slow drivers

pka_2

I have been following this thread with interest and some amusement for the last few days and felt it was time to add my 2p.......

Firstly I think some posters should go back and read the forum etiquette, in particular this bit: 'Please be nice to all MoneySavers : There's no such thing as a stupid question and, even if you disagree, courtesy helps'.
One of the great things about being human is that all of us have different opinions. This allows us to have great debates about things however there is no need to make personal comments about people just because they happen to disagree with you. Some posts on this thread are getting a little personal IMO :cool:

Anyway back to the OP

martinthebandit wrote: »

Coming home from work this afternoon I got stuck in the queue behind a slow driver, you know 45 ish maximum on a NSL road, and I got to wondering and would be grateful if any drivers who don't keep up to the speed limit when it is safe to do so would care to explain why they do it.

As far as I could see its either because;

1. They feel unsafe going any quicker; or
2. They never look in their mirrors so have no idea they are holding anyone else up; or
3. They have passed their driving test so now they can drive how they want without considering anyone else.

An I missing any other reason?

I'd like to supplement my answer with a few little stories from my own driving experience:

1. I was driving home on the motorway on Friday and having done my own little assessment of what speed it was safe to do in the conditions, my conclusion was that it was safe to do 90+. Unfortunately the PC, (who was happily enjoying his 5o'clock cuppa up on one of those emergency vehicles only sections above the hard shoulder) before I rudely interrupted by haring past, disagreed with my conclusion! No prizes for guessing who 'won' that little disagreement
2. On the same said stretch of motorway four days earlier there was a blizzard, the outside lane was drifting with snow and unusable. I had also done my own little assessment of what speed it was same to do in the conditions and my conclusion was that it was safe to overtake the drivers doing 25mph in the inside lane by overtaking them in the middle lane at 35mph. The person driving the car which came up behind me at about 45mph, then proceeded to sit on my bumper flashing his lights at me obviously disagreed with my conclusion!
3. I drive on a lot of 'managed motorways and have lost count of the number of times the overhead gantry signs are set at 60/50/40/30mph when in my assessment the road would be safe to drive at 70mph
4. Conversely same said overhead gantry signs are often set at 30/40/50mph and I'm sat there stationary wishing I could drive along at the speed they are showing.
5. I failed my driving test first time around for doing 30 in a 40 zone (missed the change in speed limit signs)
6. Where I grew up in mid Wales and also where i live now there are numerous NSL roads which only someone who was suicidal would try and do 60mph along even in the best of conditions. This begs the question of why has someone deemed these to be NSL?

I guess what I am trying to say is that each persons perception of 'when it is safe to do so' is different to the next persons.

I personally consider driving to be a privilege and not a right and would like to think that when the time comes I will give up my license before I become a menace on the roads. However we must all accept that as we get older, our reactions are not as quick as they used to be, therefore most drivers compensate by slowing down. This does not necessarily mean that they are unsafe to drive, indeed in some cases I would suggest that they are in fact safer; if they have acknowledged a shortcoming and compensated for it.

I will freely admit to getting frustrated by 'slow' drivers at times and unlike the OP do not 'smile wryly to myself' indeed i'm likely to mutter a few expletives under my breath. However I do not turn in to a tailgating, light flashing, horn tooting moron. The expletives are enough to get the frustration out and I pootle along behind them at a safe distance.

I wonder if all you 'haters' of the slow brigade will freely hand your licenses in when your faculties mean you can no longer safely drive at the speed limit, when younger drivers deem it safe to do so......

So in summary I guess that's option 1 from me

steve-L

Gilbert2 wrote: »

No, you stated some posts ago that drivers are entitled to drive "...to what their ability & skill level is..." and if that is slow then that is fine, regardless.

Except it is not fine is it?

Apparently not otherwise those who still have their faculties would be allowed to drive (within posted speed limits) to their skill and ability.

Funny thing is I don't see anyone actually saying that is OUR right (assuming this thread seems to split one way or the other)...
and funny, that doesn't include US either....

I'm perfectly OK with drivers going at the speed they feel comfortable with so long as they are considerate.

