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?

I've realised my last post makes me sound dreadfully provincial 🤣 most likely because I am

My general point is that there's a significant proportion of drivers who seem totally incapable of assessing the road and conditions in front of them and just seem to think "sign says I can do X so I will do X".

All the people who live in and around our village know the roads well and are aware that farm vehicles and horses can be round any corner. So therefore people from the village drive sensibly. When diversions mean that townies (said with affection) come through, you can notice it clearly because of the proportion that can't assess the road and just try to bomb through at 60 causing accidents. I'm sure there's an equal amount of idiot drivers from the village that drive dangerously when they go into town on roads they don't know well, but they are capable of driving sensibly on the village road that they already know can be dangerous.

That also brings me to a side-note - my least favourite thing that some village folk often do is think it's okay to drink and drive because they're going to drive back from the pub really slowly which then means that since most of the road is difficult or impossible to overtake, a queue builds up. Then some other idiot gets road rage and decides to overtake several cars at once on a road where you cannot see any reasonable distance at all. Nightmare.

I can honestly say that I don't understand road rage. I agree that people driving unreasonably slowly can cause accidents, but for the danger to arise it also requires the people behind them to get angry and do something silly. I don't get why people can't just remain calm?!

If it's not safe to overtake, it's not a place where driving all the way up to the limit is ideal.

In any case, if it were that important to be at 60, there would be minimum speed signs - and if it's anywhere like near where I live, 90% of those ranting about somebody driving at 50 haven't actually noticed the signs saying the limit went down to 40 several miles ago largely because they were going too fast to see them.

Exactly.

Angry, impatient drivers do us all a favour and catch the bus.

Because legally some vehicles have different national speed limits than others. Just because it's a national speed limit sign doesn't mean all vehicles can legally travel at 60 or 70. Different vehicles have different national speed limits.

Do you live in one of the villages close to Aberystwyth by any chance? 😁 I remember one of the roads down there was exactly as you describe.

I don't get this though; going two-thirds of the speed limit would be the equivalent of going 20 on a standard 30 road. That would annoy people as well as being a hazard.

Of course it's a limit not a target but the limit sets the expectation other drivers around you have; choosing to go slow isn't some moral high ground you gain.

People doing 50 on a nsl road wouldnt annoy me that much . I'd just overtake as soon as it's safe to do so .

The drivers that:

Brake for every bend

Brake when a car is on the the other side of road

Brake to maintain their speed instead of just lifting their foot of the pedal

Do 50mph on a motorway

Rubber neckers when there is a accident

The 40mph everywhere brigade

Overly cautious drivers

People who park forward

These people piss me off

Same here, and more and more drivers are going 5-10mph slower than the speed limit due to the fuel cost/cost of living issue on the roads/dual carriageway in my area.
Its actually a calmer & less stressful drive without people driving up your bumper trying to push you to 80+ mph on the dual carriageway!

Why don't these people in a rush to get somewhere just leave more time for their journey?

People can drive at whatever speed they like within the limits, tbh. Not for you to say what they ‘should’ do. Just gauge their speed and adjust yours accordingly, then everyone’s safe.

When I was an inexperienced driver, I was doing 50 on an NSL road. I span out and wrote off the car. I learned an important lesson - just because the limit has defaulted to 60, it doesn't mean that it is safe to do so.

'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).'

Jesus. We're waving to folk behind us now even 'slowing a bit to aid their overtake'.

When you have new drivers in the family ridiculous ideas like this are quite frightening.

Here's the best idea, concentrate on your own driving and if your have anger management issues do a course or something.

'whatever speed they like' is a bit hyperbolic 😂

Relax and enjoy the fact that your saving money on petrol.
You won't get there any quicker at 60 than you would at 50.

Did you read my other posts where I said I don't think it matters?

Or the bit directly below it where I said the likely problem is because the idiot behind is tailgating?

I'm just saying that everyone should drive with consideration. If you can make it easier for someone to overtake because you have better visibility, help them - even if they are a twat.

You won't get there any quicker at 60 than you would at 50.

That doesn’t make sense.

@SwanBuster I think the point is that you can’t control other people’s speeds or driving decisions so it’s best not to get wound up about them. Concentrate on your own driving and keep yourself safe.

I was going to suggest that too.

Was taught on an advanced driving course that if someone is tailgating and driving aggressively behind you then you need to decrease your speed by 10-20%. This is so you can brake more progressively in case of hazard to compensate for their lack of stopping distance.

Also, what’s the chances there isn’t a van in OPs queue of traffic? NSL for vans is 50mph. Ridiculous for any driver to assume they can undertake a journey of any distance without there at some point being a van, caravan etc in front.

50 in a 60 doesn’t annoy me too much, it’s slightly frustrating but I just overtake where possible. There’s a section of road near me where you get stuck behind idiots doing 35/40 in a 70 limit, that boils my piss!

I wouldn't be bothered by 50 in a 60. People should drive to their capabilities and the road conditions.

However, most people drive well below the speed limit because their road sense is inadequate. They are not looking far enough ahead to read the road and observe other road users. This reduces their reaction times and so they slow their speeds to maximise their ability to react in time. This is sensible but indicative of poor driving skills. If you're consistently driving well below the speed limit, it may be time to question whether you should be driving at all.

Part of that concentration is I would rather not be tailgated. Hence I would rather aid the twat behind me to get past wherever possible.

I disagree with " People should drive to their capabilities". But they aren't capable are they, if they can't drive at 60, when they should be. Do they aren't fit to drive.

Think of it this way

You are driving at 60mph. You get stuck behind a car doing 50mph. So your average speed reduces. You then overtake. Arrive at a junction, red lights etc - so your average speed reduces. Meanwhile the slower car arrives and also waits.

If you took 2 cars over the same distance - but with traffic, lights, roundabouts, junctions, and 1 was doing 50 mph and 1 was doing 60 mph, I don't think the average speed would vary too much between them*

• distance, road type, traffic type etc all need to be taken into consideration

increasing levels of stress ???? Are you ok ??
30 in a 60 - fair enough … but 50 ???

it’s people like you that overtake and cause accidents for no reason because you think that the LIMIT is the law and it angers me that some young new driver or an old lady might have someone like you up their arse intimidating them to drive at a speed they are not comfortable with.

Just calmly overtake if you absolutely have to drive at 60 that’s why there’s a second lane. Don’t make a song and dance about it .

To be honest, you sound like you have anger issues. You're getting very overly defensive and keep banging on about others, but you definitely don't sound a confident driver. I had to explain lay-bys to you.

I don't really agree with slowing down and indicating for people to go past though, it's better to pull over. The person doing the overtaking should be the one deciding, not the one in front.