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Original poster

Drive at the speed limit

348 replies

OldSpeclkledHen · 01/09/2018 18:37

I am sick to bloody death of drivers who refuse to drive upto the speed limit.

Ffs if it's 60mph speed limit - drive at fucking 60 -NOT 30 🤬🤬

Three times I have been out driving since last night, EVERY fucking time on 3 different journeys I have been stuck behind some freaking twat who cannot drive upto the speed limit, or overtake a fucking cyclist (but that's another rant)

I am by no means a girl racer, but FFS get out of my fucking way.

Aaaaaand breathe.

OP posts:
WhyIsntGeorgeCalledPeterOrPaul · 01/09/2018 19:31

Driving well below the speed limit is just as dangerous.

How?

AnnieAnoniMoose · 01/09/2018 19:32

I was driving along the other day, raging about the same thing. Good visibility, nice weather but the sun not incredibly bright, no one around...except the bloke doing 30, in a 60...

I was muttering the MN ‘It’s a limit not a target...it’s a limit not a target...’ then I decided, fuck that. It IS a ‘target’ when the conditions are sodding well perfect...learn to drive you twat!

Drive at the speed you feel is safe, BUT if you are constantly driving on various roads at less than the posted safe speed for the road, get some lessons!

Bunnyrabbitbinkyhouse · 01/09/2018 19:32

3 people (in 2 cars) died on Monday on a 60mph road near my house, makes you think about slowing down

Pissedoffdotcom · 01/09/2018 19:32

Did you get up their arses by any chance? Because that is a sure fire way of making somebody slow down. No excuse for poor driving...which equates to aggressive driving too!

ChikiTIKI · 01/09/2018 19:35

IT is dangerous to drive so slowly, half the speed limit is too slow.

It makes you an obstacle for the other road users. They all have to overtake you. More likely an accident will happen. I don't like using the word "accident" as it implies it's inevitable and nobody's fault, but you know what I mean.

BonnieF · 01/09/2018 19:36

Agree completely OP.

The best solution to this problem that I have found involves driving a car with a bit of performance which can be used to quickly &safely overtake the pootling roadblockers. I drive a BMW M135i. Highly recommended.

Lizzie48 · 01/09/2018 19:36

I agree, @gggrrrargh I'm very wary when overtaking cyclists, as there really needs to be enough visibility ahead. Cyclists are so vulnerable on the road.

CloudCaptain · 01/09/2018 19:37

Even worse when they get to a nice straight bit, perfect for overtaking, and they speed up!

anniehm · 01/09/2018 19:38

The speed limit a maximum not a minimum! You should drive at a speed you think is safe for the road and conditions. In my experience many 60mph roads (ordinary single carriageway ones) are not safe for that speed, they twist and have blind bends with tractors, cyclists, horse riders and pedestrians potentially around them. So much anger makes me very concerned that you are the unsafe driver. Far better to drive safely at 50.

Pissedoffdotcom · 01/09/2018 19:39

They all have to overtake you

Well no, they don't have to at all. People will get impatient & angry like the OP & decide to overtake...but they don't have to.

The overtaking the bike thing is ridiculous. Some people like to overtake bikes/other cars regardless of what they can see in front of them...other people are more cautious & will wait until they can see clear road. Having lost a family member after an idiot mistimed his overtake because he was late to the gym the wanker I know which I would rather

WhyIsntGeorgeCalledPeterOrPaul · 01/09/2018 19:40

It makes you an obstacle for the other road users. They all have to overtake you. More likely an accident will happen. I don't like using the word "accident" as it implies it's inevitable and nobody's fault, but you know what I mean.

Nobody has to overtake someone driving slowly.

This sounds kind of similar to what MN likes to call victim blaming. If somebody overtakes a slow car and causes an accident, the overtaker is at fault for overtaking when they obviously shouldn't have done.

AnnieAnoniMoose · 01/09/2018 19:41

That’s very sad Bunny.

However, why would it make you ‘think about slowing down’ - you don’t know we speed they were going at or what caused the accident.

Cyclists that’s entirely different. I will NOT be ‘hurried’ to overtake anything until I deem it safe & for cyclists that’s a VERY wide berth & not flying past them risking kicking up crap off the road. Same for horses, nothing faster than a crawl.