Norman_Castle wrote:

Option 4, They are happy at that speed and consider you happy to follow them or welcome to overtake.

Which they are welcome to so long as they then let me overtake.
I'm not asking them to drive into a hedge, just indicate when a straight patch comes up and pull in slightly....

However isn't Option 4 is just rewording Option 3?
Why would they consider everyone wants to travel at 40 in good conditions on a NSL road? if they stopped and thought about it (.ie. considered) surely they would realise that not everyone is happy to go 40 for 10 or 15 miles just because they are in no hurry.

mgdavid

Niowrtt wrote: »

This is key. I've done quite a few more miles than this and really, honestly try to drive no faster than the speed limit. But it does not matter how fast you go, someone else wants to go faster. So I gave up trying to accommodate them: I'll drive at an appropriate speed, they can go drive off a cliff for all I care.

why not just say 'and eff you too';
alternatively, continue to make good progress, but be mindful of the following vehicle's apparent wish to go faster and assist with an overtake at the earliest opportunity, such as (depending on the circumstances):
- move to lane 1
- leave a slightly bigger gap in front to give it somewhere to overtake in to
- move a foot or so to the left to allow the following vehicle to have a better view ahead
- make eye contact via the rear view mirror and acknowledge presence
- two clicks on the left indicator when a suitable gap appears in oncoming traffic
- etc

martinthebandit

pka wrote: »

So in summary I guess that's option 1 from me

Actually from your post, and thank you for taking the time BTW, you seem to be saying that when you judge the conditions to be safe you drive at or close to the speed limit so I don't think the question applies to you.

Oh and I don't 'hate' slow drivers I just find it difficult to understand how they don't seem to know how inconsiderate of other road users they are.

..... and if they do know how inconsiderate they are being but don't care.... well let's not go down that one.

stevemcol

Does it all matter that much....really? Worth 18 pages of bickering? I can honestly say, my life has never been altered one way or the other by encountering slower drivers.

steve-L

pka wrote: »

I personally consider driving to be a privilege and not a right and would like to think that when the time comes I will give up my license before I become a menace on the roads. However we must all accept that as we get older, our reactions are not as quick as they used to be, therefore most drivers compensate by slowing down. This does not necessarily mean that they are unsafe to drive, indeed in some cases I would suggest that they are in fact safer; ifthey have acknowledged a shortcoming and compensated for it.

I added the important word (in bold).
since you just joined the thread I don't expect you read every page

The issue I have is the drivers that don't acknowledge their faculties are not what they once were!
Out of all the replies (and having got in early I think I read most) I didn't see anyone actually say that was their reason.

I know my mum does, but my father never did right until the Dr. finally pulled his license.
(I'll save you the backthread.... my Dad has Parkinsons and Alzheimers and he was driving when he could barely capable of putting a ready meal in the microwave (both physically and mentally). Yet he would never acknowledge this.. he always said everyone else was going to quickly (on a road he would have 5 years before probably have been doing 80) hence he would do 40 in the NSL and hold everyone else up and then blame them for overtaking.) My parents are not my only source... but it seems these people fall into 2 camps... one is people who admit they are not as quick, eyes not so good and so are considerate and those who simply refuse the fact and blame the young speed demons....
(As a point of reference I'm as close to 50 as 40, drive a 3L diesel and get 45 mpg+ on average.... you don't get that by being a tear !!!!!)

I'm all for being considerate in both directions but reading this thread I have had to change my opinion.

I previously presumed these people were driving slow because they acknowledged they no longer had the capability however far more common (you seem to be the 1st to admit it) seems to be I'll drive at what speed I like and if it inconveniences you I don't care, indeed I won't even know your there as I don't need to look in mirrors.

I wonder if all you 'haters' of the slow brigade will freely hand your licenses in when your faculties mean you can no longer safely drive at the speed limit, when younger drivers deem it safe to do so......

So in summary I guess that's option 1 from me

Bravo..... honest....
I think your the first person to actually say it of themselves!
IMHO the fact you acknowledged it means you are now safer!

pka_2

martinthebandit wrote: »

Actually from your post, and thank you for taking the time BTW, you seem to be saying that when you judge the conditions to be safe you drive at or close to the speed limit so I don't think the question applies to you.

