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Original poster

Country road etiquette. Am I doing it wrong?

423 replies

JensonsAcolyte · 30/04/2021 11:09

I have a new twice daily commute which is mainly country roads. Very twisty and windy, most of it is wide enough for two cars to pass but not all. Lots of up and down hills as well.

I’ve done the journey three times now. It’s 40mph until it hits the two villages then it’s 30.

Every single time I’ve had a car right up my arse for nearly the whole way. I’m starting to think it’s me.

So I drive at 40 along the straight bits with good visibility ahead. I brake coming into sharp turns and then accelerate coming out. I slow right down if I think I’m going to struggle with the gap with an oncoming car. I sometimes have to tap the brakes on a downward steep hill to stay at 40. I slow down to 30 approaching the village.

Every single time I slow down, the car behind pushes right up to me. It was a big white van this morning and yesterday morning (thinking about it, it could be the same guy) and an Audi SUV thing yesterday evening. The Audi overtook me when we got to the dual carriageway and GLARED at me. I’m in a mint green fiat 500, girly little car which I think is half the issue.

Am I being over cautious? Do I need to just thunder round the lanes at a steady 40?

If you are the sort of driver who would be pissed off with me can you explain why?

OP posts:
NeverMetANiceOne · 30/04/2021 11:12

Pull over and let them pass. I drive country roads daily and have done for years.

Gizlotsmum · 30/04/2021 11:14

Do what you need to do. Are you braking hard into the corners? It might be they believe they can take the corners faster but that doesn’t mean you should. Honestly I would probably find it frustrating if I knew I could take a corner at 40 and the car infrint did it at 10 for example but I would back off as I would assume they were nervous and overtake at the next opportunity.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 30/04/2021 11:14

Some people are Too Important to bother with mundane things such as speed limits and safe driving.

As long as you aren't doing 20 on the motorway or something equally bonkers, you are in the right.
If you feel intimidated, it may be best to pull over and let them pass. Not because you are wrong, but so you can drive comfortably.

TheNorthWind · 30/04/2021 11:15

No, they are twats. They think the road is empty because it's a country lane. And it probably mostly is, until it isn't and there's no visibility and no time to stop.

Absolute bellends.

Souther · 30/04/2021 11:16

I dont feel safe on country lanes, especially with all the twists and turns. I just drive at a speed I'm happy at.

And if there are a cars starting to accumulate behind me. Just pull up.
But the roads aren't too busy so it isnt a frequent occurrence.

DdraigGoch · 30/04/2021 11:16

I hate to generalise about people who drive white vans and Audis but...

When my father was a kid, his family pulled over to let a sports car pass who had been driving aggressively. A few miles down the road they passed the sports car which was in a ditch. Karma is very quick.

AmberIsACertainty · 30/04/2021 11:16

It's not you. It's that most people drive like idiots especially in country road. They're pissed off because you're not speeding too.

Weedoogie · 30/04/2021 11:16

Don't drive faster than you think is safe. If you are driving close to the speed limit then you are not going too slow.

You may well be slowing others who want to drive faster. Some of them will be pissed off with you; they can fuck off. Don't allow yourself to be pressurised into driving faster than you think is safe

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 30/04/2021 11:17

(also, not saying you are driving wrong, but is it definitely 40 not NSL? The majority of country lanes are 60 even if it's not safe to drive anywhere near that fast)

DahliaMacNamara · 30/04/2021 11:17

You get a lot of arseholes on country roads. Same as any other road, except that they can't zoom off into the distance, so they're more noticeable. What do they do when the vehicle in front isn't a nippy little Fiat but a lumbering tractor? Twats.

Amelia666 · 30/04/2021 11:18

For you the roads are twisting and uncertain as it’s a new commute, for those who have driven it many years and know every nook and cranny it’ll just be a simple route they can do blindfolded... it’s just the law of the lanes.

