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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think people who overtake are idiots?

677 replies

sallyhansen32 · 15/07/2018 08:36

So this morning I was out early.
I was on a road with a 30 mph limit..there's a speed camera next to a school.
I'm new to driving so didn't want to go crazy so I dropped down to 25mph till I passed through it.
A van overtook me and stuck his fingers up.
Was I going to slow?
If I was then fair enough ..but it's not like I was going through under 20.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
PipeDown1 · 15/07/2018 10:29

Wait until you drive on country roads with ponies! It's a 40mph limit and the amount of drivers who come speeding up behind you, tailgating, getting frustrated! I will never drive over 40 on those roads so tailgating will never make me speed up.

Seeing a dead pony or cow at the side of the road is really shocking and you would think drivers would be shocked into slowing down!

TittyGolightly · 15/07/2018 10:29

70isalimit

Would you consider driving on a motorway at 51mph to be safe? That’s the equivalent of what the OP did, and would be considered dangerous driving by most.

myusernameisnotmyusername · 15/07/2018 10:30

@AndyChis no not tailgating. When you're driving in say a queue of traffic and the person in front is a bit in front of you but suddenly reduces their speed without brake lights you have to drop yours. That's frustrating. Don't know where you get tailgating from.

ch0c0milkrox · 15/07/2018 10:31

Driving too slow can be just as dangerous as driving too fast.

TorviBrightspear · 15/07/2018 10:31

What annoys me is someone pootling along at 35-40mph on a 60 road, creating a long queue and being completely oblivious.

I had this a few years ago. Was directly behind them, and when a safe stretch of road came up I overtook them. This particular bit of road has very few safe overtaking places, and I I managed to drive about 10 miles, stop off at Tesco to get a couple of things. I got to the Tesco exit and the car I overtook (with said long queue behind it) was only just going past! They had clearly stayed at the ridiculous low speed on a 60mph road, on a sunny, dry day, good conditions.

MaisyPops · 15/07/2018 10:32

Nobody is claiming to be a perfect driver.

(I never get this on MN every now and again people have an opinion and someone pops up with 'well I'm glad you're all perfect / ignore all the perfect parents / ignore the perfect drivers' Confused)

As many people have said:

  • the driver is more than reasonable to do a legal overtake. That does not make him an idiot.
  • driving too slowly and abruptly slowing down is a hazzard and will annoy drivers. Inconsistent driving will mean people would rather be in front of you than behind.
  • the driver should not have sworn at the OP

None of that is particularly surprising conclusions.

TatterdemalionAspie · 15/07/2018 10:33

AirForce you're right - I was a bit harsh. I thought the OP was being a bit of knob, so didn't phrase things as gently as I could have done.

lljkk · 15/07/2018 10:34

That's funny... I'd rather be behind an inconsistent driver. Then I'm in control of how far away I am from them. If they're behind me they could speed up or try a dodgy overtake, etc. Overtaking an inconsistent driver is also scary coz you don't know if they are going to suddenly try to turn somewhere without indicating. I'd rather they are somewhere I can watch them.

TorviBrightspear · 15/07/2018 10:35

I'm shocked at this pile on at the OP. She's a new driver!!

Well, when I see a car around, no plates of any sort, I'm not going to think they're a new driver, I'll be assuming they have some experience. If I actually think about that at all.

However, on my commute there are loads of wankers, so I tend to give more space and be more observant these days.

SerenDippitty · 15/07/2018 10:36

There’s a flyover round here with a 30 limit. If you stick to it you get loads of idiots flashing and tailgating you.

PipeDown1 · 15/07/2018 10:37

I feel sorry for lorries on motorways when they get stuck behind a car driving slowly on the motorway because for them to overtake is quite a tricky manoeuvre. I've actually seen a lorry just finish overtaking a slower car for that car to then pull out, speed up and overtake Confused

gamerwidow · 15/07/2018 10:37

I agree with IamtheDevilsAvocado if other drivers want to go around getting angry raising their blood pressure about every slight on the road let them get on with it. There is not one of us on this thread who has never done anything silly when driving. When someone beeps or gestures at you acknowledge if you are fault (sometimes you will be), learn from it, then get on with your day.

Original poster
sallyhansen32 · 15/07/2018 10:39

Like I've said quite a few times now
My car has P plates on

OP posts:
Pengggwn · 15/07/2018 10:41

TittyGolightly

Driving at 50mph on the motorway is odd, but how is it dangerous?