Stuckinthis · 01/09/2018 19:43

People should never feel forced to overtake a cyclist because they are slowing your journey, OP. The driver needs to be 100% sure it’s safe and only that driver (in their own car) can make that judgement.

As to the PP for the speed bump comment? WTAF? You are upset that people are slowing where speed-slowing measures are put in place? Have you considered, that even if you can take the speed bump at 30, they’ve been put in place because it’s potenially a dangerous area so they are trying to encourage you to take it slower. They aren’t put in place for the hell of it. Confused

overnightangel · 01/09/2018 19:44

@OldSpeclkledHen
There’s a happy middle ground to be reached but why does getting angry achieve?
You don’t seem so important that another 5mins our of your day would be a great loss to anyone

snowsun · 01/09/2018 19:45

People deal with speed differently. Some people feel safe at driving at 60 or more. But there is a point where regardless of the speed limit that we don't feel as in control of the car than we did when we were driving a few mph slower. That point is different for everyone.

I'd much rather follow someone driving slower than the speed limit feeling in total control of their car than following someone driving at the speed limit but not feeling comfortable driving at that speed.

Ansumpasty · 01/09/2018 19:46

The most annoying this is someone doing 40 on a national speed limit road...but then coming to a 30mph road and continuing at 40.

Amanduh · 01/09/2018 19:47

It is annoying when you’re stuck behind someone but I’d say for every Sunday driver dawdling I experience 10 racing WAY past the speed limit.

WhyIsntGeorgeCalledPeterOrPaul · 01/09/2018 19:47

People should never feel forced to overtake a cyclist because they are slowing your journey, OP. The driver needs to be 100% sure it’s safe and only that driver (in their own car) can make that judgement

And the same is true if you replace "a cyclist" with "any slow-moving vehicle".

MrsJBaptiste · 01/09/2018 19:52

sirmione Oh God, this does my head in! I was behind a golf yesterday that had been lowered so much that it practically stopped at very speed bump. Then raced off for the 10 metres before he practically stopped for the next one. FFS 😠

Lizzie48 · 01/09/2018 19:54

The most annoying this is someone doing 40 on a national speed limit road...but then coming to a 30mph road and continuing at 40.

This is so annoying because the driver is so clearly just not concentrating. Hmm

Itsatravesty · 01/09/2018 19:57

Well there's lots of reasons people might be driving below the speed limit, especially on winding country roads they might not be familiar with. They might have animals on board or fragile goods or first time out with a new baby or..you get the gist. If it stresses you out so much I'd suggest you were the danger on the roads and if you tailgated me you'd find yourself doing 20mph.

IT is dangerous to drive so slowly, half the speed limit is too slow. What even in torrential rain, icy conditions or heavy traffic?

CandleWithHair · 01/09/2018 19:57

You all need better playlists. No time for (pointless) raging about someone being a bit slow when you’re singing your heart out to a bit of [insert favourite band name].

Anger is the most dangerous thing when driving, not someone who for whatever reason doesn’t fancy pushing the speed limit to keep the tailgater behind happy.

Saidthesharktotheflyingfish · 01/09/2018 20:05

My XFiL was stopped twice by the police for slow driving so all this 'it's not a target' stuff doesnt always add up. It's sensible to drive at an appropriate speed for the road and the conditions. On a clear, straight, dry road with little traffic, that should surely be near the limit.

As for new drivers not knowing speed limits so sticking to 30 or 35, that doesnt make any sense. Road signs are there to be read. New drivers should be even more aware than most of road signs, so should know exactly what the speed limit is on the road they are driving on. If they cant manage that, then surely they wouldnt pass their test - you cant guess a speed limit.

PlatypusPie · 01/09/2018 20:05

Poop! Poop ! Make way for Mr Toad, the ingenious Mr Toad ! O, how clever I am !

Pissedoffdotcom · 01/09/2018 20:07

if you tailgated me you'd find yourself doing 20mph

Spot on, this is my approach. I'm a confident driver, if i'm driving below the speed limit there is a reason. If you decide to get so close to my bumper you could kiss it, i will slow down. Because guess what? Being hit up the arse at 20mph gives me a better chance of avoiding injury should i have to break suddenly than being hit up the arse at 40mph does

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