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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
Bekstar · 16/07/2018 20:54

You are driving too slow but other driver also been a nob. Most roads past school round here are lowered to 20 during movement times. But slowing down can cause just as much problems as speeding can. You may cause a queue and be totally unaware of a tailback behind you. Then you get the road ragers who will try to overtake and may have an accident. The old lady who goes to our local church has just been fined for doing 22mph uneccesarily in a 30 zone. She didn't think it was a crime but a police car going to god knows were was in the traffic jam behind that she caused and was inconvenienced as he had a number of call outs for statements etc. They were not on emergency so couldn't really just fly past. But they pulled her and they said she was very lucky due to her age that they didn't recommend her resitting her test. I think they charged her with inconsiderate driving or something. She did ask if there was a minimum speed but they said its more about how other drivers are been imconvieniced by the driving so even if she had been doing 28 if it slowed the traffic down enough to cause a traffic jam then she could be charged. Personally I think all schools should be legally 20 and idiots who flash their fingers in rage should be fined too, but also that you should try and maintain the speed of the road unless there is a reason such as accident ahead etc.

Hamiltoes · 16/07/2018 21:07

I may not be facilitating your speeding - why should I? -

Why not? As i said before I did it all the time when I was unfamiliar with the road, it's just the curteous thing to do. Slow and indicate left to allow drivers behind you to pass as quickly as possible. I also wish people in stationary traffic would move as close to each kerb/ side as possible so emergency vehicles can pass down the middle easily like they do in some other countries. And I wish more people would understand that you give way to drivers ON the roundabout not drivers on the road to your left. Just wee basic things that would make roads more pleasant for everyone Smile

Pengggwn · 16/07/2018 21:10

Hamiltoes

People who break laws are not deserving of my courtesy. If you want to speed and happen to be behind me, you will have to overtake me.

grandmainmypocket · 16/07/2018 21:21

I'm a new driver and recently a colleague at work had nasty car accident which scared me. Thankfully he's going to be ok but it was very bad.

I did what comforts me and started reading about what causes accidents and how to stay safe. This study of 700,000 drivers found it wasn't speeding that was number one cause of accidents. There were a number of things.

The report commented that driving 30 in a 30 road doesn't mean you're driving safely. You should drive according to the road's circumstances. Down our side street you'ld crash if you go above 20mph.

People's snide comments about driving at 25 are so unnecessary. Being a new driver can be nerve wracking. OP take it a day at a time, don't drive too slowly but don't feel the need to copy anyone. I'm sorry you had that experience.

IrisTs · 16/07/2018 21:46

May I remind to those that slight drop in speed is not a bad thing ? 30 is a maximum speed limit not the minimum so it's not inappropriate to slow down! More and more councils are changing to 20 now

Carly46 · 16/07/2018 21:47

Awww bless u I was exactly the same wen I first passed my test was always going slower and panicking but practise makes perfect and the more u drive the more confident u will get so ignore all the negative comments they’ve all been a first time driver at some point and suppose they were perfect 👌 at it 😘

pinklemonade84 · 16/07/2018 21:50

Plus I don’t really see how lifting your foot off the accelerator is going to cause such a sudden drop in speed. Dropping gradually from a 30 to a 25 isn’t that big a drop

I had someone do it to me today and because I was paying attention to what they were doing, I was able to react and keep the same braking distance. People are acting like it’s such a big deal, when to be honest, if you’re paying attention to the road (like you should be) you adjust your speed to suit

And from reading the posts from the op the idiot in the van came tearing up behind her and overtook her, but people seem to be ignoring that so that they can stick the boot in

CanWeRewindTimePlease · 16/07/2018 21:52

Very interesting thread.
Personally I think lack of confidence and hesitation is much more dangerous than over confidence. To be able to drive appropriately you need to be able to read the road, all around you. You need to be able to easily maintain a steady speed (which op cannot do) and also I think you should be able to get in ANY car and get it's bite etc within a couple of minutes- this shouldn't take a few days!!

It's like riding a bike- once you can do it you can do it. You shouldn't be hesitant, slow down for no reason, or drive well under the speed limit for no good reason.

Drivers like this are frustrating!!

