To think you can't just trundle along at any old speed you fancy...

[TallulahTwinkletoes]

I fully expect to get flamed for this because I know I'm a tad over the top about this but it's my pet hate so here goes.

If say be gentle but I know this is the wrong place for that

I drive a lot. Every day I drive on a road that's technically a country road as there are fields either side but it's more than wide enough and not too windy. This road is followed by two straight roads. These are all national speed limit roads.

This is comfortably attainable with a few corners on the country road where 50 is a better speed. Obviously various weathers call for different speeds. I was behind a double decker bus doing 50 down there today.

The last few days I have been stuck behind people doing 35-40. Today the lady flashed at me when I finally get chance to overtake.

They way I see it is if you are driving so slow on the roads either
A) you are unaware of the speed limit/unable to follow basic road signs and therefore shouldn't be driving
B) do not feel comfortable driving at an appropriate limit for the road and therefore shouldn't be driving.

I know it's a limit not a target but you fail your driving test if you 'fail to progress' so they shouldn't be driving like this.

It's the principle that they don't care about anyone's time frame or how they affect other people. They just trundle along deciding what speed they want to go at and not giving a fuck.

We all have bad days where we mess up roundabouts and misjudge but Jesus Christ, if you can't drive at 60 in a straight line...

Depends on how other people are driving. If someone tailgates me, for example, I slow down, as if I have to stop suddenly I'd rather the car behind was going at a slower speed when it hits me.

Given good conditions and no idiots on the road, I will drive at or near the speed limit.

Yes tailgating solves nothing but I do sometimes want to push them long with may car

This happens where I live a lot. Its 50 mins to get into work on a good run but I often get held up by slow drivers who have all the time in the world.

They let everyone in as well but I don't have all the time in the world, if I'm late in I have to make up the hours. Its dangerous doing 20 on a 60 road too.

I used to get het up over things like this, but now I really can't.

I live in a very touristy place. Every summer, every road is clogged with tourists who are going incredibly slowly. Very frustrating when you are in a hurry.

But then I remind myself that I live in this incredible landscape and therefore take it completely for granted. They probably live in a horrible city and are oohing and aahing all the way.

I feel churlish if I complain that them taking a moment to take in the beauty of the surrounding countryside is making me a tiny bit late.

So I just allow a little extra time during that season.

I agree, there are some people who will never go 60mph on a national speed limit single carriageway even if it's perfect conditions and would never drive 70mph on a motorway. If you're that hesitant you shouldn't be on the road in my opinion.

Drives me completely up the fucking wall being stuck behind people who can't drive properly

Usually trundling along at 40mph on 60 limit country roads then when they hit a speed limit of 30mph through a village they still stick at 40mph and speed through the built up areas

Well, this hasn't gone how I expected.

I basically sit behind them shouting and putting myself at risk of a stress induced heart attack. I know I need to chill out but I hate them. All.

perhaps it was foggy, the road was wet, they are unfamiliar with it and so don't know where the bends are or aren't driving a guzzly 4x4 and so can't see over the hedges. Like the bus driver will be able to do.

feel free to overtake. If you don't kill yourself or the poor sod coming the other way, I GUARANTEE that at the next roundabout/junction the car you overtook will be waiting behind you. Because I see it every day on a far less twisty country road.

said road has three wrecked cars by it now from stupid overtaking. Fuckwittery is much reduced as a result so lets hope they aren't cleared too soon.

and if you will be late, get up earlier next time.

Remember, facts aren't rude.

Didn't I see this exact thread yesterday?

I do sympathise, but if you upset an "unaware" driver badly enough for them to flash you, you're probably far from perfect yourself. You'd fail your driving test for tailgating and overtaking dangerously too.

There's a similar road I go along every day to work. I'll quite happily go along at the limit as I know the road well but I have to accept that generally the folk who are trundling along at 30 probably don't know the road and all its turns. It's often quite tricky to see how slow you need to go to take a turn or if there are hidden entrances etc.

