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

No but certain brands of cars appear to attract a certain sort of driver.

SUV: entitled yummy parents

Audi - the road belongs to ME!

Jazz - elderly slow drivers (unfair really because they are very comfortable to drive)

My local dual carriageway is a 50, reducing to 30 near the roundabouts at either end. Yanbu OP. My DSs car has a black box fitted, obviously you need to obey the speed limit when driving. The amount of knobs that have a problem with this is astounding. I've started being equally observant of the limit when driving my own car and the closer they get, the slower I go, they eventually get the hint and pull back at which point I speed back up to the speed limit/appropriate speed limit for conditions if that's lower. A dual carriageway is designed for both lanes to be used for driving on, not one for driving and the other for overtaking. Obviously you can overtake to the right if it's safe to do so.

the stupidest ones are the ones who speed up and slow down just before average speed cameras. Like they don't understand the concept of it logging your average speed over a set distance

Lorry drivers never seem to stick to 50 when it's a 50 average speed limit. What do they know that I don't? That the cameras on that stretch are out of action maybe?

If you are moving over and people are immediately up your backside, then you have moved over into an unsafe gap, surely?

Second, its not your job to roam the streets like some kind of Pious Police.

If you think there is a genuine problem/danger with excessive speeding, take it up with the actual police. If they concur/enough people say so, they'll do something. If not, as pp said "you're one of THOSE drivers"

Lorry drivers never seem to stick to 50 when it's a 50 average speed limit. What do they know that I don't? That the cameras on that stretch are out of action maybe?

Exactly- this has been bugging me for ages. Having been overtaken MANY times by lorries in an average speed zone

BuzzShitbagBobbly 100%

Refusing to budge over just builds such aggression in so many drivers you are just as bad in causing drastic, reckless actions like undercutting and lane swerving at speed to get in front of you.

Are there other situations where you think that it's someone's fault if they 'build aggression' in someone else by just sticking to the law? I don't think that anyone 'causes' bad behaviour in someone else, personally.

If you are moving over and people are immediately up your backside, then you have moved over into an unsafe gap, surely?

As I said before, if I'm driving at 60 and someone else is doing in excess of 70, they will soon be up behind me even if they weren't in sight to begin with. It also happens on NSL roads at times. Not immediately, but as soon as they're behind you and you're doing the speed limit, they'll make sure they let you know how annoyed they are.

Second, its not your job to roam the streets like some kind of Pious Police.

Roam the streets! Pious police! OMG what are you even reading? I'm just driving my car to work and abiding by the law.

Are there other situations where you think that it's someone's fault if they 'build aggression' in someone else by just sticking to the law?

I agree with this. If someone is flashing me or up my arse I DO pull over to another lane but on the other hand, WTF should I if I am sticking to the legal speed limit? Flashing someone doesnt give you an automatic right to be doing 110mph in a 70 zone does it? That is illegal.

The most sensible piece of advice I was given for driving at speed was to keep pace with the flow of traffic.

If you're forcing people to slam breaks on the head that's also driving dangerously.

You need to be more aware of other drivers and not pull out into the overtaking lane if you're not overtaking.

Even the police don't pull people over for doing say 66/67 in a 60.

It's only drivers who cause other people to act like aggressive twats. In any other area of life, people are expected not to be aggressive twats and to take personal responsibility if they are.

The most sensible piece of advice I was given for driving at speed was to keep pace with the flow of traffic

So, the average speed check area I mentioned earlier- if its clearly marked 50mph with cameras and everyone else is doing 65 then I should too? even if I get a fine?

Used to get so fed up of this that I installed a dashcam (front and rear) and have a sticker to say 'Smile for the camera'.
Amazing how many back off!

Yes, it is your fault, take some responsibility! You are not policing the roads. If you don;'t want to ever go over the speed limit and just sit on it constantly- great for you- then move over to so so.

Maybe read this- and you will see how your actions are actually pretty reckless - www.telegraph.co.uk/cars/advice/why-its-sometimes-safer-to-break-the-speed-limit/

In an average speed camera area you have to average over 60mph to get a ticket.

If someone is flashing me or up my arse I DO pull over to another lane but on the other hand, WTF should I if I am sticking to the legal speed limit?

Because lane hogging is also against the law. There's no point sticking to one and not the other.

beautifulstranger101- no but move over! How many times?

Lorry drivers never seem to stick to 50 when it's a 50 average speed limit. What do they know that I don't? That the cameras on that stretch are out of action maybe?

Generally speaking the tolerance on speed cameras is 10%+2mph. So at 50 it won’t trigger up to 57mph. Lorries are usually restricted to 56-59mph.

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

Ugh! Have you considered that you might actually be driving well under the speed limit despite what your car's speedometer is reading? They are allowed to be optimistic by as much as 10%. That means that in a 70 mph zone, you could be forcing people to drive at 63/64 mph.

no but move over! How many times

I DO move over, I literally just said that.

But that still doesnt mean doing 110 mph on a motorway is ok does it?

Because lane hogging is also against the law. There's no point sticking to one and not the other.

I'd love to see where in the highway code it refers to 'lane hogging' and references that you should pull over if you're doing the speed limit and someone who wants to go fast is getting cross.

www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/driving-advice/middle-lane-hogging/

beautifulstranger101 I agree- who even mentioned that 110mph is ok though?

If there is a space in the lane to the left of you you are not overtaking and should move into it. Far too many people move into the middle of right lane because they think they see a lorry 2 miles ahead that they may overtake in 5 mins or so.

beautifulstranger101- the key is to move over!