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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Are 30mph Winds too String for Driving?

46 replies

QS90 · 20/02/2022 16:29

My partner is worried about me driving home, to Bristol, from Newmarket, via Birmingham. I don't feel worried about it, and am sure I will have driven in these conditions multiple times before. He himself doesn't drive. Normally I wouldn't think twice and would just drive home, but I have our 14 month old baby with me. I don't want to disregard his feelings, but do have work tomorrow and Tuesday. Work are quite flexible and would probably let me work other days this week instead (I have an office job, so it doesn't matter much what days I'm in), that said I don't want to take the p with flexible working. Or ARE 30mph winds too strong for safe driving? Thoughts please!

OP posts:

CatDogMonkeyPOW · 20/02/2022 17:26

Cumbria here. 30mph is a bit breezy

Mumdiva99 · 20/02/2022 17:34

Wind is meant to be 40mph here. I have just driven for an hour - 30 mins of that on the motorway. I jist drive slower than normal.

Wonnle · 20/02/2022 17:37

You will need a few balls of string to reach Bristol from Newmarket via Birmingham

MillyMollyMandyMaybe · 20/02/2022 17:39

@MintJulia

Yanbu unless you are driving a very high sided something on a very exposed route.

30mpg is a bit breezy, that's all. Shouldn't be a problem for cars.

That’s true if the general wind speed is 30. The problem today is that in the yellow warning area we have regular gusts of about 60. If that catches you as a cross wind on the exposed part of the M5, you can quickly find yourself in another lane. I’ve driven that route from Birmingham to Bristol lots of times in all conditions, and today I would try to avoid it if possible.

RampantIvy · 20/02/2022 17:44

Have you checked for flooding? I'm in South Yorkshire and loads of places are under water.

balalake · 20/02/2022 17:47

I don't doubt your driving skills, just that of too many others. I suggest going tomorrow.

steppemum · 20/02/2022 17:50

wiltshire here, and it is horribel out there.

But not horrible in the 'I wouldn't drive' sense, just in the 'I'm glad I don't have to go out, and can sit by the fire' sense.

But then I tend to think you can't predict when something will happen. rainy /windy/foggy days are part of life, and then you get hit on a calm dry afternoon on a local road (happened to our neighbour, nearly died, lost his leg)

Would you be worried if we hadn't had a big storm on Friday?

ThePlumVan · 20/02/2022 17:50

Are you driving a high curtain sided HGV OP ?
Can you tie your curtains back ?

blackcurrantjam · 20/02/2022 17:50

Christ 30mph

colliecolliecollieoioioi · 20/02/2022 17:52

It's than Friiday here (Hertfordshite)

YouCantTourniquetTheTaint · 20/02/2022 17:55

Unless you're driving an empty articulated lorry, I think you'll be fine. As long as you're a confident driver who is risk aware, you'll be fine, don't let his worrying affect you.

TimBoothseyes · 20/02/2022 17:58

I'm about 20 miles west of Bristol and it is fierce out there. very strong gusts (a lot more than 30mph) and torrential (?) rain.

Jade308 · 20/02/2022 18:05

In Bristol, think it must be pushing 50 mph out there now

lampygirl · 20/02/2022 18:07

It’s honestly no bother to drive a bog standard car in that. I’d be beginning to wonder about artics especially if they are travelling empty if it gets much over 40mph. Just keep a slightly larger distance from any large/high vehicles especially those towing where the bit likely to get blown about is only hitched to the thing doing the power.

Livelifeinthebuslane · 20/02/2022 18:13

Yeah I've told DD to keep a good stopping distance and not to sit alongside high sided vehicles and only overtake if she can get right past them, at least there shouldn't be as many lorries on the road as a weekday.

dreammattemousse · 20/02/2022 18:20

Drove from Gloucestershire to Bristol and back today via the m4 bridge
A lot of motor way driving..
It was windy.. and I did say 'shit' a few times when I felt the wind push against the car..
but overall it was fine
Two kids with me so I just went at a steady 60/70 in the slow lane

Original poster

QS90 · 20/02/2022 20:32

Thanks all for your help and suggestions. Have given it a miss in the end, to be on the same side, and only as a) my line manager was fine with it when I floated the idea, and b) if any small issue arose on the journey, I'd never hear the end of it from the other half.

OP posts:

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 20/02/2022 20:34

He's being ridiculous.

30mph is nothing - that's normal along the coast. If driving was dangerous nobody would go anywhere

It's currently 50mph ish outside and I'll be driving to work (and working outside) as normal.

TuscanApothecary · 20/02/2022 20:38

Make sure you don't get caught up in lorrys, especially if there's one in front of you, one behind and one in the middle lane.

Original poster

QS90 · 20/02/2022 20:39

@MillyMollyMandyMaybe Yes I think you're right. From my googling today, it seems that it's the gusts rather than the windspeed that matters.

OP posts:

RedToothBrush · 20/02/2022 20:53

In the NW. The weather he is worse than the height of Eunice. We have wind (though not quite as strong, but certainly more than 30mph). The big issue here is the rain. There are loads of flood warnings out and its so heavy the driving conditions are dire. Eunice on the other hand, had a few downpours but was drier overall.

I certainly would not be recommending driving a long distance if you are going through the conditions around here.

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