People driving at 50mph on a 60mph road

[impossibldream]

I have to use an A road most days which has a national speed limit (60mph). It seems like I’m always stuck behind some idiot driving along at 50mph. I find it so hard not to get wound up. It just results in people trying to overtake (sometimes taking risks so I think it increases a chance of accidents) and generally increasing levels of stress. Why do people do this? AIBU to find it rude and annoying?

@SirChenjins I find your attitude to be the bizarre one, firstly there are few layers on the 6o roads I go on and secondly I am going somewhere too! Why are people so afraid of slowing down a tiny bit? Allow more time if you are in that much of a rush.

do 50 on the A1 on the single carriageway bits

Which parts of the A1 are single carriageway? I use it a lot and don’t know anywhere it isn’t at least dual.

And there are lots of nominally 60 roads where it would be suicidal to drive at that speed.

This.

You don’t have to pull in even - if you as the driver in front spot first that there is an overtaking opportunity for the people behind you, you can easily signal to them (by indicating left, or waving that it’s a good time and maybe gently slowing a bit to aid their overtake).

part of the problem is the angry mob can’t spot the overtake opportunity because they are inevitably tailgaters too. Hang back, improve your visibility, floor the fucker and go for it if you want to overtake when it’s safe to do so.

admitted having a car that does 0-60 in 2.6 mph helps here 😂

I can't immediately recall any single carriageway parts, but there are certainly a few 50 or 60 zones on the A1 between London and Peterborough.

I was stuck behind someone doing 35 on the A1 single carriage yesterday then braked at a speed camera.

I overtook as soon as it was safe to do so.

It’s a speed limit not a target. Perfect conditions, competent driver who knows the road, 60 ✅. Tourist, doesn’t know the road, isn’t comfortable-50 is fine enough. I live in a tourist destination- doesn’t worry me at all.

From Newcastle north up to Edinburgh there are single lane sections. Oh the joys of driving south from here on that road..,

50 isn’t too bad but round here there’s regularly ‘Sunday drivers’ out for a drive doing 35. A few days ago I was behind someone doing 28. It’s not a road with a lot of opportunities for overtaking either.

It's odd that the people getting wound up by people driving below the speed limit never seem to get wound up by people driving above the speed limit.

I use the A3 in London a lot - the 50mph limit stretches. In the inside lane you have loads of people doing 40, in the middle lane people do between 40 and 60 depending on how chocker the road is, and in the outside lane everyone's trying to do 70 🤷🏻‍♀️

Let's not pretend that more than about 10% of drivers make any attempt at all to actually drive at the speed limit. Most people drive like a wanker one way or the other, in my experience (and the speed hogs are always the ones who pull out in front of me in incredibly unsafe ways, causing me to brake sharply so that I can restore my stopping distance)

60 is a limit, not a target. Does not necessarily mean the road is safe to be driven at 60.

I completely agree!

I live in Cornwall and many of the roads are classed as a way higher speed than they should be.

On the way to work most of my roads are 50mph but very often I’ll be stuck behind someone on holiday and they’ll be going 30 max which can be frustrating if I’m late for work but that’s my problem and they shouldn’t have to go faster because I want to get to work or home quicker.

I drive the speed limit most days as I know the roads very well but if I am on a road I don’t know then I will drive slower.

I can’t stand when drivers are right up my ass even when I’m doing the speed limit.

Why are you in such a rush?
Maybe you should leave earlier if you’re running late.

It's that bit after newcastle/Morpeth (can't remember where it starts) going north, or immediately south from Berwick. It's single carriageway a lot there, but think it is mostly, if not all dual or motorway south of Newcastle. I think people in the south don't realise that there are single carriageway bits to it. It's like with the a9, those in the south of Scotland used to say that it is dialled so it doesn't need it, but not all of it is dualled. They will complete that, eventually.. although not all the way north, can't expect them to fully complete a promise now. 😂

Is 55 mph ok?

Depends on the road. It is a limit not a target. I would rather they were doing 50 than 70.

Like pp says not all NSL roads are suitable for doing 60. We have windy/hilly country lanes with tall hedges that are only just wide enough for 2 cars to pass (or have passing places) I wouldn't think of doing more than 30-40 there because you can't easily see on coming traffic. On wider main roads with clearly marked lanes and good visibility its different.
Whilst it's annoying to be stuck behind the 40mph for everything people, it is possible that people doing 50 are trying to economise on fuel, or might have a black box and drive more cautiously, or some delivery vans have a speed limit of 55.
I (unreasonably I admit) get slightly annoyed if I get stuck behind the bus on either of the roads to the 2 nearest towns, because they are 1 Lane either way but too busy to overtake. But I know it's unreasonable because the bus service is pretty rubbish so I shouldn't be so impatient, or begrudge those who need to use it!

Get used to it, OP. As more and more people get EVs you'll find more cars moving at lower speeds as people try and stretch the range.

No no you haven't experienced frustration until you are stuck behind a car in a 50 mile zone going 25 with no possibility of passing.

Oh god yes I feel your pain. I was driving back from work yesterday afternoon and some idiot pulled out in front of me and proceeded to pootle along at 45mph on a very nice, easy driving 60mph road. Absolutely nothing behind me so the prick could have waited. As soon as we got to the 50 zone (which incidentally would be safer as a 40) he decided to put his foot down and nearly took out a rider and her horse on the blind bend. Utter twat.

I prefer driving below the speed limit, I'm not stupid but I do usually do 10 under. I feel safer and if it pisses the person off behind me, they can over take. 60 is the limit not the target.

Why aren't people getting angry at those who go 10/20 over and simply wouldn't be able to stop in time if there's an emergency? YABU.

You would probably blow a fuse if you lived near me OP. It’s an eight mile drive to the local shop on 60 limit narrow and twisty roads with high hedges. There is a local man who drives there at 20mph max. He always has and probably always will and it is impossible to overtake him anywhere.

You know them but obviously ignore them if you were on a speed awareness course😆

And beyond Peterborough. No single carriageway though.

I stand corrected about the A1. Although I live three miles from it and use it a lot, obviously I never go that far north on it. Sorry.

They are probably driving slower to compensate for op driving up their arse.

50mph is more economical than 60. It's better for your engine, fuel costs and the environment.

It's because of someone like you OP that I have severe facial scaring and a friend in the graveyard. That driver was "wound up" and lacking in patience as well.