I try and be patient. trrrrrry

Key thing here is speed limit. LIMIT. Not "have to drive at" but "use your own judgement within these parameters".

You drive too fast if you only drive at or above every limit.

I have a sense of deja vu reading this thread. Last one, IIRC, had a somewhat ageist title, and got pulled by MNHQ.

Anyway.

I agreed with the poster on the original thread who suggested that if this is a regular journey for you, you know what it's going to be like, so you can and should change your own habits, and set out earlier.

I recommend you adopt this strategy before your impatience and entitled attitude leads to an accident.

Drives me spare. I live on a road that is a 60 but becomes 40 near my house.
They pootle along sometimes doing 30 miles in the 60 then speed up hugely in the 40 zone.

YANBU! I work in a similar set-up & was stuck behind someone today who was doing 35mph. Every time they hit a corner they slowed almost to a stop. No chance of overtaking because of traffic coming the other way.
When the driver came to the next village, they ignored the 30mph sign & went up to 40mph instead!!! WTF!
My LO leaned the word 'bloody idiot' today.... But it could've been worse!!

Hmm, I don't know. I was going very slowly the other day down a national speed limit country road because I was finding my way to a house off it and the sat nav was useless where I was. If I'd known exactly where I was I'd have been doing around 50 probably.

I also think that unfamiliar country roads can be unpredictable to drive on; the road can narrow suddenly or take a sharp bend. Our lane is, in theory, a 60mph road but to do anything above 40 on it would be incredibly dangerous.

That said, another road I use for work is a long, straight, wide stretch through the bottom of a valley. Very occasionally I get stuck behind a 30mph er and it makes me boil. It's pretty but not all that. Really, just a good, businesslike stretch of road that can take a good 50+.

Grumpy, I'm with you. 40mph regardless of the speed limit. It's drives me crazy. The reckless lack of regard for pedestrians in the 30mph zone and the failure to actually drive in 60mph zone.

I'm afraid this irritates me hugely. There's an NSL road I use regularly which is well-sighted but busy. People frequently pootle along at 30-40mph, then get angry when you overtake.

No-one is saying that everyone should drive at the speed limit regardless of the conditions, but it's selfish to needlessly hold up other road users just because you think doing 35mph in an NSL zone on a clear, dry day is absolutely fine. I'm not impatient, I don't tailgate or behave badly towards dawdlers, but for fuck's sake, put your foot down a little bit.

Haven't seen the other thread. Sorry to give déjà vu.

I agree, they may not know the road but there is no way, on this earth, they need to go at 35. Also, the straight sections... Where you can see the whole sodding road?!

I have no idea why she flashed. I overtook on the straight bit with a very very long distance between me and the oncoming car. The woman was simply incompetent. I know this because I was stuck behind her for 15 minutes and watched her brake for a two degree corner/bend in the road with full visibility and no oncoming vehicles.

I think it would be considerate to pull over and let people past if you can't do the speed limit and a queue is developing.

I have more of a problem when people drive at 50 in a 60 zone and then continue at 50 in a 40 zone. Driving slower than the speed limit is one thing, completely ignoring the speed limit is another.

I agree I'm inpatient but I actually think it's them with the entitled attitude. They literally cause people's timeframe to revolve around them, a perfect stranger and don't give a shit.

OMG OP are we twins? Seriously your post sounds like one of my behind-the-wheel rants! :p

It makes me apoplectic with rage when it's a nice day on a straight road with a national speed limit, and some numpty insists on going 45 down it. Just MOVE BITCH GET OUT THE WAY!

They made a song about that lomega. It could be your soundtrack...

What is it about driving at 40mph whatever the road?
Do they seem to think 60/50/30mph etc all actually say 40?

I hate this too, and what's with people who tootle asking on the middle lane of the motorway?!?!? Ggraaarrr

The 40mph thing is very odd. I've seen it so many times. It's like people think it's the default 'safe' speed. Last weekend I was actually stuck behind someone who slowed down to 40mph on a motorway slip road which is nothing short of dangerous.