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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What do you think of my driving instructor forcing me to do 82mph on a motorway?

174 replies

HappyPeach · 07/09/2022 12:06

I had a pass-plus lesson on motorway driving to build my confidence. It was with the AA driving school, not my original instructor. I am an absolute stickler for the limit being the limit & not wanting to get fines or lose my reaction time. The instructor said I had to 'do 70 + 5mph + 10%' so I wasn't allowed to drive below 82mph as he called it 'failure to make progress' and I would piss off the other drivers. I'm really unhappy about this and I'm thinking of reporting him. I know many people drive at 80mph and above but that doesn't mean I have to. What d'you think?

OP posts:
CannibalQueen · 07/09/2022 14:00

It's a limit, not a suggested speed. He's wrong. And frankly, you don't drive illegally just so you don't 'piss off' other drivers.

CannibalQueen · 07/09/2022 14:03

He is totally wrong to do this. There is perhaps an argument for you to do a controlled fast stretch where the speeds are beyond what you've been used to but this mad calculation that he has is nuts. The speed limit is not advisory. Yes, there are situations you can find yourself in where you might need to exceed it, but they should be very rare.

SVRT19674 · 07/09/2022 14:06

Did he put a gun to your head? if not, you had agency, he didn´t FORCE you to do anything.

mam0918 · 07/09/2022 14:08

I had an instructor that insisted you cant take a corn at more OR less than 13mph (it had to be exact).

I also had an instuctor scream at me that I was wrong about something, I got out the highway code and PROVED I was most definately right and what he insisted on was ILLEGAL. He looked at it stopped screaming but passive agressively 'agree to disagree' (his words) with the proof infront of him.

RedWingBoots · 07/09/2022 14:13

SVRT19674 · 07/09/2022 14:06

Did he put a gun to your head? if not, you had agency, he didn´t FORCE you to do anything.

This.

There are so some scenarios on dual carriageways and motorways when you need to speed to get out of danger. Though in those cases you won't be looking at your speedo, you will just put your foot down.

RedWingBoots · 07/09/2022 14:15

@mam0918 guess that instructor has never driven in London then?

(Obviously other cities and large towns with loads of traffic are available. )

Softplayhooray · 07/09/2022 14:27

SVRT19674 · 07/09/2022 14:06

Did he put a gun to your head? if not, you had agency, he didn´t FORCE you to do anything.

It is called coercion and it was done by a man who the OP was in a confined space with, under pressure. Many crimes are committed against women under these exact circumstances. There is no requirement for a gun.

OP, he is a danger and you should report him.

VioletInsolence · 07/09/2022 14:30

ProseccoStorm · 07/09/2022 12:47

50 mph on a 70mph motorway isn't safe unless this is the speed of the surrounding traffic.

You should maintain a speed that is reasonable for the conditions. If your driving is considered a hazard, and at 50 in a 70 I'd expect it would be, you could be fined and classed as 'inconsiderate driving' for 'dangerous driving' it could be disqualification.

Show quote history

So if there are four lanes, what speed is appropriate in each lane?

I’m a slower driver too and think the speed limit should be reduced. If everyone drove at the same speed as me there would be less pollution and hardly an accidents. As it is, I have to do any motorway driving at the weekend. You can only be fully in control of your car if you’re not reliant on other people behaving sensibly and safely in order for you to not crash. And the only way to do this is to drive slowly.

For the same reason I do not join a motorway in a group of other vehicles and expect everyone in the slow lane to be able to move out of the way. This is one of the things that really annoys me. If I use the A1M and it’s packed and this happens when I’m doing 70mph there would surely be a crash because I can’t pull over into the side of a lorry. So I have to stick at 50mph so that I have some reaction time.

KassandraOfSparta · 07/09/2022 14:36

So if there are four lanes, what speed is appropriate in each lane?

You seriously think that's how motorways work? Jeezo. STAY LEFT UNLESS OVERTAKING.

Seriously. It's not difficult.

Agrudge · 07/09/2022 14:38

Softplayhooray · 07/09/2022 14:27

It is called coercion and it was done by a man who the OP was in a confined space with, under pressure. Many crimes are committed against women under these exact circumstances. There is no requirement for a gun.

OP, he is a danger and you should report him.

Show quote history

This is a joke right? She the driver she is responsible.

GelatoQueen · 07/09/2022 14:40

Fuck sake it's not hard. Drive at the correct speed for the conditions of the road mindful of the speed limit. On a motorway you may well go slightly over 70 to get past vehicles safely, but going over 80 routinely is just asking for trouble

amusedbush · 07/09/2022 14:42

womaninatightspot · 07/09/2022 12:10

I wouldn't have been impressed I'm a stickler for speed limits. That said I hate driving round Glasgow. Speed limit switches to 50mph on the ring road and everyone keeps going at 70mph.

Yeah, the Glasgow motorways chop and change between 50, 60 and 70 but nobody pays any attention, which I've always found weird. If you suddenly slowed to 50 like you're supposed to, you'd probably cause an accident.

Although I was on the M80 on Monday morning, it changed from 50mph to 70mph and nobody sped up. It was sunny, clear and dry - I was looking around for temporary speed limit signs or obstructions but no, we all just pootled along at 55ish Confused

Although, thinking about it now, maybe it was to conserve fuel...