CanWeRewindTimePlease · 16/07/2018 21:53

@pinklemonade84
He can hardly have been tearing up behind her if he overtook her at a 30mph speed camera and didn't get flashed!!

pinklemonade84 · 16/07/2018 22:06

@CanWeRewindTimePlease look on page 5 where the op says that he wasn’t right behind her when she came off the accelerator slightly, so to me that suggests he came tearing up behind her

CanWeRewindTimePlease · 16/07/2018 22:15

@pinklemonade84
How can you possible be tearing going less than 30???? Jesus

Thefourmuskateers · 16/07/2018 22:15

Im a newish driver too as of Feb & I get you but you’ll quickly learn not to do that. If its 30 go at 30 if you can. Mind you, Im terrified on the motorway so only do 60 mostly but I stay in the left unless theres slips as they scare me.

TittyGolightly · 16/07/2018 22:22

only do 60 mostly but I stay in the left unless theres slips as they scare me.

Wonder how many accidents you’ve left in your wake.

Pengggwn · 16/07/2018 22:25

TittyGolightly

Please do explain how doing a max of 60 in the left lane, moving over to allow traffic to join, is going to cause accidents!

TittyGolightly · 16/07/2018 22:33

Because the traffic they’re joining is probably going at least 10mph faster.

TittyGolightly · 16/07/2018 22:38

Not to mention that indicated 60 is probably more like 55.

CaptainNelson · 16/07/2018 22:40

A couple of years ago I had to attend a speed awareness course (ahem). Anyway, the police really do seem to have a very different opinion of speed than a lot of the posters on here. The picture OP posted was the kind of thing they showed to get us to point out all the hazards (parked cars, side roads, etc) which would mean we should lower our speed. They really didn't think you should be driving at the limit all the time - I'm quite surprised that driving test assessors and a lot of posters on here seem to.
Anyway OP, I hope you don't feel put off by so many people's comments. I wouldn't slow down for a speed camera, but it's good that you're aware of what's going on around you and your car. Good luck and keep practising!

Thefourmuskateers · 16/07/2018 22:42

No accidents you fruit loop. I keep well away from other drivers wherever I can and move over to the middle lane in good time. Or did you just fancy belittling a new driver to stroke your ego?

Pengggwn · 16/07/2018 22:42

TittyGolightly

She didn't say she joins at 60 (not that that is an issue when joining from a slip road - it is usually the speed of the traffic). She said she usually goes in the left hand lane at 60. She moves over if there are skip roads.

And she has been driving for a few months. We were all new to it once. You are actually being a bit of a knob now.

Thefourmuskateers · 16/07/2018 22:44

The amount of dickheads I watched cut right in front of others today at 70/80mph is exactly why I stick to the left and leave adequate braking distance. I tend to find in the left lane 65 is the max I get to around here anyway as its full of lorries and vans that staying adequate braking distance away from means 70 isnt possible.

Horridhenry88 · 16/07/2018 22:48

Such a lack of empathy from many posters. Ok you are a new driver sensible displaying p plates. You made a minor understandable error of judgement which has been blown out of all proportion.
People who overtake safely are not idiots as of course op understands. The van driver was being an arse. I bet he overtook you and then slowed down so he could sure you saw him giving you the finger. That is aggressive and unnecessary.
Ok if this is the biggest mistake you make in those early days of driving than you are doing great.

TittyGolightly · 16/07/2018 22:48

She didn't say she joins at 60 (not that that is an issue when joining from a slip road - it is usually the speed of the traffic). She said she usually goes in the left hand lane at 60. She moves over if there are skip roads.

I didn’t say anything about joining the road from a slip road. Hmm

So she poodles along with the lorries in the left lane at 60. Spots a slip road coming up and moves into the middle lane, where cars are likely doing 70 at what speed.......?

Horridhenry88 · 16/07/2018 22:49

Op not ok

TittyGolightly · 16/07/2018 22:52

No accidents you fruit loop. I keep well away from other drivers wherever I can and move over to the middle lane in good time. Or did you just fancy belittling a new driver to stroke your ego?

How would you know? If you’re pulling into faster traffic in the middle lane of the motorway every time you see a slip road (why, I have no idea) then the cars behind you have to brake. And the cars behind them. And behind them. And behind them. Cars are less stable under braking, and we know other people don’t leave enough space. Hence the risk of accidents behind you is pretty high.

Pengggwn · 16/07/2018 22:54

TittyGolightly

She said she mostly does 60. What is the matter with you? You seem to have some bizarre obsession with criticising the way others drive, even when there is nothing wrong with it.

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