To drive at the speed limit

[Mamboitaliano]

OK I know in theory I'm not being unreasonable not to break the law - but why do I feel like I'm the only one then?

I drive to work along a dual carriageway. It's a clearly signposted 60mph road. The traffic in the left lane drives at 60. The traffic in the right lane drives at 70+ There's a roundabout where I have to turn off this road, taking the third exit (right), so I move into the right lane and drive at 60. Because it's the speed limit. But almost always, someone charges right up behind me and then drives intimidatingly close to the back of my car. I really really hate it. I feel like I'm being bullied each time, and I also feel very uncomfortable with having drivers so close to the back of my car. If I had to brake they'd go right into the back of me.

Am I just boring and nobody actually drives at the speed limit? Am I being unreasonable driving at the speed limit and annoying all the other drivers on their way to work?

YABU = You don't need to drive at 60.
YANBU = You should drive at the speed limit

If someone comes up behind you and tries to intimidate you, go slower. It will give you both more time to stop if anything happens. And it winds them up a treat!

YANBU also BMW and Audi drivers - I left that space as a safe distance between me and the car in front, not a space for you to race up, cut in and slam your brakes on right in front of me.

@Hingeandbracket It often does seem to be a certain 'type' of car looming up in my rear view mirror, practically sitting in my back seat...

I like the idea of going slower. I don't know why I care what they think but it really stresses me out on my way to work!

60 on a dual carriageway? Why ?

If you are approaching roundabout, surely you should move to the right as you are approaching, so all cars should be slowing down at that point anyway??

As a BMW driver, d like to let Peugeot, Citroen, Nissan and Ford drivers know that I leave a gap for stopping distances and not so you can pull in at the last minute without indicating

How early do you move over? Surely at the end when everyone is slowing down?

Agree with @ItsPeanutButterJelly. As an Audi driver myself I always find the smaller type cars go right up my arse. YANBU to drive at the speed limit but I do find it annoying that BMW and Audi drivers are always labelled as these obnoxious dangerous drivers which isn't always the case.

Are you sure a dual carriageway is only 60? NSL on a dual carriageway is 70mph.

My sister is the type of driver that you describe in your op and she drives a Toyota aygo (still love you though sis). My point is, people can be nobs in any car.

How early do you get over? Sometimes people get into the overtaking lane far too soon and that annoys people who want to overtake.

It sounds like you might be moving over too soon if people are getting up your arse wanting to go faster than 60.

Lots of dual carriageways have restricted speed limits. Lots around here are actually 50mph. It's only NSL if the NSL sign is used

The ones that get me are those who thunder up behind you when you're doing the posted limit, sit on your bumper and whack their full beams on in order to register their displeasure that you're in their way. Don't know why people have to be so aggressive. Just drive at the damn limit ffs. Or at least, if you want to exceed it, don't try to intimidate everyone else into being party to that.

The OP says that this particular stretch of dual carriageway is clearly signposted as having a 60mph limit.

Not all dual carriageways are 70.

I regularly drive along a stretch of dual carriageway which is a 50mph limit.

But why are they wanting to go faster than 60 if that's the limit?

I move over a little sooner than the approach to the roundabout as the approach is on a bit of a bend and usually congested, so swapping lanes gets trickier. Instead I move over on a straight before the bend. I still get to the queue for the roundabout in time to join the car in front of me - the people behind literally just want to roar up to the roundabout faster.

Yes it's definitely a 60 (no idea why) with repeater signs everywhere.

My current commute involves a motorway, the approach to a junction is always busy so I am on the correct lane in plenty of time. So far this week I’ve been cut up by 3 BMWs and an Audi although admittedly there was a Toyota last week.

I don’t feel bullied. I take great pleasure in forcing them to adhere to the speed limit.

Either put your foot down or get the hell out of the way!

Seriously, you are probably moving over too early.

@whydobirds Yes! I hate that I feel like I'm being bullied into breaking the law. I don't go faster, but it does make me edgy to have them halfway up my arse.

But what is this 'moving over too early' thing anyway? Surely if I'm going at 60 I can be in that lane as an overtaker myself, even if I'm eventually going to turn left?

OP someone overtook me on a 40mph single carriageway unlit road last night doing at least 80mph. About quarter of a mile after they passed me I encountered pedestrians, dressed entirely in black, crossing the road. Don't want to think about what would have happened if they'd been a second or two earlier. Someone died on that stretch of road last year too. Some people are just selfish, entitled idiots who think the law doesn't apply to them and don't understand that a driving licence is a privilege, not a right, unfortunately.

I'm genuinely really shocked (I know I sound like a sad old fart) that 13% of poll people think I'm unreasonable to drive at the legal speed limit.

Yanbu to doing the speed limit.

I admit to sometimes speeding on motorways and dual carriageways, but would never ever speed up behind someone to intimate them!

They're being aggressive and dangerous to get so close, especially at faster speeds that require a bigger breaking distance

Surprised by the number of people that don't realise a dual carriageway may not be national speed limit. Perhaps this ignorance is the problem OP.

I take great pleasure in forcing them to adhere to the speed limit.

Ah, you're one of those drivers...