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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to want to drive at the correct speed

153 replies

Freudianslap · 08/08/2013 09:07

All bloody morning I've had people driving an inch behind me, some shaking their heads, some then overtaking and looking glaringly into my car - all because I am daring to drive bang on the speed limit.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not one of these people who do 20 in a 30mph zone but having already got points for speeding I am not prepared to speed up just so other people are less annoyed.

I am usually quite stubborn about things like this so am not usually bothered but today it has really irritated me.
Plus these people tend to be the same ones who drive in full daylight with their bloody full headlights on.

Oh I don't know, maybe I need to go an have a lie down.

OP posts:

jammiedonut · 08/08/2013 09:44

Yanbu it drives me potty, as if they have some divine right to dictate how the roads are used. I'm making a massive assumption that you are observing the rules re: driving on the left and using outside lanes to overtake. I've always found a good glare in the rear view mirror does the trick ( that, or my dh taking a photo of their car to report their dangerous driving to the police- it's amazing how quickly they back off!).

YouveCatToBeKittenMe · 08/08/2013 09:44

I can't turn my headlights off. I have a Volvo and afaik it has no setting for lights completely off.

I always drive slower if someone comes up behind me really close, people getting annoyed about me doing the speed limit doesn't bother me anymore.
once when I had just passed my test i slowed down when entering a 40mph limit and the person behind me overtook me, immediately followed by another person who turned out to be an unmarked police car. They immediately pulled over the first car! I then had to stop behind them to drop my friend off at her house. It was most satisfying. Has never happened since though.

My pet hate is people who do 35mph everywhere. Whether it is a 60, 30 or 20 limit. They don't adjust their speed at all.

TheFuzz · 08/08/2013 09:44

There are loads of idiots. The headlights issue is that many cars now have these on during the day - all new cars have to have daytime running lights by law.

If someone is 'up your bum' just gently slow down, or ignore them. A good long spray on the windscreen washers might be a good 'get off my bum' warning. Then do it again !

Even on motorways, outside lane, keeping pace with traffic at 70, you'll always get the one that thinks his AMG badged Merc needs to be doing light speed on a rush hour crowded motorway. Weaving in and out of traffic, up everyones bums.

As for aggressive drivers, it's usually reps and young men/women who are the worse.

Speed limit is the maximum speed, not the safest.

mystaplerisevil · 08/08/2013 09:45

halogen car lights are blinding, whoever thought they were a good idea i wonder

angelos02 · 08/08/2013 09:47

As long as you don't hog the middle or right-hand lane in an attempt to stop others speeding, YANBU.

tmae · 08/08/2013 09:48

I would always move over once overtaking, I don't just sit there! But if I need to overtake someone going slower in the left or middle lane I will! I also hate it when people sit in the right lane not overtaking anyone and going slowly, it causes traffic back up etc. so wouldn't do that.

Obviously you drive according to conditions, no one has said they don't! But I'm not going to go faster for someone who is driving up my backside! The speed limit in the park is due to a lot of deer and cyclists - the reason for the high police presence is because it is dangerous to drive faster, but people use it as a short cut all the time and race through. And the other areas where it is noticeable is around schools, and funnily enough I think doing 20 is fair!

EssexGurl · 08/08/2013 09:50

My pet hate too. A couple of roads are 30 through villages and 50 outside. I think I am the only one to slow down!

Almost had a BMW up my arse yesterday. Was SOOO close and I was signalling and slowing down to go into my drive. We are a couple of houses from the end of the road so I think she thought I was going left at the junction. She beeped me then had to slam on her brakes to avoid me when I did the tight turn into my drive. Totally unnecessary. I knew she was too close so I signalled and slowed down a bit earlier than unusual as I knew she would have hit me otherwise.

jamdonut · 08/08/2013 09:50

Am I right in thinking that on Volvos the lights come on automatically, because in Sweden it is the law to drive with your lights on? Maybe I dreamed that?Probably.

I have my lights on my Citroen on auto, so sometimes they come on during the day if it gets really overcast,which is not a bad thing,really.

If you are driving at the speed limit for the road, you are in the right. But what is really annoying is being on a road where you can do 50 or national speed limit and some person wants to do 40. THAT is irritating.Especially if it is the "fast" road between towns.
We hardly have any dual carriageways,nearby, and the nearest motorway is 40 miles away. But, then this time of year, what is more irritating ,is to get stuck behind a bloody tractor, or some other farm vehicle, and not have any opportunity to overtake, because of windy,busy roads!

DoItTooJulia · 08/08/2013 09:54

I prefer to drive at the speed limit too.

I always think of the user 70IsALimitNotATarget!

EndoplasmicReticulum · 08/08/2013 09:54

They will be members of the 40mph brigade. 40mph at all times, regardless of the speed limit.

