To hate when drivers do this

[carol1234568]

I seem to have this most days - going along at 60mph on a national speed limit road, when all of a sudden a car pulls out ahead. Within no time Ive caught up with them. They then start drive at 40mph, leading to cars crawling along behind them.

WHY do cars pull out when they can see cars are coming, and when they know they're going to drive much less than the speed limit? This is not an especially busy road - there will be chances for them to pull out without any traffic coming.

40mph on a nsl road is just ridiculous and potentially hazardous.

Anyone who writes this rubbish obviously hasn't done any rural driving. There are NSL roads near me where I've never seen anyone get above 30. Overgrown, single lane, bendy, hikers and dog walkers on the road.

For long, straight roads with plenty of space I'd do the speed limit in most cases.

The fact is though not everyone is a confident driver and most roads have a range of acceptable speeds. If you drive at the top end you might be stuck behind someone driving at the lower end of acceptable speed range and you need to suck it up. I wouldn't pull out in front of someone if I knew I was a slower than average driver though.

If you're not a confident driver, as has been said before, you should get the bus.

If you're not a confident driver, as has been said before, you should get the bus.

A million times, yes.

I've had a bit of a shit day, so please do forgive the tanty.

There's a particular stretch of motorway near here, fairly straight with no major incline and three lanes. Guaranteed, there's some arse decides to drive along at 50 in the outside lane, refuses to pull in and gets all uppity because they're apparently triggered by moving at an acceptable speed on a major road. If you want to do 50 on a motorway or dual carriageway, do not drive in the outside fucking lane.

Then you get the sort on NSL A and B roads that seem to take the view that 50, regardless of whether there's a bend or it's fairly straight, is the limit. Usually the same sort that say "if you don't like it, you can overtake." That in and of itself can be easier said the done when there's heavy oncoming traffic.

Finally, you get the plain-old-fashioned nervous Nellies who seem to think that their lack of confidence means that they can inflict their nerves upon everyone else. They make excuses and get defensive about this, extremely and almost militantly so, because deep down that sense of inferiority rankles them but they refuse to accept that they should give up their license. Practice on an industrial estate after 5pm, take Pass Plus, get a friend to drive with you (or if it helps, don't). Those that complain that you have to suck it up seem less inclined to turn that self-same mirror on themselves, and just get a sodding move on when they get behind the wheel.

@TheDairyQueen

If you're not a confident driver, as has been said before, you should get the bus. And if there is no bus?

If we build a society where full participation requires everyone to have use of a car, then the least we can do is have a bit of tolerance on the road.

Nah, people should learn how to drive for the conditions and get rid of the chip on their shoulders.

My worst pet hate as a driver is getting stuck behind someone when joining a motorway, and they insist on pootling up the slip road at 30 or 40! You are trying to get up to speed i.e. 60 or 70 to join the traffic that is already on the road and they just make it unsafe for everyone stuck behind them who also has to join the motorway. Drives me absolutely bonkers!

I have a question on this topic.(New driver)
If it’s a dual carriageway or equivalent, and you are joining it from a give way junction, do you pull out into lane 1 when it’s clear even if there’s traffic in lane 2? Or wait for Both lanes to be clear before pulling out?
I’ve had contrasting opinions from Driving instructors on this.

OP I completely agree, and find that for some unknown reason it is usually a Honda Jazz that is the offending vehicle!!

it is usually a Honda Jazz that is the offending vehicle!!

Ah, the venerable Honda Jizz, second only in its bastardly ways to the Fiat Cunto and Nissan Microdick's that inevitably provoke my ire.

ladymabel pull into lane 1 when it's clear. Keep an eye on traffic in lane 2, people can be unobservant and not notice you trying to merge.

The argument was about how pissing annoying ‘slow’ drivers are and that the speed limit is 60 mph, therefore everyone should drive at that speed or they are a tosser.

