to wonder why slow drivers always drive at 40?

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Whenever I'm stuck behind a slow driver on a 60mph road, they are always doing bang on 40. No more, no less.

Why is 40 the magic number?

I've also found these drivers continue at 40 even when they get to a built up area with a 30mph speed limit.

Because they’re actual idiots.

I was driving home on an A road today - parts are 70, parts are 50 - and there was an idiot in a van going at 40 in the middle lane holding up loads of traffic.

Then there was the prick who joined the fast road from the slip road at 30 and just didn’t change speed.

The the arsehole who cut me up on the roundabout and the nearly caused an accident turning right without indicating.

Some people on the road are CUNTS.

Sorry - I’ve had a very stressful driving day and feel horribly anxious

These people are the bane of my life, I can just imagine them proudly boasting about their cars " I love my Honda Jazz, it goes at 40mph, no faster, no slower"

I only learned to drive in my 30s and my instructors was insistent that I ‘push’my speed up to a safe speed appropriate for the road and if I was on a stretch that was 60 she expected to see me driving at pretty much the limit (if safe obv).

I just don’t understand the arrogance of someone happily cruising along within traffic queuing behind and a massive clear stretch ahead of them.

There are definitely people who drive at 40 mph whatever the speed limit is.

I drive along a major A road on my way to work which has the following speed limits:
30 - 40 - 70 - 50 - 30 (average speed check) - 40 - 60.
I frequently follow people who drive at 40mph all the way (including through the average speed check zone). Just why?

Maybe they don’t know the limits and think ‘I’ll just do 40’.

I think many of those such people have sight or other medical issues, and if we had proper medical standards for driving, would not have a licence.

I agree. I live in rural Sussex and there's so many of them! Worse, are the ones who brake because there's a slight corner or a car coming the other way.

My children have learnt some quite interesting words from being sat on a car with me.

Pisses me right off when visiting the folks in Yorkshire. They are tourists. You can see them pointing at things. Grrrr

I wanted to start this thread yesterday!!!!! And these people always pull out in front of you, even when there's nobody behind you. 😡🤬😡🤬😡🤬😡🤬😡🤬🤬🤬

Yanbu. It's definitely a "this is the speed at which I drive" mentality.

I was stuck behind one of these today. Pootled along a single lane A road at steady Eddie 40mph, despite that stretch being national speed limit. Then, when the limit DECREASED to fifty, he sped up!
He also then took the right hand turn lane at the roundabout in order to go straight across.
🙄

They do it because they're clueless. Today I followed a car along a road that went from 30 -40-60-40-30. They went at 40 the entire time I was behind them. I've found these are also the people who cannot use indicators properly on roundabouts either.

PS @cryptofascist it was a sodding Honda too!

I call them 40mph wankers. They are usually the ones that will also pull straight out in front of you instead of waiting. Really pisses me off especially if a) it’s a 60mph stretch and b) there are absolutely no other cars around. It just causes you to do an otherwise unnecessary overtake (when safe to do so etc). I mean they know they are going to drive slow, they only have to wait for one car to pass so WTF do they feel the need to pull out?!

It's almost as annoying when they're behind you! Can't see them for dust in a 60 , right up against your bumper in a 30!

I think it's a special club!

There is a part of me that thinks they do it in am attempt to save fuel. Not sure I would risk end up in a ditch/someone's front living room to avoid breaking and accelerating but I'm just sensible that way.

I think it's just lack of road awareness: that would be pretty much what I would have done when I first passed my test if I wasn't concentrating. Its tricky when you're on national speed limit roads though as most of them round my way can't be driven at 60 so you have to use your judgement and there will be a range of reasonable speeds. If it's a wide straight road then obviously you should be doing pretty much 60 though.

They drive at 40 when it's 30 too!

Ah OP - I too have noticed this 40mph-for-everything driving speed! I have a rural drive to work in the mornings and there are increased numbers of day trippers on my route, to make up for the lack of schools traffic. They just don't know how to drive on the country roads and many of them seem to have their foot permanently on the brake instead of changing down a gear. Grr. Felt good to get that off my chest .

Because 40 is a safe speed!

40 on a dual carriageway = safe
40 on a national speed limit road = safe
40 through a village = safe
40 past a school = safe
40 on the motorway = safe

Alternatively they are just idiots who are too scared to adapt to the conditions and shouldn't be allowed to drive. You choose.

OP I was coming on this thread to say the same as you, not only do they drive at significantly below the speed limit in 60 areas they usually keep up their steady pace right through the 30 limits as well. If you can't adjust your speed for the road conditions and limits you shouldn't be driving. Too slow is unsafe just like too fast.

Sorry but 40 on a dual carriageway is not safe, it's an accident waiting to happen.

But it's the people who overtake them who get the blame.

We see loads of them too - our local A road varies between 30 / 40 / 50 / 60 and they just carry on at 40... they also hit roundabouts at 40, no matter which exit they're taking 😱