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AIBU?

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Original poster

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

253 replies

DeRigueurMortis · 09/02/2019 14:56

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.

OP posts:
Original poster
DeRigueurMortis · 09/02/2019 16:56

Jae it's not safe to overtake due to oncoming traffic at that time of day, not because there aren't appropriate safe "straights" to do so in.

As such it's perfectly safe to be doing 60 mph on some sections.

OP posts:
carrotflinger · 09/02/2019 16:56

If a section of road isn't safe to overtake on, then it almost certainly is not actually safe to drive at 60mph on. If you can't overtake then either there is a bend coming up that you can't see round or it's too narrow (or both). He sounds like a sensible driver.

Some sections of road are unsafe to overtake on due to heavy traffic in the other direction. There is no reason why someone cannot drive at or near the speed limit. Obviously overtaking on a bend is very dangerous and people should take bends at an appropriate speed.
However someone who is driving at 30 mph on a road with a 60 limit when it would be safe to drive, say, 50-60 mph, is inconveniencing other road users. If they are unable to drive faster then they should show consideration for others and pull in at an appropriate point to let others past.

AlletrixLeStrange · 09/02/2019 16:58

YANBU. I live in a 30mph village that joins NSL country road but perfectly ok to drive 55mph on. The most frustrating thing is when you're following someone driving 40mph through the NSL and then continue at 40mph through the 30mph zone! Confused

SileneOliveira · 09/02/2019 17:15

If a section of road isn't safe to overtake on, then it almost certainly is not actually safe to drive at 60mph on.

Bollocks - at peak times you could be on a very long, straight section of road where 60 mph is perfectly safe but you can't overtake because of traffic coming towards you.

So you're stuck behind the numpty dithering along at 30.

SnowyAlpsandPeaks · 09/02/2019 17:20

I have a road like this by me, although it has few bends. There are several drivers who do between 20/30mph, come to a bend, and they aren’t sharp bends and goes down to 15mph. The other week I counted 12 cars in front of me and 9 behind and that’s only what I could see. It drives me around the bend (excuse the pun)

Lizzie48 · 09/02/2019 17:28

Yes you would fail your driving test for this. It used to be called 'undue hesitancy' in the days when I was learning to drive. (I passed my driving test 25 years ago.)

And yes, it's very annoying and it can cause an accident if another driver is driven to overtake recklessly. (Of course the reckless driver is ultimately to blame before anyone jumps on me! Grin)

Bluelady · 09/02/2019 17:34

Nice selective reporting by the Grimsby Gazette, so two people were killed on British roads in one year in accidents involving vehicles driven slowly, it fails to add that over 200 were killed in accidents involving speeding.

I'm by no means a slow driver but I really do hate this must drive to the limit mentality.

Spudlet · 09/02/2019 17:40

YES to the pp who mentioned people cutting you up then pootling along! If I'm travelling at a reasonable clip either wait for me to pass or, if you have time to go, get your foot down and accelerate up to speed briskly. DO NOT be the twit who pulls out then dawdles along so I have to brake right down. It's just RUDE! Especially when I'm the only thing on the road for miles - just wait, ffs. I'll be on my way in a moment and you can pootle along as much as you like!

It must be nice, mind you, to be one of those people who goes through life completely oblivious to anyone other than yourself. Very restful. Confused

Santaclarita · 09/02/2019 17:41

Can anybody tell me how it makes me a bad driver if I go out in my car tomorrow and choose to drive at 35-40mph on a 60 road, just because I'm enjoying the scenery and in no hurry?

Please tell me you live on an island with no other people there?

You're not paying attention to the road if you're enjoying the scenery. You're paying no attention to the queues building behind you. You're not paying attention to the speed limit or possible hazards as you're too busy looking at trees and fields to notice signs.

So, to sum up, you don't use your mirrors, your eyes or your brain. Can you cut up your licence please and sell the car? I'd rather not get hit by you because you were too busy looking at a mountain to notice you'd crossed the white line.

Rainsunshine · 09/02/2019 17:42

Yep. The same assholes who drive at 35 in a 30. Usually elderly in my experience...

NunoGoncalves · 09/02/2019 17:48

@Santaclarita RTFT

burblife · 09/02/2019 17:48

I agree completely OP. And YES to pp about people whose default speed seems to be 40mph, through 30 zones in villages and then along nat speed sections too!

Years ago DH did a speed awareness course (he was caught 3mph over the limit - he's generally a very good driver) and he was gobsmacked at the ignorance of lots of the attendees in terms of knowing what road signs meant and what speed limits were on different types of roads.

