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.

If they get stopped and ticketed it will be the big bad police's fault and have they nothing better to do, drivers are just a cash cow etc...etc...etc

"80. Speed discrepancy’s and the like"

What on earth does that mean? Do you get a discrepancy if you kill someone?

Any police members on here?

Would those be the same police members who do not stop people for only being slightly over the limit?

Why on earth would you drive at that speed?

You're not going to instantly explode in a pile of fire and death if you go 80 miles an hour you know.

"Depends on the type of dual carriageway, the conditions, and traffic, I'll usually do 70-100."
Why? When anything over 70 is illegal?

Best bits of advice from my speed awareness course (I was clocked doing 36 in a 30 limit).

The speed limit is a maximum, not a target so beware of prevailing conditions.

The cameras are generpus and if they clock 36mph you were probably dping 39mph.

Speed limits are variable, even on motorways and need to be observed.

Accidents lead to: extra admin, cost to emergency services, stress to car occupants and family, sick leave, impact on colleagues, pain, increased no claims, etc.

I learnt a lot on that course and it was v helpful. I have driven better since.

My car and sat nav tell me the speed limit and warns me if I break it. It is very rarely wrong.

I drive a lot, there is no point breaking the speed limit although I do accept accelerating to 76mph to pass a vehicle tootling at 68 in the middle lane is required.

In France it is usual to drive at 80mph in good conditions. Frwnch roads are better and there are fewer cars. It's notable that one sees more accidents.

I always love the virtue signalling you get from a driving thread, the sound of all those halos thrumming with righteousness is always good for a laugh.

A schoolfriend of mine and his dad were killed in a car accident when I was in my teens.

They were going reasonably fast, but under the speed limit I understand.

The cause of the accident was poorly maintained tyres (and, to a lesser extent, brakes) on another car. If that driver had taken better care of her tyres, the accident might not have been so severe.

Speeding is one thing. But tyre and brake maintenance -- that stuff is absolutely crucial and so many people overlook or ignore it. Very pertinent when travelling at dual carriageway speeds.

"Why on earth would you drive at that speed?

You're not going to instantly explode in a pile of fire and death if you go 80 miles an hour you know."

What a ridiculous answer. You could kill. That's the long and short of it. On any road you have a mix of drivers, more competent ones and less competent ones. You have no idea what any driver might do, ie swerve, stop suddenly etc and you are roaring up to them at 80mph!! You are just a murderer on wheels at that speed. Theres a reason that speed is illegal.

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

Far too slow. This is just as dangerous as driving too fast.

I always love the virtue signalling you get from a driving thread, the sound of all those halos thrumming with righteousness is always good for a laugh

When I was 20 I saw a horrendous accident outside my place of work. The people driving were doing massively over the speed limit. They walked away from the car, the pedestrians they hit on the pavement weren’t so lucky. That’s why I don’t speed.

"drive a lot, there is no point breaking the speed limit although I do accept accelerating to 76mph to pass a vehicle tootling at 68 in the middle lane is required."
68 isn't tootling along. Its 2 mph off the legal speed limit.

Why? When anything over 70 is illegal?

Ohh no, is it?

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

"Far too slow. This is just as dangerous as driving too fast."
No, its safer and legal.

Best bits of advice from my speed awareness course (I was clocked doing 36 in a 30 limit).

+1 here (I was changing my speed limiter from 40 to 30 when the camera snapped).

Everything that was predicted on my SAC has come to pass. The instructors joked that we'd be grateful in 5 years time (this was 2014) as we'd be prepared for the crackdown. Average speed cameras on main roads and 20mph zones especially.

It will be interesting when they put cameras over 20mph zones too.

Only this week Birmingham City Council has proposed making the entire cities residential areas 20mph zones. Which will be a shock to some.

I do 50 too. I get 8 days petrol rather than 4 at 80. Only makes a few minutes later on an hour journey too.

No, its safer and legal.

It is not necessarily either actually. You can be prosecuted for driving too slowly.

Why? When anything over 70 is illegal?

Ohh no, is it?
Like to see you being sarcastic when you kill someone.

TabbyMumz

You will get stopped by police driving too slow and you will also fail your test. So no, it’s not safer

I will do whatever the traffic allows up to a constant of 70mph.

However, where the slower lane is doing 60 mph and it's not heavy traffic I have gone over if I've overtaken and the other lane is travelling slightly over 70. I believe that's safer than causing all the cars behind to brake. I will however move back over once I've overtaken or gently slow to 70mph if I have to stay in overtaking lane.

Average speed cameras on main roads

This works so well. The stretch of the M23 near me has this at the moment due to roadworks. Everyone is driving at 50mph.

I was lying before, I actually only ever do 11mph on 70mph dual carriageways, as it's apparently safer...

No, its safer and legal.

"It is not necessarily either actually. You can be prosecuted for driving too slowly"
Yes, except 53 is not too slow. 30 mph on a dual carriageway is too slow, 53 isn't. A lot of trucks and caravans have to drive at 50.

Every single bit of dual carriageway where I live has a 50 limit on it. So unfortunately that is what I tend to do.

On the motorway in clear traffic, 70-80.

TabbyMumz and that car shpuld be in the inside lane, not the middle lane. Regrettably it is safer to get past quickly particularly when a twit zooms up behind one's bumper doing 85!

Middle lane hogging needs to become an offence. It doesn't happen on the Continent !- well not unless the car has GB plates.