slow drivers

steve-L

Norman_Castle wrote: »

Unless they are preventing overtaking where possible they are not policing the roads

Depends what you man by preventing....
You don't need to actively straddle the white line to prevent SAFE overtaking. If you realise other cars are being held up and there is an opportunity to let them pass safely that you don't take then that's also obstructing.

As a society of motorists, should we allow drivers who want to drive at the maximum legal limit dictate minimum speeds.

Every road in the UK is assessed as to if the set speed is generally safe.
(There was a review that changed many NSL's to 50 mph because it was a dangerous spot)

If people in tractors or people simply feeling more comfortable at 40 in a NSL act considerately then no-one is setting a minimum speed.

If however they don't act considerately then they are setting a maximum speed for everyone else.

Sometimes I have to drive at 40 in an NSL myself, perhaps because I'm looking for a turnoff etc. HOWEVER when I do I make sure I take the opportunities to let people past and FURTHER I make sure I am actually aware if there is a queue forming behind me.

I don't take the attitude that I am 'allowed to hold everyone up' so I don't care and not bother to see how my actions are affecting others.

Norman_Castle

they are not the police and courts to decide that 'this road is safe at 45 mph and anyone wanting to go faster in the NSL is going too quickly'.

Unless they are actively preventing overtaking where possible they are not policing the roads

luckymannn

The only time I ever drive below the speed limit is if someone is tailgating me. So lets say I'm doing 40 in a 40, and someone suddenly appears in my rear mirror right up my bum (usually in a BMW or a van or something). I will take my foot off the accelerator and slow down to 30 and then stare them out in the mirror untill they back off a bit. Then I will speed back up.

I've actually seriously considered a couple of times slowing down to a complete stop and getting out my car to confront them.

But hey ho. I am not breaking speed limits for someone who thinks they are well ard cos they are in a car. Bless em.

Gilbert2

brat wrote: »

On the contrary, I believe we've found several good reasons.

• Motorists who drive at that speed because it suits their ability.
• Older motorists tend to drive more slowly because of increased 'react and respond' times, and increasing awareness of diminishing abilities.
• Motorists who drive at that speed because they are in no hurry.
• Fuel economy - 45mph provides better economy than 60mph
• Sunday drivers, enjoying a leisurely drive out.
• Drivers being tailgated, who heed advice and slow down a little
• Drivers who don't want to end up in a queue behind the next HGV ahead.
• Drivers with nervous passengers or fragile cargo.

?

I'm sorry but the law doesn't work like that, for elderly drivers or anybody else.

Sure, there are differing abilities, but everyone has to have at the very least a minimum standard.

An elderly driver cannot be excused for jumping a red light because he says his eyesight is now worse than when he was 21.

If someone constantly drives at a slow speed, which could cause problems for other motorists, then they are in danger of driving without due care and should hand back their licence before it is taken off them anyway.

Gilbert2

custardy wrote: »

So we are back to it being down to the driver to decide the appropriate speed?
good good

Unless road conditions suggest otherwise, such as bad weather, when were you ever taught to drive at much slower speeds than that sign posted as a matter of course?

I have asked several times, what official doc/reg says to do this?

On the other side of the coin, similarly, when were you taught to drive much faster than what that road says is the max?

The truth is, you should do neither.

Yet for some bizarre reason you advocate doing the one!

Odd.

steve-L

Norman_Castle wrote: »

Unless they are actively preventing overtaking where possible they are not policing the roads

The policing is immaterial of if they are actively preventing overtaking ... it's in their head, a state of mind.

If they decide that they will do 40 in a NSL and justify to themselves that anyone going faster is going too quickly and hence they will make no effort to let them pass they have decided to 'police the road'.

You can argue semantics all you want but this is an attitude I have seen as a passenger with numerous drivers.

1 set acknowledge their faculties are not what they once were and act accordingly.
The other set make excuses as to why everyone else is going too quickly.....


Despite all the possible grades in-between most drivers seem to be one or the other.
Often the only thing that gives the latter a wake-up-call is a close miss and even then this group will doubtless start off in denial.

My father was firmly the latter.... even driving with him as a passenger he would have a tirade against everyone else driving too quickly (when before his illness he would have been the one pushing the maximum legal and then some)

My mother knows her night vision is not up to what it was and adjusts appropriately and lets people pass.. or mostly gets someone else to drive when its dark.

luckymannn

Forgot to mention... My favourite slow drivers are the ones that you get stuck behind on a slip road joining a motorway. So you end up having to join a motorway at like 40mph when everyone else is already doing 70 or 80! That has got to be the most dangerous slow driving situation surely.

To be fair though in some situations it could just be that their car is really underpowered and struggles to get up to speed on short uphill sliproads.

Elliott_Fox

I agree with you! I actually failed my driving test first time round for doing 40 (the speed a thought the road was) in a 50. Failing to make progress. I think slow drivers are more dangerous to other drivers than the ones who do this limit.

ILW

steve-L wrote: »

The policing is immaterial of if they are actively preventing overtaking ... it's in their head, a state of mind.

If they decide that they will do 40 in a NSL and justify to themselves that anyone going faster is going too quickly and hence they will make no effort to let them pass they have decided to 'police the road'.

.

I would slow down and try to stop someone overtaking if they had been tailgating and flashing their lights. Not because I am trying to police the road but because they have annoyed me and their frustration gives me pleasure. Selfish but true.

Gilbert2

luckymannn wrote: »

Forgot to mention... My favourite slow drivers are the ones that you get stuck behind on a slip road joining a motorway. So you end up having to join a motorway at like 40mph when everyone else is already doing 70 or 80! That has got to be the most dangerous slow driving situation surely.

.

Yes, but you must recognise that one may have to stop on a slip road if it is unsafe to merge at speed.

The main carriageway has priority, not the slip road user.

I see daily slip road users just zoom out causing collisions or near misses.

They think they have the priority.