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

I take great pleasure in forcing them to adhere to the speed limit.
How is this any less aggressive exactly?

Classof66 excellent idea for wasting police time trawling through 1000s of dash cam footage- brilliant.

I suggest we also submit evidence of middle lane hoggers in that case, as police also take that VERY seriously
www.birminghammail.co.uk/black-country/watch-middle-lane-hogger-refuses-15811072

What does copper-bottomed mean?

It's a nautical reference.

Less likely to be damaged by sea worms

Off topic but the ignorance in that newspaper report is staggering. Apparently another vehicle was forced to move “into the fast lane” and the police them pulled the offender over and “arrested him” er yeah, sure.

I have actually discovered that it's true that my speedo records my speed 3 miles an hour higher than my actual speed. That's because we have speed registers on some roads. But no more than 3 miles an hour, so it's not by much.

I can't believe how blasé some people are about speeding. I've had 3 speeding tickets during the course of the last 10 years. They're a real PITA, not just because of the fine and the points on the license, but because the insurance premiums go up. So no, I'm sorry if some people think I'm being unreasonable in holding them up from their absolutely viral contribution to their job, but I refuse to be bullied into breaking the speed limit.

The recommended advice when faced with a tailgater is to gently apply the foot brake, so that the brake lights appear, and this really does work. It's such dangerous driving, as if anything were to go wrong, there would be no time to take evasive action.

I've had 3 speeding tickets during the course of the last 10 years.

but I refuse to be bullied into breaking the speed limit.

You don't sound like you need much bullying. less than 10% have points on their licence at any given time: www.driving.co.uk/news/one-20-drivers-points-licence/

You're not really in a position to preach about the risks of speeding. Maybe you need to slow down a bit?

The recommended advice when faced with a tailgater is to gently apply the foot brake, so that the brake lights appear, and this really does work

Well it's advice I disagree with. Give me a few seconds of taking my foot off the gas and I'll be further behind. Touch your brake and I will have to brake too. What's the point? Just carry on the way you were and ignore people who come up quickly behind you.

You very occasionally get people who want to travel in your boot, so sit too close for longer, but I just ignore them.

But as I said further back, I often think I am behind a MNer when I come up behind someone, take my foot off the gas and they have obviously done the same to teach me a lesson. Stop it. Carry on at the speed you were doing and a gap will open back up between us soon enough. I do not like having to apply my brake for no reason.

You're not really in a position to preach about the risks of speeding. Maybe you need to slow down a bit

She (or he) has! Did you actually read their posts? And maybe they've learnt from their mistakes. Ugh the sanctimony on this thread is ridiculous. Go and read the Highway Code and think about whether your own driving is so great. Nobody is perfect. No, not even you.

I don't speed, that's what I'm saying. The times I've had tickets was for driving at 35 miles an hour in a 30 mile an hour zone. There are so many speed cameras in Leeds where I live. 3 times in 10 years, 5 years apart isn't exactly a lot.

Car safety is something I'm acutely aware of because my FIL died in a car accident. And I was caught up in a car accident on the M1 myself. (Not my fault, I had £6k compensation for it.)

The recommended advice when faced with a tailgater is to gently apply the foot brake, so that the brake lights appear, and this really does work.

Recommended by who?

RAC:
Do not
Don't police the road to teach a tailgater a lesson or be tempted to drive well under the speed limit or repeatedly touch your brakes to make your point – this only increases the risk of a collision

www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/driving-advice/tailgating-what-you-need-to-know/

IAM:
Avoid braking sharply. Flashing your brake lights isn’t going to help. It’s better to just ease off your accelerator."

https://www.confused.com/on-the-road/safety/too-close-for-comfort-how-to-deal-with-tailgaters

I said to gently apply the brake, not jam your foot on it. And yes, I'm trying to get the driver behind me to slow down, or at least to get them off my bumper, because I do find it scary, because of my own history. It isn't always possible to change lanes, which I do at the first opportunity to safely do so.

You are meant to drive two car lengths behind the car in front of you, in order to be safe.

FYI, I don't drive slowly; I get annoyed with other drivers who drive too slowly myself. I drive at the speed limit on a clear road. I just don't speed. Although I do sometimes go at 75/80 on the motorways admittedly.

Flash your reverse lights at them. They absolutely shit themselves, I've never seen anyone back off so fast.

