To think people who overtake are idiots?

[sallyhansen32]

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.

People die every day on roads because of idiots driving too quickly. Every single day.

Let’s be clear on this, in the UK one person dies every other day where exceeding the speed limit is one of the contributory factors.

Speed is one of the main killers on the roads

Again that is not true, only a fairly small proportion of fatalities have speed as one of the contributory factors.

@sallyhansen32 right well just get over it then op! This is going to happen to you all the time when driving. Wether you are at fault or not. Some drivers are idiots....get over it.

Someone over took you? So what? You were going slower than you needed too which is fine as you are a new driver and just being cautious. The driver shouldn't of stuck fingers up but there are always some knob heads on the road. Just forget about it and carry on.

I'll hold my hand up and say I shouted at someone a few months back.....because as I was turning left (my right of way) someone pulled out at me and I had to do an emergency stop. I'm pregnant and had my 2dcs in the car. If I didn't have my wits about me it could of been a lot worse. Not in any way my fault and the woman in question just laughed and drove off....nice

The other week I pulled out of a junction. There was a car coming but it was indicating to turn and had slowed down so off I went....only for the car to speed up, turn it's indicator off and once again, nearly go into the side of me. I just raised my hands at this driver but they put their head down and ignored me.

This will happen to you, it happens to everyone.

But you really just need to get over it - there are wankers on the road. There are people who drive too fast. There are people that drive to slow. There are drink/drug drivers. There are drivers who drive like dickheads for the thrill of it. Then here's the drivers with no insurance. The drivers that don't bother putting their kids in car seats....the list goes on.

Next time something similar happens - which it will do -Just brush it off, forget about it and carry on with your journey instead of coming on here ranting about it for a couple of days. I understand you've just passed your test but it really wouldn't be a big deal to most. When you've had more driving experience, you will of forgotten about it 5 mins later.

OP, I think you're taking a lot of flack that people really want to direct at other drivers who drive excessively slowly (my own personal bug bear are those that drive at a constant 45mph, both in 60mph and 30 mph limit zones, thus driving too slow in the 60 roads and then subsequently speeding in the 30; I bloody hate those guys).

The advice is that you:
*"Adapt your driving to the appropriate type and condition of road you are on. In particular

• do not treat speed limits as a target. It is often not appropriate or safe to drive at the maximum speed limit
• take the road and traffic conditions into account. Be prepared for unexpected or difficult situations, for example, the road being blocked beyond a blind bend. Be prepared to adjust your speed as a precaution
• where there are junctions, be prepared for road users emerging

in side roads and country lanes look out for unmarked junctions where nobody has priority

• be prepared to stop at traffic control systems, road works, pedestrian crossings or traffic lights as necessary
• try to anticipate what pedestrians and cyclists might do. If pedestrians, particularly children, are looking the other way, they may step out into the road without seeing you."*

It seems to me that you more or less followed this, slowing down in a built up area because you felt it was precautionally safer to do so.

Furthermore, the guidelines are to..
*"Be considerate. Be careful of and considerate towards all types of road users, especially those requiring extra care (see Rule 204).

• you MUST NOT throw anything out of a vehicle; for example, food or food packaging, cigarette ends, cans, paper or carrier bags. This can endanger other road users, particularly motorcyclists and cyclists.
• try to be understanding if other road users cause problems; they may be inexperienced or not know the area well.
• be patient; remember that anyone can make a mistake.
• do not allow yourself to become agitated or involved if someone is behaving badly on the road. This will only make the situation worse. Pull over, calm down and, when you feel relaxed, continue your journey.
• slow down and hold back if a road user pulls out into your path at a junction. Allow them to get clear. Do not over-react by driving too close behind to intimidate them."*

The van driver clearly failed to follow this at all.

I drive lots of country miles and hate nothing more than being stuck behind a slow coach. That said, If I'd been behind you in this scenario it wouldn't have bothered me at all.

Speed is the 3rd biggest killer on the road. Drunk driving and distracted are 2nd and 1st respectively. Most overtaking I see is dangerous.

Congratulations on passing OP

The fact that you have taken the time to put your P plates on your car would make me far less pissed off with any crackpot decisions you choose to make. I'd give you a wide berth which is the whole point of them.

I live on a test route - it is beyond infuriating being stuck behind someone doing their manoeuvres when I'm running late for work but I remember being a learner. I remember the fear of certain roundabouts and routes after I'd passed. despite it being 25 years ago
This is enough to make me grit my teeth and smile encouragingly.

