Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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
curlyrebel · 15/07/2018 09:31

Wow I think everyone's being a bit hard on the OP for driving at 5mph below the speed limit when she's only just passed her test. I think though that the other driver might have got angry if she dropped her speed suddenly, causing the other driver to brake excessively. Definitely get a P plate OP and hope you have nicer experiences on the road in the future.

TooTrueToBeGood · 15/07/2018 09:31

I don't think I'm a bad driver tbh at all
Too cautious maybe at times but not cautious enough to cause any accidents

So you don't think being too cautious has associated risks? We are all imperfect drivers, we could all improve, we all have bad habits and we all make mistakes. There was no legitimate reason for you to drop to 25 mph, none. You were impeding those behind you for no reason and regardless of how quickly/slowly you dropped your speed you were driving unpredictably. You are a bad driver. Maybe not the worst, but you won't improve as long as you hold onto the delusion that you're not a bad driver. He was a dick for being abusive towards you but nobody here can judge whether his overtaking was dangerous or not as we didn't witness it. What we can be sure of is that he had to overtake you if he wanted to drive up to the speed limit and not worry about the driver in front randomly slowing down for no good reason.

JacquesHammer · 15/07/2018 09:32

It is safer, lower the speed the less chance of the camera snapping you

It isn’t safer, it is quite the opposite. You’re far better doing a constant speed just under the limit if you really must be below the limit. The speed limit is 30. You don’t get snapped for doing the speed limit.

FourFriedChickensDryWhiteToast · 15/07/2018 09:32

I play the 'drive to the prescribed limit' game every time I drive now and I can tell you it enrages people.

PipeDown1 · 15/07/2018 09:32

Sorry if I missed you saying if you do but do you have a P sign in your car? Might help alert other drivers that your new to the road? Otherwise the other driver probably thought you were just overly cautious?

Not sure what going past a school has to do with anything? Especially early on a Sunday morning? If the limit is 30 then it's 30. If it was a school day or at school drop of time then maybe you would have more reason to drop your speed. Most schools are 20mph zones anyway? Are you sure it wasn't a 20 mph zone and you missed the sign?

Van driver was an idiot to stick his fingers up. It was one of those situations where you're driving early in the morning and there's an overly cautious driver in front who keeps braking and slows down unnecessarily. He didn't know you are used to the road. Are you sure he hadn't been behind you for a while and you slowing for the speed camera was the final "ffs" moment? I lost a mark when I did my test for doing 30 in a 40 zone Confused

I don't know why people slow down for speed cameras if they aren't speeding in the first place? They do it where I am on a 50mph duel carriageway where they drop down to 40mph and look in amazement when you overtake, still within the speed limit and the camera doesn't flash! 🤗

Sycamoretrees · 15/07/2018 09:32

blackbirdbluebottle: It is safer, lower the speed the less chance of the camera snapping you

No it doesn't lower the chances of being flashed.... there's the same chance of being flashed if you are going at any speed under the limit - zero! Speed cameras only flash if you are going over the speed limit.

extinctspecies · 15/07/2018 09:33

You're not supposed to drive AT the speed limit.

Your supposed to drive under it.

Tomorrowillbeachicken · 15/07/2018 09:33

Tbh I think if you suddenly started to drop your speed due to a speed camera you may well be pulled over by police for driving without due care and attention as you end up as a hazard on the road.

SerenDippitty · 15/07/2018 09:34

I think doing 25 in a built up 30 area is reasonable enough. The 30 isn’t a target it’s a safe maximum.

Stripybeachbag · 15/07/2018 09:34

Most people on this thread appear to drive at the speed limit all the time apparently!!! This is not true. Ignore them OP.

You should adjust your speed for the conditions. Around me in the back streets you can go at 30, but I never do because there are young kids and cars that are liable to pull out of drives suddenly. Also there are speed bumps to stop you going at 30!

Also I would never do the national speed limit on twisty turny country roads as you never know what is coming up round a corner.

You learn how to adjust your speed to what you feel is comfortable and safe with experience. Stick to what you feel is safe until you get more confidence. Fuck the horn honkers. I'd rather feel safe and confident and be an inconvenience to others. When you have been honked for slowing down to stop at an orange light in pissing rain in the dark, you understand that some people are impatient twats.

By the way he probably gave you the finger because you are a woman as much as because of your speed.

