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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think driving at 30 mph in a 60 mph zone is unacceptable?

166 replies

DoIDareDisturbTheUniverse · 14/01/2017 15:54

Stuck behind a driver this afternoon who was going 30, yes, 30 in a 60. Straight roads, clear weather, etc etc. No one could over take for about 10-15 mins as there were too many cars coming the other way and there ended up being a massive tailback of traffic. AIBU to think it's completely out of order to drive 30 miles below the speed limit in good conditions?

OP posts:
Trifleorbust · 14/01/2017 16:21

Sirzy: Lots of people pass with very limited experience on these sorts of roads (single track, two way traffic) so it takes them a while to 'get up to speed' as it were. It's irritating but not dangerous if others are driving properly.

TheLastDrop · 14/01/2017 16:21

Depends. The roads round here are very icy today although it's a 'clear' day. I expect half the roads in the UK are the same, or very wet?

SlothMama · 14/01/2017 16:23

YANBU Driving that slowly is so dangerous! My biggest bugbear is the motorway junction I join on so many people will join the motorway at 30mph. It's so dangerous!!

If you cannot drive at least close to the speed limit don't go on higher limit roads

Sirzy · 14/01/2017 16:24

I doubt there are many tests centres which don't include a "fast" road in routes though and it is up to the instructor to ensure they have experience. Actually I am sure it was part of the test when I did mine (many moons back!)

Original poster
DoIDareDisturbTheUniverse · 14/01/2017 16:27

I can't imagine anyone not having any experience of national speed limit roads when learning to drive unless their driving instructor spent their entire lessons taking them round city/residential roads with a speed limit of 30 max.

OP posts:
Witchend · 14/01/2017 16:27

it is dangerous, as you spend your time looking how to overtake instead of driving properly in that case it's not them that's dangerous-it's you. You are driving without due care and attention.

However without a reason, then they should be doing more than that.
Having once had a car losing power on the M25 though, I chose to continue at 40 in the inner lane rather than pulling over on the hard shoulder. I did know it was no more than a couple of miles to the services where I pulled over and did a helpless female act getting 3 taxi drivers to repair it for me sorted it.

JigglyTuff · 14/01/2017 16:27

Trifle - any driver who isn't comfortable doing more than 30mph shouldn't be on the roads

PickleSarnie · 14/01/2017 16:29

I passed my driving test without ever going about 40mph Sirzy. Never used 5th gear I don't think. Thousands of others sitting their tests in London will also be in the same boat.

That's not to say I never go above 40 now though. Now that I live very far outside London I was fecking terrified of slip roads for ages though.

PickleSarnie · 14/01/2017 16:29

*above. Not about

Lweji · 14/01/2017 16:31

We don't know why they were driving that slowly.

Maybe they were taking something fragile and needed to go slowly. Who knows?

Maybe the car could go but had a fault that didn't allow it to go faster? It happened to a friend.

lljkk · 14/01/2017 16:34

Today I was behind someone driving 20 in a 60 (no, it wasn't a tractor).

Oh well. They pulled over to let 3 of us by.

angeldelightedme · 14/01/2017 16:37

Slow drivers do not cause accidents, it is impatient drivers overtaking that are ithe cause.

PJBanana · 14/01/2017 16:38

There is no excuse for this. None.

As PP have said, 30mph in a 60 zone would be classed as hesitant driving in test conditions and would be a fail.

Anybody who is that nervous or hesitant should not be on the roads alone. Ditto anybody driving a car that is unable to get above 40mph due to a fault.

Isthisusernamefree · 14/01/2017 16:39

This drives me potty. But the worst thing is, around where I live, they dodder along between 25 and 35 in the 60 and then when you get to the villages they put their foot down and are doing 40 in a 30! So it's not even that they aren't comfortable doing higher speeds...I'm beginning to think the meanings of speed signs have been changed in our county and no one has told me Hmm

PJBanana · 14/01/2017 16:39

Just to add. Slow drivers DO cause accidents.

PJBanana · 14/01/2017 16:39

Anybody who says slow drivers don't cause accidents is probably a very hesitant driver themselves.

OurBlanche · 14/01/2017 16:43

Slow drivers do not cause accidents, it is impatient drivers overtaking that are ithe cause. Not always. Driving too slowly is a real offence that carries penalties, it is called 'inconsiderate driving'. It can be the reason for a driving test failure as well!

Pseudonym99 · 14/01/2017 16:44

People who allow these types of drivers to wind them up are as dangerous as the slow drivers are in the first place. BTW, 60 is the limit, not a target, and if they don't feel safe driving at 60 they shouldn't drive at that speed.

Katymac · 14/01/2017 16:44

When a thing goes wrong on my mum's car, an alarm goes off and it prevents her from traveling at more than 30 miles an hour

It is massively annoying and can only be switched off at the garage which is 11 miles away

Perhaps this poor bloke has a bust car

LunaLoveg00d · 14/01/2017 16:44

Shouldn't be on the roads. We live not far from Loch Lomond and on a bright day as it has been today, or in fact any Saturday or Sunday, you get the drivers who take a "wee run" out to the Loch. Between here and the Loch is an A road which yes has some pretty bad bends, but also long, straight stretches. People leave the city boundaries and never speed up. Brake at every corner. Brake when a car is coming towards them. Brake to look at the view. Brake to look at the cows/sheep/deer. Let a massive queue build up behind them, oblivious.

It IS dangerous and it IS the sign of a poor driver. (Just waiting for the sanctimonious "it's a speed limit not a target" posters)

Celaena · 14/01/2017 16:45

it is dangerous, as you spend your time looking how to overtake instead of driving properly in that case it's not them that's dangerous-it's you. You are driving without due care and attention.

you're missing the point - their actions are making others drive badly,

www.nfuonline.com/cross-sector/farm-business/transport/transport-news/police-ask-slow-moving-vehicles-to-pull-over-more/

"This risks tempting motorists to overtake when it is not safe to do so."

The Highway Code asks slow moving vehicles to pull in when safe to allow traffic to pass.

www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/using-the-road-159-to-203
Rule 169:“Do not hold up a long queue of traffic, especially if you are driving a large or slow-moving vehicle.“Check your mirrors frequently, and if necessary, pull in where it is safe and let traffic pass.”

Failure to pull over when there is a long queue of traffic behind can constitute an offence of inconsiderate driving, which can be punished with three to nine points on a driver’s licence and a fine of up to £5,000.

MrsSpenserGregson · 14/01/2017 16:50

Did this incident happen in a county beginning with N, OP? Because you have just described my FIL Grin. The world's slooooooooowest driver, he's famous thought the county for it gahhhhhhh

Willyoujustbequiet · 14/01/2017 16:52

Its infuriating and bad driving but its not dangerous....at least not in this situation.

You are responsible for your own actions. You can't blame a slow driver if you overtake recklessly through frustration. That's on you.

MycatsaPirate · 14/01/2017 16:53

We have a bypass here which has a 50mph limit. Today we all toodled along at 25mph behind someone who clearly couldn't find third gear. There are no junctions, it's a straight clear road. It drives me insane.

However, when I had my spinal surgery and DP came to pick me up from hospital he had to be careful bringing me home and on some roads which were a 60mph limit but windy and often a bit crap in terms of tarmac, he had to drop his speed to avoid hurting me.

OurBlanche · 14/01/2017 16:54

You are quite right, it is not Dangerous Driving, it is Inconsiderate Driving and a slow driver can be charged, as previously explained!

We don't know what the situation was, the OP didn't talk to the slow driver.