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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:
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MaisyPops · 15/07/2018 09:50

I was nervous as he wasn't getting in front just stayed there next to me for a couple of seconds
Probably because having abruptly slowed down, you probably started speeding up again.
For him to do an overtake around a speed camera, you must have been going slow. If your speedo said 25, you were probably doing 22.

From his perspective, a driver has abruptly slowed down for no reason, he has gone to do a perfectly legal overtake and now the driver is speeding back up again so now he's parallel to you. Of course he's going to be irritated! Your inconsistency with speed was keeping him on ghe wrong side of the road for longer than needed to perform a legal overtake.

He shouldn't have sworn at you, but it's really bloody annoying when you're mid overtake and the slower driver speeds up

AirForce0ne · 15/07/2018 09:51

When driving please consider the consequences of your actions on those behind you

That is exactly how you shouldn't drive. Worry about what is in front.

Not strictly true. Your rear-view mirror is not there just to put your lipstick on.

throwcushions · 15/07/2018 09:52

There's nothing wrong with driving at 25mph, nor with slowing down by taking your foot off the accelerator. It's a limit not a requirement! If you are driving so close or paying so little attention that you struggle to slow down when the car in front does, or you overtake in a residential area, or you swear at other road users, then you likely have a road rage issue and / or are not a very safe driver.

Slow does not equal safe but that does not mean you have the right to pressure someone to go faster when they are driving at a reasonable speed, even if that is below the limit.

Original poster
sallyhansen32 · 15/07/2018 09:52

I didn't speed up when he was overtaking ..not sure where you've got that from.
Straight after the speed camera I was pulling into the petrol station.
He did swear ..he stuck his finger up.
I have my p plates on.

OP posts:
thecatsthecats · 15/07/2018 09:54

The thing is OP, it's not whether your actions were acceptable in themselves (and I eleventy billion percent guarantee you that all of us on this thread made errors of nervous judgement in our first days of driving).

The important thing is accepting that you can improve your judgement and skill in driving over time. People do get wound up by other people's driving, but they usually only ever see a snapshot seconds long, then they get on with their day.

No, 25 in a 30 isn't the driving crime of the century. Nor is overtaking said car. But did you need to slow down? No. A speed camera isn't a hazard. Experience will make you more confident in handling this.

duckfuckduck · 15/07/2018 09:55

You can’t say if he swore.

He stuck his finger up. But that is not swearing.

Original poster
sallyhansen32 · 15/07/2018 09:55

Of course I want to improve my judgement.
Hopefully more times I'm out there the better I will get at judging situations

OP posts:
Original poster
sallyhansen32 · 15/07/2018 09:55

Sticking your middle finger up is deffo swearing ..he's not exactly wishing my good morning is he.

OP posts:
rwalker · 15/07/2018 09:55

if you were doing 25 then when the approached you they would of slowed to about 22 that what they overtook .

Bibesia · 15/07/2018 09:55

the van deffo was doing more than 30 when he came behind me.

How do you know? On your own admission you were at 27/28 originally and dropped down to 25 - in real terms that means you were at around 24-25 to start with and dropped down to around 22. And it's difficult to tell the speed of someone behind you.

Madein1995 · 15/07/2018 09:56

overtaking is fine. The finger was uncalled for, however if you're on the road, one car is holding everyone up, and you want to go to the speed limit - 30 in a residential is hardly earth shattering - fhen when shouldn't you overtake? You ARE allowed!

bluemoonchances · 15/07/2018 09:56

He's an idiot for putting his finger up but he had every right to over take.

Lots of people have said that the limit is a target which is correct, however when safe to do so why would you not drive at the limit? And if you're not driving at the limit you can't be annoyed if people overtake you. Also to add, if a person tries to over take and you do something daft like accelerate to stop them completing their manoeuvre, you are the one driving dangerously. I say this as an experienced emergency services driver.

Also to add, drivers who have completed advanced driving courses are taught to drive in a way that is safer, but to an untrained eye may not look it. For example when the road ahead is clear, driving over the center line.. less risk if someone steps into the road, pulls out of a side road without checking etc.

Get some P plates OP. Of course you're nervous being a new driver, but other drivers don't know that. Plus you're going to meet a lot of idiots on the road so you're going to have to not take the odd finger personally!

Original poster
sallyhansen32 · 15/07/2018 09:57

Wow I actually feel like I'm on trial at crown court.
Thanks for your advice everyone
Think il leave it there now.