Sparklingbrook · 08/08/2013 09:55

I do a lot of driving on narrow country lanes. People are always doing this. I know the bends that are coming up, when the road narrows, and the time I may meet a bus coming the other way.
Also, there are plenty of horses and cyclists. So I drive at what I consider to be a reasonable speed taking that all into account.

But every day I have someone up my arse thinking that I should drive faster. Idiots.

tmae · 08/08/2013 09:57

Sorry horry I wrote what I meant badly - not dead at the speed limit regardless, I meant maximum of and with changing behaviour depending on conditions. I'm having an inarticulate day!

allmycats · 08/08/2013 10:12

I have the same problem too, and YES I do move over to the left lane after overtaking on motorways. Why do so many people think that speed limits do not apply to them.

Why do some people always drive at the same speed whever they are, usually find them driving on A roads at 45mph (in a 60 limit) and then they come to a town with a 30mph limit and they still go at the same speed, often with (sorry about this) a female driver and an older guy in the passenger seat and a 'naice' big car such as a merc/jag etc.

ShadowMeltingInTheSun · 08/08/2013 10:19

YANBU, provided that you're not blocking middle / right hand lanes on dual carriageways / motorways.

I stick to the speed limit and this annoys me too. I don't see why I should break the law just because someone else wants to drive faster.

HuglessDouglas · 08/08/2013 10:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

anklebitersmum · 08/08/2013 10:39

No YANBU

With 4 biters who play out in a village setting and as someone who walks on the narrow pavements we have I rage at the drivers who whizz past at 50 or 60 in the 30 stretch.

Hence I stick within the limits myself-not least as I usually have the biters on board.

My personal pet hate is the Mummies who, having safely installed their child in their car at the school gate proceed to drive off like they're at Brands Hatch

specialsubject · 08/08/2013 10:41

it may not be the OP's job to police the speed limit, but he/she is not allowed to exceed it. Same as the rest of us.

If I get tailgated when going at or near the speed limit, I put my fog lights on. That gets rid of them.

BTW drag goes up as square of speed. If you go at 80 on the motorway and can't drive smoothly the rest of the time, don't whine about the cost of fuel because you are wasting gallons of it.

(just listened to the tosser down the road roar out of their drive, go 100 yards at about 50mph and then have to brake hard for the sharp corner. This road is 60mph limit, but what a jerk!)

julieann42 · 08/08/2013 10:43

Having just done a driving awareness course because I got flashed by a camera at 36 in a 30 zone I now always stick to the speed limits and do not go over at all...I find people trying to get me to go faster..I carry on at the limit..or if they are really annoying me I pull over and let them past. I'm told its quite good to do this is there is a camera near by and let them speed off by it!

wanderings · 08/08/2013 11:02

I remember someone who overtook me aggressively, and forced an oncoming car to slow down.

That car was a police car, who turned and gave chase!

If only I were a police officer, I would take great pleasure in throwing the book at these twats.

mouldyironingboard · 08/08/2013 11:14

I have been driving for over 30 years and have never even had a parking ticket, let alone points. I never go above the speed limits and often find I'm being hooted or waved at while impatient drivers overtake me. If everyone stuck to appropriate speeds the roads would be much safer.

YADNBU

LadyCelia · 08/08/2013 11:16

I don't mind the cars that have their headlights on during the day, but the bloody motorbikes that seem to have them on full beam & then sit on my arse trying to get past me really do get my goat. They absolutely dazzle me.

gordyslovesheep · 08/08/2013 11:37

YANBU - I always drive 30 in a 30 (or less if it's busy !!) and 40 in a 40 - I do drive faster on a motorway or duel carriage way BUT never tailgate or drive dangerously

I often wish I had a camera in my car - just to capture how awful people are - 30mph, driving past a school, angry idiots - including the one the over took me angry and at speed and went straight through a red light on a crossing

sparklekitty · 08/08/2013 11:39

I stick my hazards on I never stick my finger up at them, oh no, that would be rude

Madratlady · 08/08/2013 12:03

YANBU.

The speed limit may be the maximum speed allowed but there's no reason not to drive at that speed in dry conditions on roads with good visibility. That's what I was taught when learning to drive.

Sallystyle · 08/08/2013 12:17

I am learning to drive and I was intimated when I was going slower than other people. Now? I think fuck them! I do the speed limit and I am not going to go 40mph at a 30mph zone because if I get what? 12 points in a year I will have to retake my test (not that I have took one yet, but you know what I mean)

My drivers instructors car is really sensitive, it is really easy to accidentally go over the speed limit while getting the hang of it but in my 7 seater it takes quite a while to get speed up (automatic) so I much prefer driving that as I am petrified of getting points before I even pass

Although I must admit I did feel sorry for the person stuck behind me the other day. I was driving down a narrow road with lots of sharp bends and I was worrying about on-comers so I went a lot slower than I probably needed too but my instructor said that any time I feel unconfident reduce my speed if safe to do so while I am learning and out with my mum or husband with no dual controls.

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