We discussed though that many people on the roads have been driving for decades, having passed their tests as young adults, without any retraining. Perhaps people should have to do a refresher every so often? Just the theory maybe.

Santaclarita · 09/02/2019 17:51

NunoGoncalves

So I'm right. You forget how to use your brain. Please don't drive again, for the safety of people near you. Would hate to hear someone on here gets hit because some twit was too busy enjoying the scenery to realise they are a bad driver.

NunoGoncalves · 09/02/2019 17:54

So I'm right. You forget how to use your brain

Eh? RTFT stands for "read the full thread". I already explained in a later post that "enjoying the scenery" was just an example and was not the key point of the post in the first place.

Bluelady · 09/02/2019 17:55

I was wondering how long it would take the MN ageism to rear its ugly head.

Santaclarita · 09/02/2019 17:56

NunoGoncalves

I know what rtft means. I'm giving you your reasons that you requested other than giving examples of how other people cause accidents. I'm explaining to you how YOU will cause an accident by not paying attention, for whatever reason that is. I'm using YOUR example because it's the one you gave.

Is that clear enough?

Santaclarita · 09/02/2019 17:57

Can anybody tell me how it makes me a bad driver if I go out in my car tomorrow and choose to drive at 35-40mph on a 60 road, just because I'm enjoying the scenery and in no hurry? WITHOUT listing dangerous things that OTHER drivers may do as a result of their own impatience/inflated sense of self-importance?

See? Your own words. I gave you your reasons that you wanted. Plenty of them.

Weebitawks · 09/02/2019 17:59

It sounds very similar to our road into town. It fucks me off.. I almost feel like it's rude as they are making everyone else drive at their ridiculous speed.

NunoGoncalves · 09/02/2019 17:59

No, I believe you've missed the point. Which was, if I am perfectly capable of driving at 60mph but CHOOSE to drive slower for whatever reason (the reason is really irrelevant, but perhaps I underestimated the pickiness of mumsnet users when I chose "admiring the scenery" in my first post. So let's just assume it's an innocuous reason that does not take my attention away from the road), then driving slowly is not inherently dangerous.

carrotflinger · 09/02/2019 18:00

Don't know why you used the example of the scenery if you were only going to get annoyed that people picked up on it.
Please offer another example of a reason why someone might be driving at 35-40 mph on a road with 60 mph limit then maybe we can respond to that instead of the bloody scenery.

Weebitawks · 09/02/2019 18:01

NunoGoncalves don't you think it's incredibly rude to hold everyone up while you enjoy the bloody scenery?

NunoGoncalves · 09/02/2019 18:05

Don't know why you used the example of the scenery if you were only going to get annoyed that people picked up on it.

Me either. First thing that popped into my head I guess. As an aside, I wouldn't believe anyone who told me it's not possible to enjoy scenery while driving without causing a hazard. I've done it while driving at the speed limit plenty of times. It's quite easy to drive along and look at your surroundings at the same time!

Please offer another example of a reason why someone might be driving at 35-40 mph on a road with 60 mph limit then maybe we can respond to that instead of the bloody scenery

Why? It's not relevant to my question! If I'm driving at 40mph out of choice rather than fear or lack of driving ability, then how am I being dangerous? (without listing potential dangerous actions taken by OTHER drivers). The reason could be "because I'm in no hurry and just feel like it" for all it matters.

Santaclarita · 09/02/2019 18:07

You are really just proving my point now that you're too stupid to operate a car...

My points still stand from what you originally said.

Based on you now changing your mind to you slowing down to 40 for no reason what so ever, this point still stands:

You're paying no attention to the queues building behind you.

You are proving there that you aren't using your mirrors. If you aren't using your mirrors, you aren't paying attention to potential hazards. If you are using them, then you are displaying a level of ignorance unheard of.

But I imagine you won't understand this either...

AskingQuestionsAllTheTime · 09/02/2019 18:09

If a section of road isn't safe to overtake on, then it almost certainly is not actually safe to drive at 60mph on. If you can't overtake then either there is a bend coming up that you can't see round or it's too narrow (or both).

Or of course there are cars coming the other way. That happens quite often, in my experience. I can drive at sixty if there are cars coming the other way (they very rarely jump sideways and hit you), but I can't safely overtake with them there.

NunoGoncalves · 09/02/2019 18:10

You're paying no attention to the queues building behind you

You are proving there that you aren't using your mirrors

What makes you think that? If I'm happily driving along below the speed limit, I can still see the queue behind me. So? What's dangerous about that?

Don't bother replying though if you're not able to have a discussion without being insulting and rude. I don't know if this is how you talk to people in real life, but there's really no need for it.

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