To ask what speed on a dual carriageway....

[WannaStay]

Hi all,

I want to ask you, what speed do you do down a dual carriageway that is NSL? I mean you personally.

I know the limit is 70mph.

I do stick to 70, because it was drilled into me by my dad. I am sure I have broke the speed limit at some point in my driving life, if only briefly, think we all have.

But back to it. What speed do you do? Also what speed do you think is acceptable max? My DH does 80 and thinks most do so.

Also I am asking what speed your speedometer says. I know they are out some what but just to keep it simple, for me lol.

Max of 70mph going by my Speedometer. I don't care if everyone else says that it under measures tbh, I cannot safely estimate what speed I am doing so go by the Speedo.

If caught by the police, I don't think "yes my Speedo said 80 but actually that under calculate speed and I can go up to 80mph on the only visible and clear indicator of my speed and actually be physically moving at 70mph. What's your problem, officer?"

You go by the Speedo and any speed signs.

Plus why is it so important to be regularly driving at 80 or 90? You can claim to be scrupulous about stopping distances but the fact is you just haven't been stopped or had an accident. Obviously I'm glad nobody has been hurt by your desire to speed along at a self proclaimed safe speed. But jeezo, cop on to yourself. Don't drive over the speed limit.

*Car speedos are set at approx 3mph below the actual speed. I was told this by someone at a major car plant in the UK.

Drive past a speed warning sign at 30 and it will display 27-28mph.*

I always understood it was 3mph below, however my previous car showed 27mph through a 30 warning while my current car shows me doing 29 through the same signs. I always set my limiter at the actual speed limit.

Oops, bold fail, sorry

I speed if I think I’ll get off with it.

The NSL on a single carriage way is 60mph though, so doing 70mph would be illegal,

This is true. However, a 2 lane dual carriageway dropping to one lane doesn't make it a single carriageway. It makes it a one lane dual carriageway.

Every time I read about dual carriageway lanes in Mumsnet I despair. It's really basic stuff that is taught as part of your lessons/theory.

Unless in a hurry I set the cruise control to 53 and save fuel.

I can get 60mpg across a decent trip cruising at 53mph, drops to 40mpg at 75mph (speedo readings).

It’s been years since I did the sums but at the time I got into the habit I was flat broke and having to do lots of miles. The effective savings per hour sat in the car a bit longer were well worth it.

80. Speed discrepancy’s and the like.

I actually pootle along at 65 mph on cruise control and I come across people going slower that I have to overtake.
I’m trying to conserve fuel. A tank used to last me 2 weeks when I did 75-80 but now it lasts a whole month.
It also used to stress me out constantly trying to overtake and go faster. I arrive at work far more relaxed for taking it easy and it amuses me seeing all the speeders tailgating trying to get cars to pull in so they can get past. Life can change in a second, is it really worth risking an 80 mph smash to get somewhere 10 mins quicker?

A quick back of envelope makes the effective net income for sitting on my backside driving slower at £10-12 an hour.

Car speedos are set at approx 3mph below the actual speed. I was told this by someone at a major car plant in the UK.

I could be wrong here, but wouldn't there be factors such as wheel diameter that could throw out your speedo, e.g worn tyres compared to new, over/under inflated tyres, etc. Don't they work by measuring rotation at the driveshaft or axle? If so changing wheel diameters would make it impossible for it to be 100% accurate.

Just a though.

The innacurate information on here is

"75 which is really 65" and other nonsense.

How any of you still have a licence is amazing.

The difference between true and indicated speed is less than 3%. So 70 really is 68. Not much difference.

And even 1mph over the limit is speeding, there are an awful lot of police forces which don't adhere to ACPO guidelines and WILL prosecute for 1mph over as opposed to 10%+2 which is what the guidelines state.

What I never get on threads like this (see also roundabout lanes and the general use of indicators) is that everyone will say that they never drive over the speed limit ever, yet every single time I’m in a dual carriageway everyone is driving over the limit.

littlemisstoldyouso

“How any of you still have a licence is amazing.”

But we have, so perhaps you’re not an authority on the subject.

75mph on my speedo, if conditions are good.

I'm bloody sure my speedo under-registers. I'm so convinced, that when we had two cars, I made DP follow me along a dual carriageway and keep a consistent distance behind. He said that the speedo on the little car (Peugeot 106) never went above 72, but I had 80 on mine (Audi) at one point.

We have a theory that they make speedo's show unusually low speeds on Audis to discourage the stereotypical Audi rowdies from speeding excessively.

80, if it's dry, no fog, clear roads, very little traffic. The speed limit or below, if any of those things isn't true.

I also keep stopping distance and use the lanes correctly, which is the real problem on the roads and what people should actually be ticketed for.

I cannot believe how many of you are happy to speed. .
You wouldn't be so happy if a family member was killed in a pile up because of a speeding driver. Selfish bastards!

My speedo is near accurate. If it reads 30, it's doing 29 and at 70, is doing 68/69. I follow my speedo. I very rarely speed and never intentionally.

I was on a motorway recently with 50mph signs due to roadworks. Nobody slowed down a bit. Even in the inside lane. I found it worrying. I wanted to do 50 and had automatically slowed but it felt dangerous in amongst cars barrelling along at 80+ and flying round you. No idea what you do in that situation. I don't want a ticket but I don't want to cause an accident. I'm glad I live somewhere with no motorways tbh.

To those of you who think it is OK to exceed the limit I hope you get caught and punished, as you would for breaking any other law. Hopefully you will get banned from driving - safer for all of us.

• what makes you think you can pick and choose which laws you adhere to?
• would you expect to get off a murder charge by saying "well it was only a little bit of a murder"?

The limit is the limit - stick to it. You are breaking the law.

The attitude to speed limit laws is quite unbelievable - and Mumsnet just lets these threads ride. If they saw a thread where someone admitted to a murder/assault/robbery they would I hope breach your privacy and tell the police your contact details. Why is this different? Why is it OK for people to openly admit to breaking the law and nothing happens?

If you exceed the limit it is like waving a loaded gun around - just as dangerous, if not more so.

Any police members on here? - tell this self-absorbed individuals to get their act together.

You are wrong Whoremion - YOU are the real problem on the roads.

I know it's radical, but personally I go at the highest speed suited to the conditions under the limit.

Which makes it impossible to pin a bingo figure on it.

80, if it's dry, no fog, clear roads, very little traffic. The speed limit or below, if any of those things isn't true.

I also keep stopping distance and use the lanes correctly, which is the real problem on the roads and what people should actually be ticketed for.

So it's ok to speed so long as you lane change surely not that stupid?

"you’re doing 70 on your speedo you are really doing 63-64."
Surely you have a broken speedometer if you think that? Not sure that one would stand up in court!!!

It depends on the road.

The NSL dual carriageway on my route to work isn't fit for doing much more than 50 on. The one on route to my daughter's is fine for 70 even on the bends but it becomes motorway after a few miles (still two lane).

You drive to conditions, on good clear motorway such as the M74 I might touch 80, wouldn't dream of doing so on the full of cyclists, bad junctions, bus stops, tractors, occasional escaped cows, bits that flood, bits with wicked cross winds dual carriageway going to work.

"80, if it's dry, no fog, clear roads, very little traffic. The speed limit or below, if any of those things isn't true."
Why on earth would you drive at that speed?

Surely there's no one answer to this, you need to assess the situation at the actual time you're driving. I'm concerned that you have a set speed, which part of the country are you, I'd rather stay indoors when you're on the road