@BuzzShitbagBobbly Why are you getting so irate? Does speeding matter so much to you?

Your story is changing with the wind because you aren't getting the MN "limit not a target" seal of approval response you expected.

You're being a bit silly with this comment (and your shouty caps). I use the right hand land for getting in lane for a roundabout at a point appropriate to the road, and for overtaking. But actually regardless of what I'm using the lane for, why do you think it's ok for another drive to drive in a dangerous and intimidating manner to try to make me do what they want?

You are meant to drive two car lengths behind the car in front of you

Right, now I'm really scared. Two car lengths at motorway speeds gives you less than half a second reaction time. is this actually what you meant to say.

And the rationale for decelerating if someone is up your arse is not to fuck them off get them to slow down; it's to create a bigger gap between you and the car in front, so that you are less likely to have to brake sharply and have the car behind go into the back of you.

Flash your reverse lights at them. They absolutely shit themselves, I've never seen anyone back off so fast.

Please don't do that. If the car will even go into reverse gear, it is likely to deposit its gearbox on the thoroughfare. Everyone involved may die.

I'm hoping its not a serious suggestion.

I'm not sure really, but it's sometimes not possible to be as far behind cars as that when roads are busy (but then obviously you shouldn't be going so fast at times like that.

I think that's the minimum distance behind the car in front, we should be able to use our own judgement on distance behind the car in front, otherwise we shouldn't be driving. A lot of cars drive much closer behind than that!

And yes, it isn't about teaching anyone a lesson, it's about leaving enough distance between you and the car in front. We're trying to be safe, not have a row with other drivers! Some of us know first hand about the dangers involved in driving.

Can you attach a google map of the road and annotate to show where you’re changing lanes?

No, sorry. I realise diagrams are MN gold standard but I just can't be arsed.

I am driving correctly and within the law. Definitely.

I am grateful for the rear dashcam suggestions though. Definitely going to invest in one of those. I wouldn't hand the footage to the police as I'm sure they wouldn't follow it up, but it might at least make any bullies back off.

Two second rule not two car rule isn't it? You should be two seconds behind the driver in front. And apparently you work this out by spotting a point they go past (tree or whatever) and saying 'Only a fool breaks the two second rule' and then you should pass that point (my sister did a speed awareness course recently!

I am driving correctly and within the law. Definitely.

I tend to disagree. If cars are coming up behind you at 70mph-plus, then it sounds like you are moving over too early.

You're both in the wrong. They're breaking the speed limit; and you're in the wrong lane.

Definitely going to invest in one of those. I wouldn't hand the footage to the police as I'm sure they wouldn't follow it up, but it might at least make any bullies back off.

Here’s a pic of my rear windscreen. I’m standing about a foot away from it. Can you see the dashcam? No? Neither does anyone else.

How am I blocking two lanes by driving at the maximum speed limit in one lane?

Depends if you're one of those drivers that even though the left lane is doing 59mph and you are determined to pass them at 60mph effectively blocking the 2nd lane

You're probably right, OP. I hear what people are saying about 'middle lane hoggers'; you're supposed to be in the left lane when not overtaking. I think the problem comes with drivers who insist on driving at 50 miles an hour in the left lane, which forces slower cars and lorries to overtake them.

I tend to disagree. If cars are coming up behind you at 70mph-plus, then it sounds like you are moving over too early.

You're both in the wrong. They're breaking the speed limit; and you're in the wrong lane.

No, I'm in the right lane. I know how to drive, and I also know HOW I'm driving better than all the strangers on Mumsnet. I'm in the right lane at the right time. My driving isn't the issue. I do find it interesting, though, how many people on the thread have tried to find out how I am to blame for other people bullying, driving dangerously and breaking the law. I really hope you don't apply this logic in other areas of your life.

@Mamboitaliano I think I did prove you were in the wrong about the lanes thing though

There are a lot of utter knobs out driving (and a lot on here).

Have a think for a minute about new/young drivers with driving monitors who don't want to go over the limit. Is it okay to put these inexperienced people under pressure by riding up their arses when they are likely to be the people least able to cope with an accident? What if it was your child driving?

How about just being a reasonable human being, not breaking the law and leaving earlier if you are always in such a fucking hurry?

Not that you should be treating anyone that way or ever driving in that manner but at least an experienced driver will just recognise you for the arse you are and slow down till you back off or it's safe and appropriate to let you pass.