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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
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PipeDown1 · 15/07/2018 13:59
Grin

Really though, some drivers are just twats whatever you do, especially van drivers so don't take it too personally. I had something very fragile in my boot to take from a to b and I almost put a sign on my car to say so because I had to take corners very slowly and speed bumps. You don't realise how bumpy our roads are until you have to transport something fragile!

When I'm driving through the forest on my commute and come up to someone driving very slowly I have to think to myself I see this every day whereas they might be enjoying the views and the ponies so I'll just overtake when I can (there is plenty of opportunity to do so.) I don't get huffy and puffy about it.

Gottagetmoving · 15/07/2018 14:01

so I live down lots of SINGLE track roads which are not given a speed limit - and by default allegedly mean that if you drive at 40 (which is extremely reckless shock) i.e. 20 mph under the sacred NSL I have to have my hazards on !
I assume you mean on 'normal straightish A roads and dual carriageways' but that was not what you said

Pedantic or what?!
I was indeed talking about roads with normal speed limits from 30 to 60

cuppaandcake · 15/07/2018 14:04

Why did you need to slow down when you were already doing under30?

LakieLady · 15/07/2018 14:09

I was told when you feel the car wanting to change gear,come off accelerator a tiny bit to allow it to do so smoothly.

Wtf? You have to come off the gas when you let the clutch or it revs like crazy.

Or are you driving an automatic, OP?

IllHaveALargeGlassOfRed · 15/07/2018 14:11

I've got to say that i overtake hesitant drivers as quickly (not speedily) as possible because they are extremely frustrating to drive behind.

The ones who brake before every gentle bend in the road or vehicle that drives towards them are the worst.

dadshere · 15/07/2018 14:12

You were too slow. If the speed limit is 30 drive at 30, unless it is raining/foggy etc in which case drop it by 10% and if necessary keep dropping it. He was however very rude, it was not needed.

thelastredwinegum · 15/07/2018 14:15

sally I've been out except when I drove to work the other day ..that is 2 streets away.

Wow, it would probably be quicker to walk!!

sallyhansen32 · 15/07/2018 14:21

It's a multi mode which has no clutch but a electronic clutch but only 2 pedals (if that makes sense )
I was told when you are accelerating and feel the car wanting to change gear ease off accelerator to let it change ..then go back on accelerator or it's jerky.

OP posts:
MrsSnootyPants2018 · 15/07/2018 14:22

@sallyhansen32 I get your new to it but there is no need to drop that low for a speed camera. Just maintain your speed.

It's irritating for those behind you as they have to drop their speed too and it ends up slowing everyone down.

sallyhansen32 · 15/07/2018 14:24

According to dvla if doing 40 you should try and drive between 35-40
I'm assuming same applies to 30 too

To think people who overtake are idiots?
OP posts:
thelastredwinegum · 15/07/2018 14:47

Is pass plus still a thing? It might be something to look into, or an IAM course.

I believe that when you do driving lessons you're not really taught how to drive, but how to pass a driving test if that makes sense.

amicissimma · 15/07/2018 14:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

IllHaveALargeGlassOfRed · 15/07/2018 15:10

@thelastredwinegum - totally agree.

DailyMailReadersAreThick · 15/07/2018 15:19

I think people who slow down to 25 for a 30mph speed camera are idiots.

PipeDown1 · 15/07/2018 15:22

If the petrol station was straight after the speed camera, when you slowed down for the speed camera, why accelerate faster again if you're just about to turn off? Confused

sallyhansen32 · 15/07/2018 15:27

The petrol station is on a slight bank ,I'm in a 1l car if I don't put more gas on I ain't getting up the bank.
That's why I "sped" up my 2/3 mph to get me up the bank.

OP posts:
Sashkin · 15/07/2018 15:27

OP you were right to drop to 25 I always do that and then speed up to 30 after camera, it's safer that way

You obviously drive near me - there is a speed camera near my local school and people drive up to it at around 40, do an emergency stop and creep through the road markings at about 10, then speed up and whizz off again. It’s absolutely fabulous driving, totally safe Hmm.

adaline · 15/07/2018 15:29

I get really frustrated when I'm stuck behind a slow driver and it happens a lot around here, especially during the summer.

