Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder who all these people are, speeding?

420 replies

justonanote · 03/04/2022 02:19

Or more to the point, how they think they can get away with it, or clearly do all the time?

I do a lot of motorway driving and I see so many cars doing over 80!

See also dual carriageways near me. People do 80+!

I'll be in a lane sometimes doing 70 and I have cars behind flashing at me to speed up Shock

My question is do people not get done very much for speeding? I wouldn't really think to speed anyway but surely the strong possibility of a fine or more is a deterrent? Do people just not care?

OP posts:
thedarkling · 03/04/2022 08:31

@Lalliella

I find it hard to believe that you’re being flashed for driving at 70 in the slow lane. Having said that I’ve never tried it so I wouldn’t know 😂
@ivykaty44 see
ivykaty44 · 03/04/2022 08:33

thedarkling Oh dear pretending I break the rules and drive like a twat as you don’t like being pulled up on something.

AchillesPoirot · 03/04/2022 08:33

@Sparklingbrook

There's an unwritten (but well known) guideline that under 85 on a clear (no heavy traffic, good weather) motorway you're not going to pulled for speeding

Is that a universal rule? I wouldn't really want to test it out just in case. I'm sure that the traffic police could decide whatever they want in any situation.

Where can I find this guideline?

My ex was done for 75 on the motorway in the last 18 months so it clearly isn’t universal?

thedarkling · 03/04/2022 08:34

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

OnaBegonia · 03/04/2022 08:34

@Giraffesandbottoms Agreed.
The very slow drivers are a danger too, if you join a road with an expectation of travelling speed a very slow driver can cause accidents.
I drive along a 60 bypass every day and regularly encounter the trundling wheel clutchers at 30, nearly all oblivious to the mile long trail behind them.

VeganCow · 03/04/2022 08:35

Those of you regularly doing 80, arent you worried you'll get clocked by a speed camera? Or are you relying on a sat nav to warn you when one is upcoming and then you slow to 70?

MrsArchchancellorRidcully · 03/04/2022 08:35

@Lalliella

I find it hard to believe that you’re being flashed for driving at 70 in the slow lane. Having said that I’ve never tried it so I wouldn’t know 😂
It REALLY isn't and never has been the slow lane 🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️. It's left, middle and right lane and I too have never flashed anyone in the left lane or even middle. I do regularly flash idiots sat in the right lane doing 70 and they can't be bothered to move over.
toconclude · 03/04/2022 08:35

@DrelasSkills

Sounds like you are driving dangerously to me?

The only reason I can imagine you're getting flashes is because you should be in a slower lane.

Cannot stand people who don't know how to use motorway lanes correctly. So dangerous, much more so than someone doing 80+ in the correct lane.

Cannot stand people who make ignorant assumptions about perfect strangers. You really think no-one gets flashed unless they are at fault?🙄
Lalliella · 03/04/2022 08:35

Lots of people have referred to the inside lane as the slow lane. So you know I mean the inside lane and you're being deliberately obtuse. Are you one of those people that drives seventy in the middle lane while the lorries in the slow(er) lane trundle past?

I called it the slow lane because I know I get inside and outside muddled up! To me inside means it’s the lane nearest to the centre of the motorway, i.e. the fast lane, and outside is the outside edge of the motorway i.e. the slow lane, but that’s not right is it??

Isn’t it an offence now to sit in a faster (more outside??) lane if you’re not overtaking, so maybe that’s why you’re being flashed OP?

Sparklingbrook · 03/04/2022 08:36

@VeganCow

Those of you regularly doing 80, arent you worried you'll get clocked by a speed camera? Or are you relying on a sat nav to warn you when one is upcoming and then you slow to 70?
Well apparently there's an 'unwritten' rule that 85 is fine. Confused
picklemewalnuts · 03/04/2022 08:36

I'm driving much slower than I used to, to preserve fuel for environmental reasons.

@justonanote it's possible your speedometer is slightly out- mine is. I need to register significantly over 70 to do 70. My phone tells me a more accurate speed.

MrsArchchancellorRidcully · 03/04/2022 08:38

@VeganCow

Those of you regularly doing 80, arent you worried you'll get clocked by a speed camera? Or are you relying on a sat nav to warn you when one is upcoming and then you slow to 70?
Yes, mostly. But probably mainly cos there are hardly any police on the motorways. I don't tailgate and I don't drive fast in poor conditions etc but I frequently overtake police cars (plus traffic officers who are NOT police) at around 85 and they don't care. 90+ then you may be pulled.
Jonny1265 · 03/04/2022 08:38

@justonanote

Sorry but I've come back and loads of you have said you regularly do 80 to 85?! What? Why?

I must be thick Blush because I thought the speed limit was 70 for a reason. Why are you all so happy to regularly break the speed limit? Even if you aren't getting caught?

Is there some unwritten rule I'm not aware of that 85mph is completely fine? Shock

Those asking about which lane I get flashes at, not an overtaking one!

The 70 speed limit was introduced in 1965 and was based on the performance and safety of cars of the time. Cars now are much more capable and a lot safer. The speed limit hasn't been altered since but in most European countries. it is a lot higher. If a person is very rules focussed, then they will likely stick to the limit but if someone is outcomes focussed, they will likely break the speed limit.
Lalliella · 03/04/2022 08:38

It REALLY isn't and never has been the slow lane 🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️. It's left, middle and right lane and I too have never flashed anyone in the left lane or even middle. I do regularly flash idiots sat in the right lane doing 70 and they can't be bothered to move over.

