Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that 40 in a 60 is too slow

209 replies

TwittyMcTwitterson · 18/02/2014 21:41

Ok, so you're driving on a country road. The speed limit is 60. It has officially been deemed as safe to drive at 60. So why do so many people tootle along at 40 or less??? That's 2/3rds of the safe speed for that road and the limit safe for a lot of residential areas. If you do my feel safe driving at that speed then don't use the road! I'm fed up of getting caught behind Sunday drivers!!! Shock

OP posts:
Original poster
TwittyMcTwitterson · 18/02/2014 21:58

This doesn't include those roads where it's full on suicidal to go at 60. Suppose I must take the 'deemed safe' comment back. Wink

OP posts:
trixymalixy · 18/02/2014 22:00

It depends. The road to DS's school is long and straight with good visibility. It drives me nuts that people drive at 30 along it.

However if it has been raining heavily the road is full of standing water and very dangerous to drive at 60 along it.

You should drive according to the conditions, not at the speed limit no matter what.

Bunbaker · 18/02/2014 22:00

I am assuming the OP is talking about roads that are straight and with good visibility. In which case she isn't BU. I live in a rural area and some of the NSL roads are too dangerous to drive at 60 mph on. However, some are perfectly safe and to do 40 mph would seriously piss off most of the other drivers and could potentially cause an accident with other frustrated drivers trying to overtake.

I agree that the speed limit isn't a target, but to drive at substantially below the speed limit when there is no valid reason to do is inconsiderate to other drivers and could cause an accident.

Also, someone driving very slowly is likely to be stopped by the police because they would suspect that the driver is ill or under the influence of drink or drugs

My issue is that an awful lot of these 40 mph drivers drive at 40 all the time, even through a 30mph zone.

southeastastra · 18/02/2014 22:01

oh perhaps it isn't single track, it's very narrow though, hertfordshire

Original poster
TwittyMcTwitterson · 18/02/2014 22:02

Yes the way home has a30 after the 60 n most don't slow down. I'm a stickler for 30 in a 30!

OP posts:
Velma67 · 18/02/2014 22:06

EM, your road does sound like the sort of road that is a good, fast drive if you know the bends. The trouble is that not everybody will be familiar with the road and it is just not worth risking losing it on a bend, or coming round a bend into a hazard because you don't know which ones are safe to take at speed.

LessMissAbs · 18/02/2014 22:09

No, on country roads, unless they are very straight and wide for miles ahead, 40mph is entirely appropriate. There might be cyclists, loose sheep, horses, farm vehicles, etc.. I think rural speed limits need revising.

I say this as someone who has no qualms on reaching 110mph on the autobahn in Germany. Keep your fast driving and impatience for someone doing 40mph on the motorway!

elastamum · 18/02/2014 22:11

YABU and a bit of a fool to think that because the speed limit on rural roads is 60 it is safe to drive at that speed.

I live on a rural road in Derbyshire and a few weeks back was hit head on on a bend by the driver of a car who had drifted over to my side of the road. Fortunately he was only doing about 30mph. I was doing 35mph in the opposite direction. I walked away (XC90), whilst he is still in hospital (small car). At 60mph we would both be dead.

What upsets me more, is idiots driving too fast and trying to overtake where it isnt safe.

Bettterandnow · 18/02/2014 22:12

So does the same go for the large heavy farm vehicles that frequent country roads? Does that go for the very large delivery vehicles?
YABU. Even for an average size car driving on an unfamiliar windy country road there could be horses round the bend, cyclists, walkers, tractors etc the list of what can appear suddenly is endless. If drivers who are familiar with such roads can predict for certain that its really ok and someone might not have to suddenly brake for anything maybe they could petition their councils to put up signs saying no possible hazards ahead drive at the speed limit all the way.

persimmon · 18/02/2014 22:12

It's dangerous to drive significantly lower than the speed limit for no good reason - 99% of drivers will be travelling at around the speed limit, so you are effectively an obstacle in the road. Harsh but true.

elastamum · 18/02/2014 22:13

You might not think that a head on collision at 30mph is a big deal - until it happens to you Angry

specialsubject · 18/02/2014 22:14

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Original poster
TwittyMcTwitterson · 18/02/2014 22:15

Elasta, I'm from Derbyshire originally!!! Top place!!!

