People who drive 40 everywhere

[PeRiO]

Sorry this subject has probably been done to death but I let it really annoy me today so just want to get it off my chest 🤣
AIBU to be annoyed at people who drive 40mph everywhere? Following a car home today, I live in a small village of which the road to it varies between 30/60. It isn't a bad road, fairly straight on the 60 bits but I appreciate 60 isn't a target speed but it riles me up when said car is happy to speed in the 30 bits but not willing to go a little faster in the 60 bits.

Anyone else?

Ah, those Devon lanes.
I crawl along those.

There are roads that are signposted for 60, although it is much more common for them to be NSL.

I do think people should make assessments based on road conditions rather than trying to hit a target. Choosing to uniformly go too slowly isn't what I'd call a safe assessment of the road conditions though.

The sign is as it is because it's always been that way, It's in black and white to indicate "no restriction", as opposed to the other speed limit signs which have the red on them. It was only later that different restrictions started to be added. It was not till 1965 that the NSL was introduced.

I do think people should make assessments based on road conditions rather than trying to hit a target. Choosing to uniformly go too slowly isn't what I'd call a safe assessment of the road conditions though. That's about the most sensible summary I've seen on this thread.

Found one!

I agree.

This.

There's a NSL road near me where the going rate in good conditions is 50-60mph, and it attracts the 37mphers. It then goes into a 40mph at one end and the sods then speed up despite extra hazards on that section.

They're not driving to the road conditions; they're too inept to understand what the road signs mean.

Strangely no one ever decides that 45mph is driving to the road conditions along there before slowing to 35mph.

It entirely depends on the road. There's plenty of tiny little country lanes that are national speed limit, but you'd have to be an absolute nutter to do 40 on them, let alone 60.

Like this one - https://www.google.com/maps/@51.5915376,-4.0687904,3a,75y,110.43h,88.78t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s9Ok_6pFwhxTwKz9nwGoWAg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

You drive to the conditions of the road. If its narrow or winding, you slow down. If it's pissing down, or visibility is bad, or unlit, you slow down.

You might fail your test for driving significantly under the limit when there's no reason to, but it's perfectly legal and even desirable in lots of situations.

@IchIchWill
Are you up in Cumbria?😍

Not if there are vehicles coming in the other direction, straight road or bendy.

Yes there are 60mph roads. I drove on one tonight, with 60 in a red circle. If it were an NSL road it would be 70mph limit for a car as it's a dual carriageway.

Why do you think people do it? Is it because they’re nervous drivers so maybe want to go slow in case anything happens? I’m genuinely intrigued now

My daily commute used to include a stretch that alternated between a 30mph limit (villages) and NSL (open country). In daylight and good weather, it would be safe to drive to the speed limit for this entire stretch, giving a predictable normal transit time for this stretch.

I frequently encountered drivers who would take the whole stretch at a steady 40mph, as OP describes, completely heedless of the risk to pedestrians in residential areas.

What was more annoying to me personally though was this: the road was busy and winding enough to preclude overtaking, and the ratio and disposition of the two types of speed zone were such that Mr 40mph would enjoy a reduced transit time (because he gained more by the speeding than he lost by the laggardliness between villages). Whereas I, if I was just behind him at the start of this stretch, would suffer an increased transit time (because I would get left behind every time we entered a village). Just infuriating.

Weirdly I prefer driving during rush hour because by and large, most people are driving snappily, getting a move on with minimal hesitation. I find during the day infuriating due to dithery 'careful' drivers pootling along slowly, blocking the road.

They're nervous about their own safety, but not that of more vulnerable road users and pedestrians. Narcissists.

They are simply bad drivers
Speeding on a 20/30 road and causing havoc on A faster road .

If they choose to do 40 in a 60 pull over let others past. They lack confidence at best .
Part of your test is to show you are capable on faster roads . I mean the faster roads are there for a reason.

And 40 in a 20
Can you imagine if they seen you do 120 on a 60 road . They be giving you all sorts of looks .

Worst drivers around!

Since I started driving I’ve always called them the 40 mile an hour drivers . Sitting at the same speed rhey feel comfortable with regardless of what’s going on around them or what the law is. .

Its irritating when you know the roads but OTOH if they're doing it because they don't know the roads, I'd rather grit my teeth and put up with it than end up having to pull over and remove them from their wrecked car because they flew off a bend at 60.

@Biggybigbiggles yes the roundabout thing as well! Having to come to a complete stop before being able to check it is clear to pull out, when you can see for ages before that it is.

See also painfully slow turning into a junction usually coming to an almost complete stop. Infuriating!!!

It’s vv annoying. I live in rural area lots of twisty roads and some people drive so slow they don’t have to break for any corners. I’m talking 15 mph. It’s really dangerous when you come up behind them.

I live off a narrow country lane where the limit is technically 60 but you would be mad to go more than 20 unless you want a head on collision with another vehicle. Or a horse.

A national speed limit sign doesn't mean that driving at 59mph is advisable. If I don't know the road and where any sudden dips and bends are likely to be then I won't be driving near the speed limit. If it's a long straight stretch and not busy, or bad visibility etc then I'll likely drive up to it.

A few A roads near me have had a 40mph limit imposed recently as there had been several serious accidents when they were national speed limit.

I agree though that drivers that just plough on regardless of speed limits or road conditions are dangerous. As are people who drive angry and/or in a mad rush.

I’m the slow driver your all bitching about . For me it’s a speed thing , I just can’t do it . Iv been for therapy over the years and driving courses. My DH has encouraged me to have bigger and bigger cars over the years so wankers can’t bully me . ( what do you think you’ll accomplish? Do you honestly think I’m driving slower than suits you out of choice?) I truly wish I could just put my foot down , but I can’t . I always just pull up behind those who overtake at the roundabout anyway. I do pull over if people are behind me . The stretch is probably 10 minutes that I’m a pain to people . I drive at 45 .

Some lack the confidence, some because they're trying to conserve fuel consumption, but some, in my opinion, is because they truly believe they're safe drivers.

See it on here regularly, plus add in the ones who slow down if people are too close (just continue at the speed limit, why antagonise a situation). Also the, 'it's a limit not a target' gang, who are fully aware of what they're doing, love to complain about the people they purposely holding back, but don't realise (or won't admit), that they're just as dangerous.

but 40 in the national speed limit road, really depends on the road, the conditions of the road for example.
windy lanes, filled with pot holes,, not conducive to doing 60

Cars coming the other way often make overtaking impossible!

Do you do any motorway driving @Popetthetreehugger?