To think it’s better to drive at 31 than 25?

[xla]

When I was learning to drive my driving instructor told me it was always better to be five miles an hour under the limit than one over. I’ve been driving three years and it seems like most people actually seem to subscribe to this method of thinking?! I drove into work this morning and spent most of it sat at 24/25, despite the roads being clear, and at one point was actually undertaking people because otherwise I would be driving at 20 miles an hour. On a 30 road! Surely I’m not alone in thinking this is insane?

20 miles an hour on a clear road is crawling 😂

Is a speed limit not a cruise speed.

Depends on the conditions. Also worth noting that speedos tend to be optimistic, so 31 will generally be under 30 if that's what you're relying on.

Generally I'm with you though. The low speed, sitting out in the right hand lane drivers don't seem to have any awareness of the road and are driving slowly in lieu of paying attention. And don't start me on the monospeed drivers who do 45 in a 60 and keep to that speed as they pass through the 30 MPH villages. Like they're doing some sort of average speed across the journey.

Some wanker was doing 19 in a 30 in front of me yesterday. Why?

When were you driving 20? You said you spend most of it doing 24/25 and some of it overtaking. Make your mind up.

Your 'sensible' isn't necessarily everyone else's sensible.

From your description, there are two lanes on this road, but the left one goes off in one direction and the right in another. Therefore, if you are in the left lane and intend to stay in it and not pull out into the right hand lane, then you are not undertaking. You happen to be in your lane, passing a vehicle on its left. You are not being "forced to make a dangerous manoeuvre", you are simply proceeding on your way at a faster speed to someone going in a different direction. So this is a total non-issue!

No it doesn't. Impatient arses may do dangerous things, but no one is forcing them to do it. Thats on them.

As it happens given you're in the left lane, turning left, I don't think you're doing anything wrong driving at 30 anyway. Just be very aware if any 29mph drivers in the R lane moving into the L lane.

Don't ever move to Wales.

This. You're making a fuss about nothing OP. You got past the 20mph person safely, and spent most of the journey at 24/25 according to your OP, which is a reasonable speed and certainly not dangerous. If you're having to 'slam' on the brakes then it sounds like a you problem. Are you giving people enough space?

Just try to chill out and give people some grace on the road. I try to imagine that if someone is irritating me because they're slow or hesitant, it's their first solo drive or they're having a bad day. I certainly remember the first few drives on my own after passing my test. I was shaking and very nervous! Definitely much more cautious than I perhaps needed to be.

Oh yes, it's always about whether or not your driving is competent and careful.

I live in a small village and the primary issue is people speeding and overtaking in the village, not loads of people going slowly. It does happen obviously, but far and away the issue is drivers speeding and that is far more dangerous. Yesterday I left the house at 6am, it was raining, windy and dark. There is a stretch of road that goes from 30 to 60 and just before a bend. i was overtaken while still in the 30 zone by a car who must have been going at least 40 probably more, and only narrowly missed another car around the bend. This has happened loads, people love to over take there. There are at least 2 fatal car accidents along that stretch of road each winter and far more that aren't fatal. In one week last January there were four cars in ditches which has to be people not driving to the road conditions. So yes it is annoying when people dont drive to the speed limit where they can, but far more people speed and that is far more dangerous.

If there is a central reservation its a duel carriageway. If there isn't, its not. Number of lanes is irrelevant.

I have more issue with people driving up my arse when I am going at the speed limit. If people are slower I tend to assume they have a reason for it, looking for a turn off or carrying a cake or something.

I don’t understand why if given the chance to drive at 31mph.. but are driving at 25mph.. why are they not just driving at 30mph.. the speed limit 🫠

Well, you could drive at 20 all day if you wanted to, but it would be inconsiderate and inadvisable. Everybody should be aware of other road users and have safety as a priority. However, nobody is 'forced' to do something dangerous (which is dangerous for other road users as well as themselves) but some people choose to do something dangerous because they are impatient.

By the way don't tell the safety officers at the speed awareness course that Speedos are higher than your real speed you will.be firmly told.

Well there are many reasons why:

• their speedo may be calibrated differently to yours. They may think they're doing 29-30 because that's what their dashboard is saying.
• they may be unfamiliar with the area
• there may be something going on in the car you don't know about, like an unwell passenger, a heavy load, or something delicate being transported
• they may be extra cautious for other reasons (e.g. a newer driver with a black box for cheaper insurance, or a driver with 9 points trying not to lose their license)

In all cases though, your responsibility is to drive safely and within the law, and how annoying you personally find the driver in front is completely irrelevant.

Highway Code
Section 6. Overtaking (267 to 269)

Specifically the bit in para 268 that starts...
268
Do not overtake on the left or move to a lane on your left to overtake

That's on a motorway - general rules for overtaking are rr 162-169, though I'm not sure there's much difference.

It’s a bit like an abusers ‘look what you made me do’.

"Do not" is for advice only. If it said you "Must not" overtake on the left then it would be an automatic offence. But it doesn't.

Going Slower isn’t my point.. if they have the opportunity to go 31mph.. then they have the opportunity to just go to 30mph. Nobody speedometer is 5mph off, otherwise there would be a lot more speeding charges.

my point is, if you’re saying you’d rather someone go over the limit, than 5mph under it.. they should just be perfectly capable of going the actual limit.. there is no reason to break the speed limit.

I’ve been stuck behind several cars just today doing 5-10mph less than the limit. Absolutely boils my piss.

I live in an area full of NSL A-roads where people will, for no apparent reason, crawl along at 35-40, and because it’s a busy road there is often not enough time to overtake so I just get stuck behind them. Then you get other people in more powerful cars dangerously overtaking which just makes it less safe for everyone.