Last night I was driving home along an NSL country road. Admittedly you can't go at 60 due to the corners but I was stuck behind a man driving at 25mph for a good eight miles. There are no safe spots to overtake and even if there were, he was weaving all over the place and spent half the time on the wrong side of the road.

I was bloody annoyed he added 15 minutes onto my journey home but also worried he was going to go round a corner on the wrong side and cause an accident!

Gettingbackonmyfeet · 15/07/2018 15:29

Hmm if you are going so slowly you can't get up a slight bank you are going way too slow

cuppaandcake · 15/07/2018 15:42

Why did u need to slow down when you were already going under 30mph?

BlueNeighbourhood1 · 15/07/2018 15:46

I haven't RTFT but I've just followed a car doing 18mph (which was probably about 15mph) in a residential area, and then did 37 for 2.4 miles on a single lane road which was 60 limit.

I'm all for people taking care but people need to realise driving at these speeds is as dangerous as speeding, it's ridiculous. If you're not confident driving at appropriate speeds you shouldn't be on the road at all.

sissy89 · 15/07/2018 15:54

I've just been in the car with my mum on the road I live on which is 60mph.

The driver in front was doing 40mph.

If I was driving, I would of over taken at the first point where it became safe.

My mum however was quite happy driving behind. I became increasingly frustrated as I could see traffic queuing behind and it just was bloody frustrating going so slow along that road.

My mum is type that only drives at 60 on a dual carriage way. 65 on a motorway. She will drive her whole journey on a motorway in the first lane behind a lorry driver. Drives me absolutely bonkers. If she ever goes over the speed limit - which is only ever 2mph at the most, she goes into complete panic mode.

But then I'm the type should probably slow down a lot more. My mum never lets me drive her anywhere.

There are no perfect drivers.

ALittleAubergine · 15/07/2018 15:56

I'm learning at the moment and have been told that in a 30 zone I should aim for a steady speed of between 25-30, ultimately should be as close to 30 as possible. I don't think driving at 25 would be so awful but I'm still learning.

PurpleCrazyHorse · 15/07/2018 16:10

OP, you're still learning having just passed your test, without an instructor to help guide you, so you're bound to make some decisions that more experienced drivers wouldn't and also make some mistakes (everyone does). You'll also encounter a small number of other drivers that are idiots. Try not to let one driver knock your confidence. Well done for getting out and about in your new car on a quiet Sunday morning, keep practising. You might also find with an MMT gearbox, that you don't need to reduce your accelerator pressure (and therefore speed) when a gear change is imminent, just don't push harder to compensate for the slight drop in power, to keep the change smooth. I'd also say that if you're driving a 1l engine, you're going to get overtaken a lot, by frustrated drivers, because you don't have any power going up hill (I drive a 1l and it's a total pain and I wouldn't recommend it at all for a new driver).

However, you don't need to worry about getting flashed on a speed camera doing the speed limit, so there's no need to slow just for a camera. You say yourself you were doing 27 in a 30 zone and slowed for the camera. No need whatsoever. If you need to slow for the conditions, then fine, but if you're travelling at or slightly below the speed limit, see a camera, then you just carry on as you are. People who slow below the limit for a camera, when they were driving at the limit before, are annoying.

Although it is possible to have a fixed penalty for just 1mph over the speed limit, this is unlikely as the Police need to take into account the tolerances of the equipment they are using. There are usually a few mph of tolerance before triggering a photo or fixed penalty. Plus it would be hugely impractical to fine everyone doing 1mph over the speed limit going through a camera. They will want to focus (limited) resources on those going significantly above the limit.

Nothisispatrick · 15/07/2018 16:12

The 'speed limit is a limit not a target' thing applies to adapting to conditions, e.g. Don't zoom around corners at 50 even if the limit is 50, slow down if it's very rainy/foggy etc. Not just driving slowly because you want to.

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