Another note: be careful when talking about driving. People will take your pov as an attack on their impeccable driving skills (like having a good sense humour - everyone is an excellent driver).

JacquesHammer · 15/07/2018 09:34

I definitely slowed abruptly, but the only reason that presented him with a problem was that he wasn't observing his stopping distances

Slowing abruptly other than in an emergency is poor driving.

AirForce0ne · 15/07/2018 09:35

TatterdemalionAspie

I just think you were harsh. I would over-take at the first opportunity too, and I tend to drive a tad too fast rather than a tad too slow, but I get more annoyed with reckless drivers than with hesitant ones.

Original poster
sallyhansen32 · 15/07/2018 09:35

I'm not a "good driver" as in brilliant /perfect
I'm safe (I know I'm safe ) I might have made a error in judgement by coming off accelerator slightly but the van deffo was doing more than 30 when he came behind me.

OP posts:
extinctspecies · 15/07/2018 09:35

For absolute clarity:

"The speed limit is the absolute maximum - it doesn’t mean it’s safe to drive at this speed in all conditions."

www.gov.uk/speed-limits

OP did nothing wrong.

MaisyPops · 15/07/2018 09:36

People will take your pov as an attack on their impeccable driving skills
No. People thing that slowing down abruptly not in an emergency is poor driving. You don't have to be a perfect driver to see the issue with that.

Original poster
sallyhansen32 · 15/07/2018 09:36

Tbh now I'm a bit scared to drive incase more people think I'm dangerous or a bad driver.

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 15/07/2018 09:37

If you do this on a 60mph road (suddenly brake down to 50 or 45 for a camera) you're likely to cause an accident.

Only if the car behind has a crap driver who hasn’t kept a proper braking distance.

I’m surprised at how many posters were perfect drivers after driving for 4 days.

Overtaking doesn’t make someone an idiot. Being a driver who isn’t tolerant of new or learner drivers does though.

lljkk · 15/07/2018 09:37

I'm only an idiot some of the time when I overtake. Bluster puff!

Driving 25 in a 30 zone is reasonable. I say that as a natural speed demon. 18yo DS is very scared of getting points (only just got license) & would think to do same as OP. I can't afford any more points, 25 in a 30 is reasonable. I suppose if it says 25 on dash then you're really going 22, but still reasonable in urban area.

Driving 40 in no traffic good conditions on the 60 road otoh, that is something I can moan about at length.

Stripybeachbag · 15/07/2018 09:37

Tbh I think if you suddenly started to drop your speed due to a speed camera you may well be pulled over by police for driving without due care and attention as you end up as a hazard on the road.

I can think of a couple of speed cameras at which the police could score big time with this logic. In fact one could argue that the cameras are positioned to get nearly every motorist one way or the other.

JacquesHammer · 15/07/2018 09:38

Tbh now I'm a bit scared to drive incase more people think I'm dangerous or a bad driver

You’ve passed your test. You can obviously drive to the prescribed standard.

You need to drive, not be overly cautious in a situation you’re entitled to be in.

Blizzardagain · 15/07/2018 09:38

OP if I was behind you and you were going 27 MPH and you dropped to go even slower, yes I would overtake if safe to do so. He was BU to be aggressive when doing so however.

Pengggwn · 15/07/2018 09:38

Tbh I think if you suddenly started to drop your speed due to a speed camera you may well be pulled over by police for driving without due care and attention as you end up as a hazard on the road.

What total bollocks. Dropping from 30 to 25 is a barely perceptible change, or should be, if the person behind you isn't driving too close. There should be plenty of time for them to adjust their speed without any risk to anyone.

TooTrueToBeGood · 15/07/2018 09:38

*You're not supposed to drive AT the speed limit.

Your supposed to drive under it.*

You're supposed to drive up to the limit (and that includes at the limit) as the conditions safely allow. If your statement was correct then drivers could be done for driving at 30 in a 30 zone or 60 in a 60 zone. They can't be done for driving at the limit. You are wrong.

SoupDragon · 15/07/2018 09:39

People thing that slowing down abruptly not in an emergency is poor driving.

She didn’t slow down abruptly.

FitzChivalry · 15/07/2018 09:39

There's often a camera near me, in the dip of a hill, and loads of people will do max 20 going past it, (in a 30) that is taking the piss

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.

Swipe left for the next trending thread