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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:
SirChenjin · 14/01/2017 20:33

Yep, they're not checked and it only lasts a year. What a pain for the drivers stuck behind you though when you could have called for a tow. Still, at least you've seen sense now and are driving a decent car.

Trainspotting1984 · 14/01/2017 20:34

Oh don't worry, the decent car limped home 2 weeks before Xmas too. In fact it stopped dead in the road 1/2 a mile away. Alternator burned out. It happens.

SirChenjin · 14/01/2017 20:36

I'm not worried.

InfiniteCurve · 14/01/2017 20:43

The whole "slow drivers cause accidents" is saying your behaviour is someone else's fault.
If you are impatient and can't wait to overtake safely that's your fault.If you get angry and drive in a risky way that's your fault as well.It is very very annoying,but so are many other things in life...

museumum · 14/01/2017 20:45

Everyone saying how dangerous it is - how is it any different from a tractor?

I'm not arguing it's right. The car ought to be pulled over and checked for a good reason why it is going so slow. But anyone who can't cope with encountering slow moving traffic shouldn't be driving.

beargrass · 14/01/2017 20:48

YANBU. Just ridiculous.

Near us is a 60 going into a 40. To many people this seems to translate as 'just go 45 the whole way' Angry

Olswitcharoo · 14/01/2017 21:01

trainspotting1984 I was talking in the sense of causing accidents not knocking people over, as you well know. You are being particularly pedantic on this thread, I can only assume you are one of the slow driving fist shakers Wink

StarryIllusion · 14/01/2017 21:01

That might actually have been my DP Blush If the town name started with a C and the car was dark blue. Bastard car is playing up and he had to limp it home at about 20 - 30 mph as he couldn't get it to go above second gear. 3rd wouldn't go in and 4th just kept juddering.

Olswitcharoo · 14/01/2017 21:05

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2016721/Slow-drivers-dangerous-roads-cause-crashes.html
Ok, I know it's Daily Mail but it's the first one I came to!

SirChenjin · 14/01/2017 21:06

Agree Bear

Trainspotting1984 · 14/01/2017 21:08

olswitcharoo the point is you don't know it's more dangerous and causes more accidents. I'm not being pedantic, it's a ridiculous thread when people are just guessing what might be dangerous or cause a police charge on the road

WappersReturns · 14/01/2017 21:09

It's silly to say it's inconsiderate unless you know why he was driving that speed.
We once picked up my mother at a service station after something had gone wrong with her car and she called the AA to find she wasn't covered for it. DH had to do a roadside repair and we followed her home with strict instructions to keep it slow and gradually increase speed.

She drives for a living and is definitely not one for going too slow in general, she was mortified at the impatient over takers on the way home and resolved to not rant about other drivers as quickly in future because she was so horribly embarrassed that people thought she was a terrible driver.

SirChenjin · 14/01/2017 21:36

It's inconsiderate not to pull in and then the tailback behind you past. The number of drivers who are absolutely unable to drive faster than 30 and pull in must be very small in comparison to the ones who simply choose to drive slowly and refuse to pull over despite there being opportunities to do so.

PrincessLeia80 · 14/01/2017 21:43

It is seriously dangerous imagine a driver coming round a bend doing the limit of 60 to be be faced by someone trundling along at 30 that's a whole lot of mess to clean up! I forget the charge but it is 9 points and a minimum of £1000 fine for driving so far under the limit.

SleepOhHowIMissYou · 14/01/2017 21:46

Driving slow is a symptom of driving phobia.

In that instance, harrassing a slow driver can bring on a panic attack and endanger lives.

Something for you to consider maybe.

Trainspotting1984 · 14/01/2017 21:47

Princess did you read the thread? Why do you think you get 9 points and £1000 fine for driving under the speed limit? For going into the back of someone you'll automatically Be liable so not even sure how the slow driver would get blamed

SirChenjin · 14/01/2017 21:53

If someone has driving phobia then they really need to get help pronto and stay off the roads till they do - not keep trundling along at that speed and holding other drivers up. Driving is a skill that has to be learned and developed over time, and being in charge of a load of a fast moving heavy lump of metal is really not for someone with a driving phobia.

PrincessLeia80 · 14/01/2017 21:55

Trainspotting yes without witnesses yes you would be blamed but a friend who is a traffic officer told me that it is an offence to drive massively under the speed limit unless there is a good reason. Think about it if you are driving along a clear dual carriageway perfect conditions no reason to be driving below the 70mph limit and come across a driver doing 30mph who is being a danger to other drivers?

Lweji · 14/01/2017 21:56

It is seriously dangerous imagine a driver coming round a bend doing the limit of 60 to be be faced by someone trundling along at 30

They shouldn't be doing 60, then, if they can't see round the bend. Those beds usually have a lower limit.

It could have been any slower vehicle and the faster one would be to blame.

SleepOhHowIMissYou · 14/01/2017 22:06

SirChenjin, the treatment for driving phobia, as with most phobias, is exposure. You need to drive to cure it. There's no magic pill you can take. If your phobia is for fast roads, or driving in the dark, then driving on slow roads during the day will not solve your problem.

I gave you the option as something to consider as a cause apart from technical faults with the car. If you're interested in learning more about it then you're in the right place. A quick "driving phobia" Google will tell you all you need to know on the subject as you are lucky enough not to suffer from this form of anxiety.

A person driving slow is extremely annoying if you're not afflicted by whatever problem ails that person. Just think twice before you harrass them, it could cost lives.

EatsShitAndLeaves · 14/01/2017 22:09

SirC @ 21.53

Exactly that....

I'm amazed by the number of people making excuses for this type of crap driving.

Probably accounts for the number of shitty drivers on the road though when such a great proportion can't even recognise poor driving when it's seen or described to them.

EatsShitAndLeaves · 14/01/2017 22:12

FFS Sleep really????

If you have a driving phobia you don't work it out on the public highway ShockShockShock

There are plenty of driving schools with private roads (one near me is a converted airfield where DSD has been enrolled to start learning before she is 17) where you can work out your issues without endangering other road users.

museumum · 14/01/2017 22:20

Fucks sake - what the hell would somebody be doing coming round a blind corner at 60mph????

Tractors? Horses? Cyclists?

A car doing 30mph would be least of your worries.

MrsCharlieD · 14/01/2017 22:22

Definitely nbu. I once nearly had a bad accident getting on the motorway as I came down the slip road as someone had actually stopped at the end and was waiting for a gap to get on. I was telling all kinds of expletives let me tell you! Driving too slow can be dangerous for other road users. Especially when they're sat in the middle Lane!

SleepOhHowIMissYou · 14/01/2017 22:22

Google it Eats.

Driving phobia can just come over people without any warning. I repeat, driving on a slow road will not cure it if you have developed a fear of fast roads, so your solution is no solution at all.

There is no need for the FFS either. I am offering you an option to consider. It is an option that you clearly know nothing about, if you're really interested then go explore, find out more. If you just want to assume people drive slow just to be inconsiderate A-holes then that's your perogative, but I pity you, truly.