OP posts:
Pengggwn · 15/07/2018 09:57

*AirForce0ne

Your rear view mirror is for: reversing, being aware of whether someone is overtaking, being aware of dangerous drivers, etc. It isn't so you can worry about the safety of people in other cars and adjust your driving for them. That is for them to do.

throwcushions · 15/07/2018 09:57

But also OP if someone does overtake, don't take it personally, don't let it worry you and never speed up while they are doing it. That is dangerous.

duckfuckduck · 15/07/2018 09:58

Swearing is use of offensive language.

It was an offensive gesture but he didn’t swear by sticking up his finger.

He would have swore if he’d shouted fucking cunt as he drove past whilst sticking up his finger.

People will make rude gestures at you driving it happens. Don’t make it into more than it is. For your,own good.

bluemoonchances · 15/07/2018 09:58

Limit is not a target... stupid phone typing!

MaisyPops · 15/07/2018 09:58

It is the most logical explanation for how he ended up next to you (and has happened to me on a number of occasions overtaking slow and inconsistent drivers).

Driver A was doing 30 and abtuptly slows to 25 (so more like 22) because they saw a speed camera.
Driver B is behind driver A (and driver A has already claimed B was obviously doing more than 30 when they approached them), they slow to 30 but then have to brake when A drops their speed for no reason.
Driver B goes to do a perfectly safe overtake and gets onto the other side of the road. They want to be past driver A.
Driver A meanwhile has increased their speed again because they are past the speed camera so don't see the need to be driving at 22 mph anymore.
Driver B ends up parallel to driver A.

Happened to me lots on rural roads.
Inconsistent driver does 25mph on country roads. Get to straight bit, i go to overtake, get on the other side, inconsistent driver decides to increase their speed to 35mph whilst I'm doing an overtake.

That's the problem with inconsistent drivers. They are so in their own zone with a sense that they are right and every other driver is wrong that they don't pay attention to other road users or consider other road users because they are so adament that they are right.

EstuaryBird · 15/07/2018 09:59

The national speed limit is a limit, not a target. If you felt the conditions meant you needed to drop your speed then you did the right thing

The whole point is that the only reason she slowed down is because she saw a speed camera and was scared of getting points!! I don't know how that can possibly be conditions that meant you needed to drop your speed!

coolncalm · 15/07/2018 10:00

Who drives with tons of confidence immediately after passing their test. Ffs leave the Op alone, aggressive driver giving her the finger while overtaking is the last thing she needs. It's obvious too that she doesn't mean all overtakers are idiots. I'm sure your confidence will grow by the day Op. Happy motoring. Smile

BlueBug45 · 15/07/2018 10:00

@AirForceOne agreed

I've been on motorways and other roads where there has been a fire engine or ambulance right behind someone for a mile with lights flashing and sirens on.

If you regularly look behind you, you can see an emergency vehicle coming up up to a few miles away on a straight road.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 15/07/2018 10:02

I'll just jump in here with my username ^

Most schools will have a 20 mph limit round them , something to be aware of when you're out ( I'm guessing on a Sunday though no school traffic)

ManInVan was probably one of those blessed people who was born knowing how to drive. We get loads of them round here.
A driver behind me was hooting and guestering for me to "move forward" as I'd left a space in front of me that he wasn't happy with ........... it was a Yellow Box Junction and he go go fuck himself if he thought I was getting a penalty for him . (I didn't enlighten him of this, I just ignored him while he went apeshit)

drearydeardre · 15/07/2018 10:03

duck
the finger is offensive and says f* you in no uncertain terms - but you would not see that would you given your sweary username?

sayanythingelse · 15/07/2018 10:05

The van driver shouldn't have been so aggressive but unfortunately that's the nature of the roads. Most people will be fine, some will be dicks who tailgate you and drive aggressively.

That being said, it sounds like you could do with some more practice. I used to live near an Asda that pulled out onto a national speed limit road (60 in this case) with speed cameras on. I myself nearly got into accidents when little old dears were driving too slow or slammed their brakes on to do 30 through the cameras. I usually overtake them aswell because I don't like being behind a hesitant and unpredictable driver. If they suddenly slow down without warning and I drive into the back of them - it's my fault.

I think you'll be fine, chalk this one up to experience and put some P plates on so people know that you're a new driver.

Original poster
sallyhansen32 · 15/07/2018 10:05

I did get 2 minors for hesitation on my test so it's deffo something I do need to work on and I will do.

OP posts:
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