernal phone lol.

wasn't too close to the car, I didn't nearly crash, I was just irked that I had to slow down at all when we were all within the speed limit in the firstplace!

OP posts:
arethereanyleftatall · 02/06/2013 20:49

I disagree Jammie. You are supposed to drive at the speed limit or as near to it as condition permit. It is dangerous not to.

infamouspoo · 02/06/2013 20:53

there's some stupid roads with a 60 mph speed limit. Windy A roads with hidden dips and bends and poor lines of sight. I'm fucked if I'm driving at 60 mph in a heavy van with a wheelchair passenger in the back at 60 mph however many impatient people beep at me. Yes, Wells to Glastonbury road, I'm looking at YOU.

Ilovemyself · 02/06/2013 20:55

On both my motorcycle test and a police riding course I have done I was told that you should keep to the limit when the conditions allow and not hold traffic up.

For your test you will be failed for "not making progress", by which they mean travelling at the limit when safety allows.

I so think that one of the problems is some people either do not feel safe or are not capable of driving safely at the limit

Ilovemyself · 02/06/2013 20:58

Oh, and your driving should not cause another road user to brake or change direction so the numpty slamming on the brakes is not driving legally anyway.