AttilaTheMusical · 15/07/2018 10:41

The speed limit is a limit, not an obligation. Yes, OP - the other driver was completely in the wrong.

Original poster
sallyhansen32 · 15/07/2018 10:41

If I had posted
"I'm a new driver and was driving 30mph on a 30 road but was unsure of the road and cars were parked and a speed camera was approaching,I ended up crashing into a parked car ...

I would have got "why didn't you slow down if you were unsure "

OP posts:
lapenguin · 15/07/2018 10:42

He may have been annoyed if you dropped by 5mph randomly (he doesn't know you've only used the car three times and was overly cautious about speed cameras. To him you were being unreasonable. For all he knew you were doing it to annoy him.
People who overtake aren't wrong as long as it legal. People who stick two fingers up at someone are wrong.

ShotsFired · 15/07/2018 10:43

Can people who say things like "My instructor always taught me a speed limit is a guide not a target" advise what they think the correct speed is then please, if not the stated one?

(Let's assume for common sense that I mean on a clear, daylight day, with light/no other traffic around, you have a full driving licence, with competence and are in a suitable vehicle etc etc)

So in the above circs, if, say 30 isn't a good aim to be driving at, what is?
20? 15? 10?

Ditto on a motorway or NSL dual carriageway?
Should we all go at 50, just in case?
Or maybe 40?
Perhaps 30 is better.

I would posit that in the ideal conditions, the notified speed is actually generally a pretty good guide as to what people should be driving at or around.

treaclesoda · 15/07/2018 10:44

Would you consider driving on a motorway at 51mph to be safe? That’s the equivalent of what the OP did, and would be considered dangerous driving by most.

I don't do it myself but it can't be as dangerous as people here claim, because in N Ireland it's the law that you're not allowed to exceed 45mph for your first year of driving.

crazycatgal · 15/07/2018 10:44

@Iused2BanOptimist The confused, bumbling elderly drivers that you've mention are a danger and shouldn't be on the road though. Before anyone gets the wrong of the stick I'm not referring to competent elderly drivers.

PumpkinPie2016 · 15/07/2018 10:44

He was rude to put fingers up at you but not necessarily unreasonable to overtake, providing it was safe to do so.

If it's a 30mph done then unless there is a good reason, e.g. severe weather, people will expect you to drive at 30.

I drive on a stretch of road on my way to work at around 7am. Its a wide, open road with a 40mph limit. Nice and quiet too. Sometimes, people drive along at 25/30 for no reason and then people, myself included, will overtake them if it is safe to do so. Doesn't make us idiots - just people who want to travel at the speed limit.

I wouldn't speed, nor would I overtake if it wasn't safe and I certainly wouldn't pip or put fingers up but if the road is clear then I expect to be able to travel at the speed limit.

JacquesHammer · 15/07/2018 10:46

I’m a new driver and was driving 30mph on a 30 road but was unsure of the road and cars were parked and a speed camera was approaching,I ended up crashing into a parked car

I would have got "why didn't you slow down if you were unsure”

You’d have got different answers because that’s a completely different situation Confused

PipeDown1 · 15/07/2018 10:46

Whoever said don't worry about what's going on behind you, just focus on what's in front is an idiot!

I know someone who went to turn right in to a side road but didn't check their mirrors. Had they checked their mirrors they would have seen a driver overtaking them! So they started to turn right and the other driver crashed into them! It could have been prevented if the driver had checked their mirrors!

I don't even think the overtaking driver was deemed at fault by the insurance because there was no proof the driver turning right was indicating (that was the over taking drivers defence) and the other driver was performing a perfectly legal move by overtaking on a clear, straight road within the speed limit!

lapenguin · 15/07/2018 10:46

Also if you just took your foot off and didn't use your breaks you didn't really warn him you were dropping Down. Yes engine braking is fine, but you have to make sure there is enough distance to give the driver behind to realise what you are doing, so more than a normal space between your car and the one behind. Maybe he got annoyed as you didn't give him warning for slowing down, which in some cases could cause an accident.

Pengggwn · 15/07/2018 10:47

Can people who say things like "My instructor always taught me a speed limit is a guide not a target" advise what they think the correct speed is then please, if not the stated one?

There isn't a 'correct' speed.

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