You'll be fab in a few weeks, joining the rest of us in collecting speeding points like they're football stickers..

No, lack of attention causes road deaths, speeding has little to do with that. People don't pay enough attention to what's happening in front of them and don't drive to the conditions.

Slow drivers/lane hoggers are very much responsible also for some of the deplorable driving that I see where drivers are trying to get around them. They should be booked just as much as speeding drivers are.

Speed is the 3rd biggest killer on the road. Drunk driving and distracted are 2nd and 1st respectively. Most overtaking I see is dangerous.

Exceeding the speed limit is the 4th highest contributory factor but still quite low over all. Drink driving’s way down the list.

That's the spirit, FerylBeryl!

I've never collected points for speeding.

I've never collected football stickers.

@LyingWitchInTheWardrobe
It was a joke Lethal, a joke. We used to have them here far more frequently.
Be a pretty poor collection wouldn't it? You'd not get past 12!

- or have his book taken away...

@sallyhansen32 Can you take your car back to the dealer and strike a deal for a better replacement? Thats assuming you went to a dealer - my apologies if not. If that's not an option you're going to need to head out in your car for a good long drive to really get a feel for it. 5 minutes at a time is no good. Country roads, built up areas and duals/motorway all in one journey if possible.

I've been driving for years and I'm not too comfortable in an automatic.

Igneococcus

No, I meant the entitlement of expecting me to slow to a stop in a layby so you can break the speed limit. I am more than happy to pull over if I want to proceed slowly, but not if I want to drive at a speed approaching the limit and someone wants to break the law. That's their problem and not my job to facilitate them.

I have a Toyota Auris which has a manual mode, which I think is similar or the same as your car, OP, and I don't have a problem with it at all. I drive it as a clutchless manual, in effect, and it's fine. I can drive fast, slow, all speeds inbetween and crawl along in slow traffic without going up the back of the car in front of me.

But to go back to your original point, if you are doing 25mph in a 30 limit nobody should be overtaking you. Somewhat different if you do it in a 40 limit upwards but even then they should only overtake if safe, which many drivers do not, overtaking on bends or where there are dips.

But to go back to your original point, if you are doing 25mph in a 30 limit nobody should be overtaking you.

Why not?

I've been putting it in E mode and that's when it's lurching forward slightly.

Where I live, all the roads have a 20 mph limit for safety reasons. In any case, 30 mph is a maximum - it doesn't mean that you should drive at 30 mph at all times. Sounds very sensible to drop to 25 mph outside a school, especially when you're a relatively inexperienced driver. He was a twat to overtake near a school, and a twat to give you the finger.

I’m sorry, if you are going slow and I’m trying to get somewhere, and it’s safe to overtake you, I will. However, for the van to act like a twat isn’t on. Not all of us who overtake are idiots. I just prefer going the actual speed limit, and only overtake when it’s safe to do so.

It's a speed limit not a target so dropping to 25 is totally acceptable, not acceptable surely to overtake next to a school and definitely not acceptable to behave like a twat!

Part of my commute made me think of this thread.
Dual carriageway exit, lights controlled. Slowed to the green light and then crawled through it. Then crawled to the roundabout
Roundabout, 2 lanes, traffic lights on green, slowed down up to a green light (30mph zone, already doing 25 so no need to slow again/ reasonable to do 30 and slow to 25 round the roundabout). Crawls around the roundabout. Brakes again coming off the roundabout. Crawls along the next stretch of road at 15mph, I presume because there's a crossing ahead but no need due to perfect visibility.
I'm sure they thought they were being very safe. I thought they were being a fucking nuisance.

Van driver was a rude arse - they often are. Aim not to drop so far below the speed limit, but The fact you have P plates clearly indicates you are new to driving and people should be more considerate. People are only idiots for overtaking if it’s dangerous to do so

Sounds very sensible to drop to 25 mph outside a school

On a Sunday?

I always drop my speed when approaching cameras or passing schools.
On the topic of speed..
Once read that the limits were based on the stopping distance of something like a ford Anglia with drum brakes and tyres that were about as grippy as ice on Teflon!!
Nothing winds me up more than some dozy twat doing 30 in a 40 or 50 zone. Especially if they are away with the fairies too.
Forcing drivers to overtake because someone is unable to maintain a speed on the road on which they are travelling is in my view worse than the driver who is forced to overtake.
Simple, if you can't keep up...KEEP OFF

It's a speed limit not a target so dropping to 25 is totally acceptable

Gonna try that on my commute how. I’m sure driving down the motorway at 25mph is going to be great fun.