Imnotswallowingthat · 07/09/2022 14:49

bodie1890 · 07/09/2022 12:41

This is utter nonsense. I got a speeding ticket for 74mph. Anything above the limit (ie. 70mph) is speeding. Otherwise it would not be a 'Speed Limit' would it?

OP, your instructor was wrong and you should report them/ complain. I had a dodgy instructor from the AA as well and wouldn't use them again.

Show quote history

Its not nonsense. The guidelines for police in England & Wales recommend not prosecuting below 79mph on the motorway. Police Scotland do not use these guidelines and prosecute at whatever speed.

Other people have posted the relevant info on here already.

AssignedSlytherinAtBirth · 07/09/2022 14:55

I did a speed awareness course (after getting caught doing 34 in a 30 limit) and we were told there is no 10% overtaking margin. In other words, the maximum speed allowed in the UK is 70mph. People exceed that of course, but they are breaking the law. Your instructor is misinformed and he has no business teaching you that.

Aubriella · 07/09/2022 15:03

AssignedSlytherinAtBirth · 07/09/2022 14:55

I did a speed awareness course (after getting caught doing 34 in a 30 limit) and we were told there is no 10% overtaking margin. In other words, the maximum speed allowed in the UK is 70mph. People exceed that of course, but they are breaking the law. Your instructor is misinformed and he has no business teaching you that.

Most police forces have a tolerance of 10% plus 2 mph above the limit before a speed camera ‘flashes’.

On a 70 mph stretch of motorway, the threshold would go up to 79 mph.

whynotwhatknot · 07/09/2022 15:05

doesnt sound right to me i was never taught to go over any speed limit but then i didnt do the pass plus

i thought you had motorway lessons before you pass now

fairgame84 · 07/09/2022 15:06

I got 3 points and a fine for doing 79 on a motorway. YANBU.

inmyslippers · 07/09/2022 15:10

Was you over taking or in the right lane?

AssumingDirectControl · 07/09/2022 15:19

VioletInsolence · 07/09/2022 14:30

So if there are four lanes, what speed is appropriate in each lane?

I’m a slower driver too and think the speed limit should be reduced. If everyone drove at the same speed as me there would be less pollution and hardly an accidents. As it is, I have to do any motorway driving at the weekend. You can only be fully in control of your car if you’re not reliant on other people behaving sensibly and safely in order for you to not crash. And the only way to do this is to drive slowly.

For the same reason I do not join a motorway in a group of other vehicles and expect everyone in the slow lane to be able to move out of the way. This is one of the things that really annoys me. If I use the A1M and it’s packed and this happens when I’m doing 70mph there would surely be a crash because I can’t pull over into the side of a lorry. So I have to stick at 50mph so that I have some reaction time.

Show quote history

My goodness. I don’t think you ought to drive on motorways.

Rosehugger · 07/09/2022 15:24

So I have to stick at 50mph so that I have some reaction time

My goodness. I don’t think you ought to drive on motorways

Christ no. One of the worst things on motorways is getting on when a car in front is trying to join at 40/50mph in front of me when the traffic we are joining is doing 60 to 70. Aaagh, it's so dangerous!

SofiaSoFar · 07/09/2022 15:28

fairgame84 · 07/09/2022 15:06

I got 3 points and a fine for doing 79 on a motorway. YANBU.

In Scotland?

Or had you already done a speed awareness course previously, perhaps?

DappledThings · 07/09/2022 15:29

Christ no. One of the worst things on motorways is getting on when a car in front is trying to join at 40/50mph in front of me when the traffic we are joining is doing 60 to 70. Aaagh, it's so dangerous!
Or 35 as happened to me the other day. It is so scary trying to use a slip road when you can't match your speed to the cars you are joining because someone in front of you is preventing you doing it safely.

tootiredtoocare · 07/09/2022 15:31

Whether you agree with speeding or not, fact is that over 70 is breaking the law. He should absolutely not be encouraging that in any way. In my not extensive but regular driving on the motorway, there are plenty of folks who never venture above 60 and they're not a problem, there are overtaking lanes after all. Bearing in mind, many commercial vehicles are limited to 56mph! I think I'd report him.

holidaynightmare · 07/09/2022 15:31

loudlylikealion · 07/09/2022 12:11

Please report him he's going to kill someone

Exactly this

RedWingBoots · 07/09/2022 15:37

VioletInsolence · 07/09/2022 14:30

So if there are four lanes, what speed is appropriate in each lane?

I’m a slower driver too and think the speed limit should be reduced. If everyone drove at the same speed as me there would be less pollution and hardly an accidents. As it is, I have to do any motorway driving at the weekend. You can only be fully in control of your car if you’re not reliant on other people behaving sensibly and safely in order for you to not crash. And the only way to do this is to drive slowly.

For the same reason I do not join a motorway in a group of other vehicles and expect everyone in the slow lane to be able to move out of the way. This is one of the things that really annoys me. If I use the A1M and it’s packed and this happens when I’m doing 70mph there would surely be a crash because I can’t pull over into the side of a lorry. So I have to stick at 50mph so that I have some reaction time.

Show quote history

You shouldn't be driving if you can't keep up with other traffic on the motorway (or dual carriageway) and judge their speed.

As PPs pointed out you drive in the left most lane.