Speed limits - please explain

[wherestheaircon]

You're driving through the country roads. You're in a 30mph zone going through a school - fair dos - best not to risk any kids running into the road so let's stick to the limit. HOWEVER. You drive another mile or so and pass a clearly labelled "40"mph but you carry on doing 30 - sometimes you even dip down to 25, and break randomly with no reasoning (to add, I'm keeping a very reasonable and safe distance between our vehicles). The roads aren't that busy - couple of cars here and there but it's definitely safe to go up to 40mph otherwise they wouldn't put that restriction on.

So why in the world are you STILL doing 30 when you've entered a 40 zone??!!! You even drive through a 60mph zone and creep up to 40mph but no further than that. I am being so genuine when I ask that, if this sounds like you, why? I'm sure if there's a reasonable explanation I will be ok...

And as for people slamming their brakes on to let people in, I even had someone in front of me do that on a roundabout the other day.

Nobody should be stopping to let someone in on a roundabout. But I have had to slam on my brakes on a roundabout when a car came out straight in front of me. I did not let them in. I braked hard to avoid a crash.

It’s a limit not s target. Who the fuck does 30 past a school. Built up area, parked cars, less than 30 is often reasonable. 30 in a 40 is not exactly crawling.

30 in a 40 is perfectly acceptable, sounds like they were looking for somewhere. I too get annoyed with the driving like you are walking - so stop start brake, etc BUT its a road you are meant to allow for it - I get pissed off with arse wipes that get annoyed with you doing the actual speed limit and feel the need to overtake dangerously approaching a blind hill and bend when you indicate to turn left at a cross roads. I agree the main issue is the speed limit is just that - the speed you are doing should be less than that as its the maximum you should be doing.

30 in a 40 without good reason is too slow.

Only read the first page, so don't know if anyone else mentioned this driver behaviour...

I sometimes end up behind old people who drive at 35mph in a 60 limit. Then the limit drops to 30mph AND THEY SPEED UP.

but on a duel carriageway people driving at 40 is annoying a unnecessary.

On my SAC, one driver had to be taken outside for a little chat after he became quite agitated when the instructors mentioned a nationwide programme to review and reduce speed limits that explained why the dual carriageway he had been snapped on had been reduced from 60 to 40. Their message (which 5 years on has been pretty much note-perfect) was to get used to lower limits - they're here to stay. Especially 20 mph zones (which now festoon Birmingham).

Part of the conditions of attending an SAC is acceptance you were wrong. He was sailing close to refusing to accept than - which would have meant referral back to the courts.

30 in a 40 without good reason is too slow.

Not really. Other drivers can legally overtake you and it’s not ridiculously slow at all. It puts less strain on your car and is more economical.

Plus there are plenty of “good reasons” that other drivers might not be able to see.

Who the fuck does 30 past a school.

Cunts ?

One of the most shocking things the SAC showed us was a traffic census from outside a school. Between 2pm-3pm, over half the cars exceeded the 30mph limit, with 2 doing over 70.

So whenever you're behind me at or below the limit, with your clearly visible attitude, I know who you are ...

Is there a YouTube channel for "morons caught in the rear dashcam" ? I've a few ....

It's a limit not a target

@jennymanara
It is unreasonable stopping to let folk out, they can wait.
@dgrossetti
If it’s a long clear stretch they can wait until you’ve passed.
My other hate is the utter utter twats who sit out on roundabouts as if they’re in a queue🤬

@dgrossetti If it’s a long clear stretch they can wait until you’ve passed.

Like I said, you mean ?

You said you can slow and let them out; I wouldn’t ever.

That would really piss me off. I realise it’s a limit and not a target but most people don’t want to do 30-40 in a 60mph zone. People like that should pull over and let people pass.

I don’t buy the argument that they were lost or didn’t know where they were going if they did it consistently for 6 miles.

You said you can slow and let them out; I wouldn’t ever.

Well, we can't all be you can we?

I said it was a bit more nuanced, and there can be occasions when it's possible to slow slightly to allow a car out when there's a line of cars behind you. And the can be occasions when it's not possible.

It's more an urban phenomenon, but it's worth bearing in mind if a side road can't exit to a main road, then a road(s) feeding that side road being blocked is the reason your road is also blocked. The very definition of "gridlock".

Yes agree. I don't understand car drivers when they can see cars are stopped 50 yards ahead, that won't let cars in side streets out. You are going to be stopping in a minute anyway?
Obviously you don't drive along at 60mph and then slam the brakes on to let a car out.

That would really piss me off. I realise it’s a limit and not a target but most people don’t want to do 30-40 in a 60mph zone. People like that should pull over and let people pass.

Incredible as it seems, we have laws that prohibit driving too slowly (and I wonder how some people would manage in situations where there is a minimum speed limit).

@Knowmydisrespect I think a lot of the posters criticising you haven;t driven in the west highlands. Where single track road with passing places is the norm. Don't think there are any dual carriageways further north than Inverness. An A with two way traffic if you're lucky.

Single track roads with passing places are fairly niche knowledge to most people but that's not an excuse for shite driving. It's really not difficult to realise that if someone's behind you, pull in and let them past. Similarly, that if you meet someone coming in the other direction you might have to reverse! Appears to come as a massive shock to some people who sit there looking like a rabbit caught in the headlights with a "what the fuck am I supposed to do" expression.

Also while I'm on the subject of passing places... they're not lay-bys. They aren't there for you to stop and set up the picnic chairs. They are not convenient parking bays to allow you to hike up the nearest hill or explore a hidden beach. They are for passing.

It's really not difficult to realise that if someone's behind you, pull in and let them past

I might not realise it, if I'm driving as fast as is safely possible ...

It's a limit not a target

😴. You’re about fifteen hours late with that nugget of wisdom.

So many elderly drivers on the rural roads around here, driving way below the speed limit and it's dangerous and infuriating. "It's a limit not a target"....🙄 the fact is it causes accidents to drive way slower than the speed limit. People try and overtake when they wouldn't normally, it causes road rage, it's inconsiderate.

And don't get me started on the folk who drive 40mph EVERYWHERE including villages.

the fact is it causes accidents to drive way slower than the speed limit

As I said, there is an offence if a driver is driving so slowly as to be a risk ...

@Gummybear11 Far more accidents caused by people driving too fast, or faster than they are comfortable with.

I have a 10 mile route that takes in some windy lanes. I fully expect people to drive more slowly on those and do myself, especially as you never know if someone is going to take the bend in the middle of the road. However, there is then a long straight bit (best part of a mile) that is wide enough for 2 way traffic but has no road markings.

Does the person who has been doing 20-30 MPH and braking at every opportunity, then pull over to the side of the road (they can keep driving and don't need to stop) so you can get overtake safely. No, they position themselves in the middle of the road as no one is coming towards them, despite I've been in their RVM for about 5 miles. I also disagree with tailgaiting but it is very difficult to not keep gaining when they are doing 25-30 on a 60 MPH road.

Drives me nuts

@Nesssie What does speeding have to do with this? The thread is about people doing way below the speed limit in presumably favourable conditions (ie it's not raining/icy/blind bendy) - unnecessarily slow drivers cause road rage and accidents.