No, the argument is about drivers who chose to go well under the speed limit, pulling out into traffic, causing people to break and slow down. Instead of waiting and pulling out into a gap.

I don't aim to drive to the limit, but being a courteous road user surely involves not pulling out ahead of traffic and purposely holding people - driving legally - up...?

I failed my first driving test for doing 40 in a 60, i can't remember what he marked it as because it was back in 2005 but he said that's why he failed me.

I think most people have to practice to become confident (and competent) drivers. People who are still doing that practice may not yet be, but that doesn’t mean they won’t be in the future. Or maybe they don’t know the road.

This will also depend on the type of national speed limit road - there are certainly some where 50-60mph are appropriate but there are A roads near me where if you drove at 60 you’d come a cropper, never mind the back lanes. There are significant numbers of back lanes where it would never be appropriate to even go at 40 (hedges/high banks thus restricting view, too narrow for two cars/likelihood of random horses/livestock/cyclists/extremely poor road surface such as tyre eating size pot holes/road edges which vanish into ditches).

(But some people do drive incredibly slowly.)

I'm assuming the OP is talking about roads where it is safe to drive 60, but some people choose to pull out in front, and then steadfastly drive significantly slower than the flow.

@TheDairyQueen 😂 spot on

I failed my first driving test for doing 40 in a 60, i can't remember what he marked it as because it was back in 2005 but he said that's why he failed me.

It will have been for hesitating no doubt, or just general inconsideration for other drivers. Hesitating is used a lot in tests now to fail people. If you had the option to go at a roundabout for example, but didn't, you'd fail for it.

I wish based on that that many people in Britain had to retake their tests to be honest. Would mean people would be better drivers as they'd see how they are meant to drive, not how they think they should drive. Although I've seen some dodgy driving by driving instructors too recently, like parking on a bend or speeding. Generally take a note of the company so I know who not to recommend.

Oh dear, why are you all saying 60? I thought nsl was 70?

OP - if you know the road you are travelling on so well - maybe you should have been anticipating someone emerging - it is known as defensive driving.

Oh dear, why are you all saying 60? I thought nsl was 70?

70 on motorways and dual carriageways.

OP in my family they are known as 'collectors' and we count the number of vehicles 'collected'.

I have to say though that some roads locals know well the locals can drive at 60, but if I'm on the road for the first time I won't be going that fast, I'm talking about windy country roads .

How are nervous drivers supposed to become confident, other than by driving?

My commute to work is mostly rural B roads.

Car drivers pulling out then going slow is annoying but not as much as the tractor that sees me coming, no one behind me, and pulls out. Then I and everyone who comes up behind me are doing 20mph. Gives me the rage.

Fair enough when I'm going along and I catch up with a tractor but when it pulls out... 😡

I also hate it when I'm doing NSL and someone speeds up behind, tailgates me and then overtakes. Fuck off. I'm not going over the limit and getting a ticket!

Personally i think once you have done your test on regular roads you should also be made to take extra lessons to include things like mototways & generally building confidence. Yesterday we had some melt on a slip road stop dead at the top - bear in mind there was a good length of slip road ahead - and wait until the road was empty. Newsflash; it never empties. Trying to then merge from a standstill onto a 70 is hell on earth. Not to mention the potential accidents that could have happened behind because of where he chose to stop!

mustbemad Jesus that is so dangerous!!!

if you're the sort of driver who gets irate, flips bird, tailgate, then you shouldn't be driving. People make mistakes, you too, getting angry about someone else's mistakes is hypocritical.
There are many reasons for pulling into a faster lane and not driving at nsl, (you know the road and that round the next bend or two there will be cars on the lhs, you know there is a joining road and you're giving some leeway, you need to turn right a half mile ahead and you know it's a pig getting out because a train of 'nsl' hogs won't let you in.

I try to drive within my capabilities, that means I often don't drive at nsl - just because I drive slower doesn't mean I shouldn't be driving.