I should note it's generally the same ppl I'm stuck behind...

Even 45 wouldn't make me as angry.

OP posts:
Bettterandnow · 18/02/2014 22:16

OP feel free to drive a bit slower in a 30 limit if circumstances call for it because even in a 30 limit its not the maximum speed.

elastamum how fortunate neither of you were going at the speed limit . How scary! Hope you are all ok.

SelectAUserName · 18/02/2014 22:19

Betterandnow, you do know that "heavy farm vehicles" and "very large delivery vehicles" would be speed limited below 60 anyway, so are completely irrelevant to the discussion, don't you? That's why the NSL is the NSL and not simply "60", because it means different limits for different vehicles under different conditions.

Original poster
TwittyMcTwitterson · 18/02/2014 22:20

Special subject... Don't just assume I'm a cunt please! Or wish me to drive into a tree!

Better... No same rules do not apply to tractors, lorries, that crane that pulls out on just before me every time I am 10 mins late Wink, they can't go faster. It's safer they go at the prescribed is that right word?? speed and I never get bothered by them. I'm bothered by tootlers who have no idea of time and other peoples lack of it Shock

OP posts:
HauntedNoddyCar · 18/02/2014 22:20

Driving fast is something anyone can do.
Driving well is harder.

Bettterandnow · 18/02/2014 22:21

Am amazed by those who think they are not safe driving a bit slower and safely how do you cope with overtaking horses and their riders? How do you cope when you meet a cyclist in the dark with a tiny light and no reflective clothing on? Do you always drive at top speed limit in heavy rain or icy roads?

VivaLeBeaver · 18/02/2014 22:21

Depends on the road.

Doing 40mph on an A road, where its straight and flat with good visability then I'd agree that's slow.

But there's plenty of bendy, narrow, hilly, country roads where you can't get above 30mph for big chunks even though officially the limit is 60mph.

Plus plenty of roads inbetween the two extremes.

elastamum · 18/02/2014 22:21

EM If you have lived in Derbyshire then I am surprised you have so little understanding of how dangerous rural roads actually are. Far more dangerous than motorways.

And those extra few MPH wont get you home any faster, but might get someone killed. If I had been doing 60mph, the elderly chap who drove into me would be dead and legally it wouldnt have been my fault. But morally, it would have been, as I know that it isnt safe to drive that fast round here.

Just chill out and slow down

Original poster
TwittyMcTwitterson · 18/02/2014 22:24

I'm also not bothered by cyclists, horses, those sorts of things. And obv if weather calls for it then slow is safe.

Perhaps I should change it to...

AIBU to want ppl to drive at 50ish in a 60 if legally allowed to do so and the road is straight with perfect visibility and weather is clear. Wink

OP posts:
StarGazeyPond · 18/02/2014 22:24

I'm bothered by tootlers who have no idea of time and other peoples lack of it

Well just leave home 5 minutes earlier then Grin

MrsOakenshield · 18/02/2014 22:24

it's all about reading the conditions of the road and responding, and I can't help but think that a lot of the 'it's a limit, not a target' crowd aren't actually very good at that. No evidence, just a hunch. Sometimes 40 is safer, other times and conditions 40 on a 60 is very dangerous indeed. When they're parked in the middle lane it's even worse.

Original poster
TwittyMcTwitterson · 18/02/2014 22:27

I think because of my constant driving of country roads I know what is safe and what isn't. Maybe that's my problem.

The fact you were both doing 30 and 35 says it all about how fast one should be going at that point. You're both doing very similar speeds so 60 is clearly dangerous.

Ps I hope you're ok after all that Grin

OP posts:
FutTheShuckUp · 18/02/2014 22:27

It's funny there is one country road by me that's a sixty limit but I never feel safe driving at sixty but you will get some moron tailgating you. Strangely enough at least once a week there is a car upside down at the side of the road who no doubt felt 40 was far too slow