You're right it probably doesn't apply to me but I was feeling left out having not contributed to the thread

martinthebandit wrote: »

Oh and I don't 'hate' slow drivers I just find it difficult to understand how they don't seem to know how inconsiderate of other road users they are.

If, as I suspect the reason for most people doing it is option 1, then I don't believe they are being inconsiderate. I would much rather they drove at a speed they feel safe at, than push their boundaries by going faster to 'keep other road users happy'. This would most likely end in them having an accident, which would ultimately delay my journey a lot more than the 10/15mis it would be by being stuck behind them at a speed they feel safe at.

Gilbert2

pka wrote: »

I guess what I am trying to say is that each persons perception of 'when it is safe to do so' is different to the next persons.

Matters not what you or I think (because either of us could be wrong) but what the law says.

And the law says to drive unnecessarily slow could be an offence.

And that is what is being debated, before being sidetracked by those who continue to bring up the notion of adverse weather.

Unnecessary slow driving is the topic.




I personally consider driving to be a privilege and not a right and would like to think that when the time comes I will give up my license before I become a menace on the roads. However we must all accept that as we get older, our reactions are not as quick as they used to be, therefore most drivers compensate by slowing down. This does not necessarily mean that they are unsafe to drive, indeed in some cases I would suggest that they are in fact safer; they have acknowledged a shortcoming and compensated for it.

No, sorry. If your reactions dwindle due to age where you can only doddle around like Mr Magoo and your speed is so slow that it could cause problems for other road users then you must inform DVLA and surrender your licence on capability grounds.

Or risk a prosecution when/if caught in the act when ignoring that obligation.



I wonder if all you 'haters' of the slow brigade will freely hand your licenses in when your faculties mean you can no longer safely drive at the speed limit, when younger drivers deem it safe to do so......

Yes I would because I would know I should not be on the road if I can't do something as simple as driving at, say, 55mph in a 60.

It is a basic and, really, not difficult to do at all.

................

martinthebandit

pka wrote: »

You're right it probably doesn't apply to me but I was feeling left out having not contributed to the thread

If, as I suspect the reason for most people doing it is option 1, then I don't believe they are being inconsiderate. I would much rather they drove at a speed they feel safe at, than push their boundaries by going faster to 'keep other road users happy'. This would most likely end in them having an accident, which would ultimately delay my journey a lot more than the 10/15mis it would be by being stuck behind them at a speed they feel safe at.

I sort of agree with you but I cannot help thinking, based only on what I have observed, that if most of them just paid a bit more attention to what they are doing they would be more than capable of driving at, or close to, the speed limit.

I think there are more option 3's than option 1's but I could be wrong, although the aggressive and defensive attitudes of some of the posters on this thread makes me think that's unlikely

pka_2

steve-L wrote: »

I added the important word (in bold).
since you just joined the thread I don't expect you read every page

I may have only just joined to post but I did say I have been following it and I have indeed read every post......
Thank you for adding the missed 'if' that is indeed what I meant to write, i shall go back and edit it now.

steve-L wrote: »

I previously presumed these people were driving slow because they acknowledged they no longer had the capability however far more common (you seem to be the 1st to admit it) seems to be I'll drive at what speed I like and if it inconveniences you I don't care, indeed I won't even know your there as I don't need to look in mirrors.

I have assumed the same as yourself 'these people are driving slow because the acknowledge they mo longer have the capability' like I said, just my 2p worth and I only have my Granddad for reference who did exactly this and after a minor bump on a roundabout, willingly handed his license in.

steve-L wrote: »

Bravo..... honest....
I think your the first person to actually say it of themselves!
IMHO the fact you acknowledged it means you are now safer!

I was not answering for myself, as above I was presuming on behalf of others (wrong I know) but as martinthebandit correctly interpreted from my post, I drive close to or at the speed limit (hell sometimes even above) if I deem the conditions are safe to do so. If I am going slower it is not to be inconsiderate, indeed in my number 2 story, I was overtaking slower drivers in the middle lane and pulled in as soon as it was safe to do so. The driver up my rear was the one being inconsiderate.