See my explanation for calling it the slow lane @MrsArchchancellorRidcully 😂 Good point though, it is also the left lane. I agree about the idiots in the fast / right / outside (??) lane.

RampantIvy · 03/04/2022 08:40

I do a lot of motorway driving, mainly between Sheffield and Newcastle. The M1 near Sheffied and near Wakfield has average speed cameras, as does the M62 near the junction with the M1, so people don't really speed round there.

I agree with @tttigress that the ridiculous speedsters are much rarer these days, and I rarely see people flying past me on the motorway at really high speeds.

My speedometer calibrates at 3MPH lower than it states on the dashboard. I know this because speed signs on the road side and the satnav on my phone always show me as travelling slightly slower. On a clear run I usually set my cruise control at 73 - 75 MPH, so at most I am travelling at 72 MPH. Obviously it varies according to road conditions.

People shouldn't be flashing you at 70 MPH unless you are in the wrong lane.

Gladioli23 · 03/04/2022 08:41

I think the other question I would be asking myself is is my speedometer accurate?

My Speedo over-reads massively - so if it says in going at 70 my GPS Speedos say I'm going about 64. So if you're driving at what you think is 70 but is actually 64 that night explain why everyone else seems to be going so so fast?

Yotrotro · 03/04/2022 08:42

I regularly do 80 on the motorway part of my commute, but also have a long stretch of country lanes and don't speed on that or in towns etc.

I work to the 10% rule which means the limit is 77 in reality, your Speedo isn't accurate compared to GPS/speed cameras etc. Partly because upto 80 feels safe whereas 90 feels too fast and 70 too slow. Also because it's a 3 lane motorway, and lorries are forever clogging the inside lane and the first overtaking lane doing 55 or 60, but to be in the outside lane and keeping up with traffic you need to do above 70, then pull back in when you can until the next lorry blockade.

Lunar27 · 03/04/2022 08:42

IME almost everyone speeds. It's most noticeable when teaching my kids to drive and you're religiously keeping to or below the limit.

Biggest faults are people speeding on entry or exit to a 30mph zone or taking advantage of the 10%+2 rule (although it's really +/-2mph). Also, noone seems to respect the new 20mph zones.

Personally I'm not bothered about motorways but residential areas are where limits need to be policed more rigorously.

thedarkling · 03/04/2022 08:42

@Lalliella

Lots of people have referred to the inside lane as the slow lane. So you know I mean the inside lane and you're being deliberately obtuse. Are you one of those people that drives seventy in the middle lane while the lorries in the slow(er) lane trundle past?

I called it the slow lane because I know I get inside and outside muddled up! To me inside means it’s the lane nearest to the centre of the motorway, i.e. the fast lane, and outside is the outside edge of the motorway i.e. the slow lane, but that’s not right is it??

Isn’t it an offence now to sit in a faster (more outside??) lane if you’re not overtaking, so maybe that’s why you’re being flashed OP?

It doesn't matter what you call it, everyone knows you mean the inside lane. For some reason I got a patronising post about motorway use for calling it that when lots of people have and it's quite common to do so. How people refer to the lane doesn't affect how they drive. And strangely enough, if you are driving a slower vehicle you will generally use that lane unless you are overtaking. Which makes me wonder if people are driving more slowly than they should be (ie not overtaking) in the other lanes which is very dangerous.
wertuio · 03/04/2022 08:43

The lack of knowledge/awareness in this thread is frightening.
A lot of people need to read the Highway Code before they drive on motorways again.
Stay left unless you are overtaking. Pretty simple really.

ivykaty44 · 03/04/2022 08:44

Can I ask for those that regularly speed. If you killed someone whilst speeding, how would you justify to the relatives there lived one dying?

DogInATent · 03/04/2022 08:45

My ex was done for 75 on the motorway in the last 18 months so it clearly isn’t universal?

Even on a normal road there's an allowance for the accuracy of your speedo, 10% +2mph. If he got pulled at 75mph on a motorway, he was in a 50mph or 60mph reduced speed limit.

See, (and follow-up the links)
www.theaa.com/driving-advice/legal/speed-limit

Lunar27 · 03/04/2022 08:45

@Gladioli23

I think the other question I would be asking myself is is my speedometer accurate?

My Speedo over-reads massively - so if it says in going at 70 my GPS Speedos say I'm going about 64. So if you're driving at what you think is 70 but is actually 64 that night explain why everyone else seems to be going so so fast?

Yes definitely. Many people are using GPS as it's more accurate but are also using the 10%+2mph allowance.

Trouble is, the 10% allowance is supposed to cover Speedo innacuracy so people are either taking it too far or just don't care.

Original poster
justonanote · 03/04/2022 08:46

@wertuio

The lack of knowledge/awareness in this thread is frightening. A lot of people need to read the Highway Code before they drive on motorways again. Stay left unless you are overtaking. Pretty simple really.
How about sticking within the speed limit? That not in the Highway Code too?
OP posts:
ivykaty44 · 03/04/2022 08:46

How people refer to the lane doesn't affect how they drive.

Yes it does, and one of the reasons people sit in the middle Lane - as they don’t want to drive in what is seen as the “slow” lane