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.

@dreamingofsun
I think you misunderstood my post. I wasn't clear maybe, - I was responding to a previous poster who thinks it's ok to drive along as slowly as they like because why is faster drivers' time more important than a slower driver.
Therefore I was asking, why is it an offence then if it's ok to do so.
I asked why AREN't we told to drive along as slowly as we like because 30 mph is safer than 60 mph in the case of a crash for example.
It clearly isn't ok and that's the point I was making.
It wouldn't be an offence and we wouldn't be told when learning to drive to keep up with the flow of traffic if it WAS perfectly ok to drive at 15 mph on a B road.

It's not ok. I still don't understand why those who maybe want to drive slower or can't drive any faster (in which case it is questionable whether they should be driving at all) won't pull over to let others past when a huge tailback develops behind them. Also why won't they drive in the correct lane to let others overtake when the road allows this?

TheSmallAssassin the sudden stopping of the car in front of me necessitates the emergency stop

Totally agree with this. I find it so hard not to get angry when I am stuck behind people. I know there is no point though so I just wang Classic FM on and try and chill out.

That said - I often have to drive on the A65 (Yorkshire to Cumbria) where there are no overtaking places. There are some pretty steep hills on it and I have a 1 litre car. Some people get quite close on my arse thinking that I am driving too slowly up them but my foot is to the floor and I genuinely can't go any faster!