slow drivers

fivetide

I vote option 3 - sheer bloodymindedness

stevemcol

Unreasonably slow drivers (dry roads, safe conditions etc etc) can be annoying. It often is a confidence thing though and tbh without some corrective training, any faster and many of them would be out of their depth and end up in a hedge.

Thing is there are probably only 1% of drivers on the road who are faultless and then only 90% of the time (if you think you're in the 1%, I can guarantee you aren't). I'd estimate that 75% of us are out and out bad drivers (I include myself). We've all got faults, a bit too quick, bit too slow, inattentive, selfish, bad lane discipline, bad parking, use of signals etc etc.
So I try my best to switch off to other drivers faults if at all possible. If someone in front is going 45 in a 60, I'll be covering 3/4 mile every minute instead of 1 mile every minute. I'll still get there.

My next fault will be doing 80 when I've finally got past to make up a bit of time and shake off some frustration! That will probably irritate a better driver coming the opposite way. Perhaps they'll start an internet thread.

martinthebandit

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've no doubt

<sigh>

OK, why would anyone consider any of the above are valid reasons for consistently driving at a much slower speed than the law and conditions permit?

anotherbaldrick

martinthebandit wrote: »

<sigh>

OK, why would anyone consider any of the above are valid reasons for consistently driving at a much slower speed than the law and conditions permit?

Life is going too fast, bring back the horse and cart.

Reggie256

Borrowed from another forum, and all in just, but nonethess appropriate for this thread:

The other day I was cruising along as usual coming onto one of my motorways, which was very busy with inferior cars.

First off, I couldn't believe that the volume of traffic DIDN'T slow down for me AT ALL as I came off the slip road! I had to squeeze into a barely big enough gap between two cars in order to get onto my motorway!

The driver of the car behind me did realise his mistake though and honked an apology to me with a long blast of his horn.

Unbelievably, I had to do the same again before I could get to the BMW lane.

Anyway, once I was in the BMW lane and posing along at 110 mph enjoying the adulation that the inferior car drivers were giving me, I noticed an inferior car ahead of me which was not only in the BMW lane of my motorway, but was driving at a ridiculous 70 mph!

Naturally, I got within a foot or so of his rear bumper and flashed my headlights to remind him he shouldn't be in the BMW lane of my motorway and to get out of my way.

Of course, once he realised it was a BMW behind him, he did just that, but I could hardly believe it when he pulled straight back out behind me!

He also tried to keep up with me and when he realised I would out-run him, he put on some blue lights in his front grill and urged me to get onto the hard shoulder so that he could congratulate me on my excellent car.

Needless to say, I was eager to oblige and when we had stopped, the man gave me a piece of paper confirming what I already knew - that my car goes fast!

Apparently he wants everyone to know what a superior car I have, so I had to take my drivers licence to a police station to be sent away to have some points put on! (They're not free points either - they're £20 each and I was only allowed 3.) But the man at the police station said that because I drive a BMW, it won't be much longer before I earn the full 12 points, and then I won't even NEED a driving licence, so they will take it off me!

custardy

Gilbert2 wrote: »

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.

well thats the point
what road conditions

how about winter sun? would you advocate traveling at the speed limit when theres a chance of being dazzled by low sun?

jase1

Slow drivers don't bother me.

Slow drivers who actively take exception to my passing them at the earliest safe opportunity are a problem, however.

Slow drivers whom I overtake just before I reach a village, then spend the next five minutes up my backside wanting to do 40 in the 30 limit, amuse and entertain me.

Gilbert2

custardy wrote: »

well thats the point
what road conditions

how about winter sun? would you advocate traveling at the speed limit when theres a chance of being dazzled by low sun?

Well do what I do, and most other sensible drivers do too!

I keep shades in my car and adjust the sun visor when a big yellow thing in the sky is bright!

That way I am driving to the conditions quite smartly and I never have to impede my speed down 30% or so.

Do you need to be held by the hand in everything you do!?

Good grief man!

custardy

Gilbert2 wrote: »

Well do what I do, and most other sensible drivers do too!

I keep shades in my car and adjust the sun visor when a big yellow thing in the sky is bright!

That way I am driving to the conditions quite smartly and I never have to impede my speed down 30% or so.

Do you need to be held by the hand in everything you do!?

Good grief man!

shall I now post up numerous links for cyclists killed by drivers 'dazzled' by the sun?
pretty common in the grand scheme of things

UsernameAlreadyExists

Can you not get dazzled by the sun when you're going slower ?