If you can't drive faster than 35mph....

[DeRigueurMortis]

So indulge me with a rant....

My drive to work involves a 10 mile section on what you might describe as country roads.

The national speed limit applies.

There are a couple of sections that are winding but the corners are not severe - for example you could safely drive the whole section at 55mph (inc cornering) and 60mph in the straights (in good conditions - in the dark/rain/snow you would obviously not be unreasonable to adjust your speed as required to be safe).

I appreciate that someone who doesn't know the road might want to adopt a slower pace and wouldn't think that going 45-50mph corners/straights was unreasonably slow.

However there is a man who regularly seems to be on the same schedule as me that that insists on driving the whole section at no more than 40mph slowing to 35mph for long stretches. He obviously knows the road having done the journey many times and his speed (or lack of) is not impacted by driving conditions.

Cars regularly bunch up behind him (I'm talking queues of 10/15 other road users) as opportunities for safely overtaking are limited
(and I've seen quite a few dodgy overtaking manoeuvres done in sheer frustration I would assume - which I don't condone).

I can't help feeling that if you're incapable of driving at an appropriate speed you shouldn't be on the road at all.

This man works in a building near to my office (I've seen the car parked there) and I'm getting to the point of wanting to walk over and speak to him if I see him getting in/out of his car to have a strong but polite word.

Realistically I won't because I'm not sure there's anything I can say to make him a better driver.

However I don't think I'm U for thinking of you can't drive at a reasonable speed you shouldn't be in charge of a vehicle at all.

Totally with you OP. Driving too slowly should be perceived just as badly as driving too fast.

Also agree and this can be a fail on a driving test.

Agreed totally. So inconsiderate.

I regularly have to make a journey similar to yours. I have to leave work at a certain time and it gives me 25 mins to get to my dds pre school. However I always get stuck behind people driving 10-20 miles under the speed limits. It’s so annoying. 25 mins is plenty of time even driving slightly under but I’m regularly 3-5 mins late and my child is upset (because they are ultra sensitive and that belongs on another thread).

YANBU. this frustrates me a lot. Obv no need to hit the national speed limit if conditions are bad etc but 35mph is v v slow

It's difficult to say on country roads. Unlike other roads there are a range of acceptable speeds so a more confident driver might do 50mph on some NSL roads close to me where as a newer driver might do 40mph and both would be reasonable (20MPH or 60 MPH would not be).

I was once driving at a steady speed on a section of country road within 2 minutes I had one driver behind frantically flashing his lights and dangerously overtaking and then a driver coming the other way shouting that I was driving recklessly fast! Everyone thinks their speed is exactly the appropriate speed.

That said if there are always a long queue behind him he probably is too slow. Not much you can do though apart from leave a little earlier.

Completely agree!

I have a similar thing where on a 70mph dual carriage way there are some drivers doing 40! It's so dangerous going so much under the limit it can be just as bad as speeding. If you're not confident to drive at an appropriate speed then get off the road.

These people absolutely make me sick. Ling straight 60mph stretches of country road and yet some people think it is acceptable to drive at 35-40, with big queues building up behind them.

I want these people find and given points on their licence. If you can’t drive at normal speeds get the fuck off the road.

The thing is if I get stuck behind him it only adds 5 mins to my travel time so it's not exactly a huge deal - but it's soo damn frustrating.

Equally i can help feel that one day there will be an accident because someone overtakes recklessly.

I just don't understand how he can be so lacking in awareness of all the cars behind him and the speed of those that do manage to safely overtake and realise that by driving so slowly he's actually being dangerous.

I used to get really worked up about this, but it's wasted energy and there's not much you can do about it.

Realistically it's not going to affect your journey by more than a few minutes. Is it really that big a deal?

I've found myself driving at 40 a lot more recently, our roads are terrible and I don't want to hit a pothole.

Anonymous note on the windscreen? You know you want to, and we could help

Theres always one knob who thinks national speed limit on a single carriageway is 40.

YANBU. I think some people see 40MPH as a universal speed limit.

His driving isn't dangerous. Anyone who overtakes recklessly is a fucking idiot and entire responsible for any consequences of their own selfish behaviour.

SO agree with this. It’s so frustrating. Completely understand if the conditions are poor / they’re clearly lost etc but on an average day, with good visibility, it drives me mad.

And quite often you follow the '40 in a 60' driver, to find that they still go at 40 when they get to a 30 limit, like their car is stuck at one speed.
I had a similar thing to you, op, with a 10 mile country road, 60 limit and no overtaking places at all. Every morning I used to get stuck behind the same car going at 40. I ended up leaving for work earlier just to avoid him.

I think you just need to take a few deep breaths, sing along to the radio and enjoy those extra 2 - 5 minutes. It's those who let their frustration come out in their driving who are the dangerous drivers.

One of the problems is that so many people don't understand what the National Speed limit sign (white circle with black diagonal line) means and just revert to doing that 35-40 everywhere, including built up areas. Grr!
Also really gets my goat when you're behind one of them that slams their brakes on at a speed camera, despite doing the correct speed, because they don't know what the actual speed limit is. That one especially goes out to all the morons on the A148 just east of Fakenham who brake for the speed camera despite already doing less than 60.

I disagree Morris. I think he is dangerous.

If he's not confident driving at a reasonable speed then I think it's safe to assume his reactions/driving ability is impaired to a degree that is fundamentally unsafe.

I've already said I don't condone reckless overtaking and do agree these people are also dangerous.

TheSmall you're right of course and generally that's what I (try to) do.

I'm just flabbergasted tbh that he has so little awareness of how much he's impacting other road users (or doesn't care).

I have the opposite problem. I travel to work 3 days a week at the same time as a woman driving a very old and battered Freelander. I assume she must drop her kids at school and then get to work for 9.... it's about an 8 mile stretch of B road. She drives like an absolute psychopath for want of a better word.... right on your tail, then swerving out to get past when she clearly can't. She has a very aggressive way of driving. I travel at 50-55 mph which is perfectly fast enough on roads that are very bendy as I know the road like the back of my hand, but annoyingly there are few places you can pull over to let her past. Last week I got so cross as I have my dogs in the car with me that I put my hazards on a couple of times and slowed right down. She's going to either kill herself or cause a really bad accident one of these days, and I've started going in earlier to try and avoid her as sods law she ends up 2" off my bumper

Sounds awful Spaniel tbh people driving up to my bumper is another driving hate of mine.

You're right that she sounds very dangerous :-(

Frankly the kind of driving the OP is describing is bad driving and betrays a complete unawareness of the likely reactions of other drivers. T

His driving isn't dangerous.
Failing to make proper progress is inconsiderate driving. You will fail a driving test for doing 40 in a 60 unless the conditions are hazardous. You can be given a penalty for it too.

One of the problems is that so many people don't understand what the National Speed limit sign
And far too many think it just means 60, even on a dual carriageway.

Eh? Didn't go near the Post button, stupid touch screen...

Technically he could get pulled up and booked for a 'poor driving' offence, though I guess the traffic cops have bigger fish to fry. They might just use it to check his eyesight or breath test him, though.

Just turn the radio up and chill out! Why waste your energy worrying about your journey taking a few minutes longer?