Original poster
JensonsAcolyte · 30/04/2021 11:18

@Aroundtheworldin80moves

(also, not saying you are driving wrong, but is it definitely 40 not NSL? The majority of country lanes are 60 even if it's not safe to drive anywhere near that fast)
Definitely 40, there are lots of signs. I imagine there was a campaign at some point!
OP posts:
Todayisanabsolutevanilladay · 30/04/2021 11:18

I hate to generalise about people who drive white vans and Audis but...

This ...

DynamoKev · 30/04/2021 11:19

My theory is that a lot of taligating cunts don't actually think about what they are doing.

Its like twats getting right up behind you and straining to see past you in the Post Office queue or the ones who push past you to get on the tube first - they just know they have to be past you, even if they aren't actually gaining anything.
See also people who get out of their car and run everywhere (eg into shop) as if makes any difference.

Shitzngiggles · 30/04/2021 11:19

I absolutely hate driving on country roads for this reason. Somehow most people seem to think the highway code doesn't count on these roads, its bizarre. Also some men just can't stand the thought of being behind a woman driver.

NicolaDunsire · 30/04/2021 11:19

I drive country roads all the time. Don't drive faster than you feel safe at. I sometimes pull over to let people pass me if they are too close - and I don't actually drive slowly I don't think, generally about 40mph unless visibility/corner issues, so I'm amazed that people want to go faster than me!

AnUnoriginalUsername · 30/04/2021 11:20

If its happening that regularly then I'd say it's your problem. They can't all be arseholes.

I'd guess they know the road better than you and you're over cautious. But, if you're not confident, better to be over cautious than fall off the road.

DynamoKev · 30/04/2021 11:20

Also the end of my road is a 40 limit, most people seem to do at least 60 - you can tell because trucks and buses are the only ones doing the correct speed. There is no enforcement and clearly most people don't give a fuck as they know full well they have zero chance of getting caught speeding.

SonnyWinds · 30/04/2021 11:21

Are they actually 40mph speed limits? I grew up in the countryside and the vast majority were 60mph. Are you breaking on every bend and every hill? Sounds to me like you're driving too slowly and erratically (constantly breaking for no valid reason) and are likely to cause a crash. City drivers will tell you that you're being safe to be extra-cautious but I'd like to see how "safe" they'd think a driver going around a city and breaking every four seconds for no apparent reason is...

RuggeryBuggery · 30/04/2021 11:21

Yeah... I think it could be the twat factor
And/or.... local people very familiar and confident with the roads and used to going faster on them

Itwasjustresting · 30/04/2021 11:21

The van may have a better view of the road ahead than you thanks to higher seating position. Or they may just be impatient. If it’s possible for you to pull in and let them go, that will reduce your stress. But it’s not always practical to be always pulling in !

MotherOfGodWeeFella · 30/04/2021 11:21

@Aroundtheworldin80moves

(also, not saying you are driving wrong, but is it definitely 40 not NSL? The majority of country lanes are 60 even if it's not safe to drive anywhere near that fast)
This is such a generalisation. I live on the edge of the Peak District and cannot think of a country road in a 5 mile radius or more which is actually NSL. Many are 40 or 50 mph. It's to do with the gradients, bends and volume of traffic they take.
DynamoKev · 30/04/2021 11:22

@AnUnoriginalUsername

If its happening that regularly then I'd say it's your problem. They can't all be arseholes.

I'd guess they know the road better than you and you're over cautious. But, if you're not confident, better to be over cautious than fall off the road.

There's not a shortage of arseholes
RumJerrySailorRum · 30/04/2021 11:22

It's not you.

But, they will be able to see far better than you if they are higher up. It makes a huge difference.

Also, they may have been driving that road for years, and therefore very familiar with it.

Chemenger · 30/04/2021 11:22

Almost all the roads round me have had 40 mph limits imposed over the last 10 years or so, the final NSL road nearby went to 30 about 6 months ago (although you would never know it). It could be that you are being overcautious in the bends, in their opinion, but until you know the road its sensible to be overcautious rather than over confident. Tailgating gets nothing from me normally, but I will pull over and let someone past on an unfamiliar road just to get rid of them. What I won't do is speed up.