Bad Drivers

Azari

George_Michael wrote: »

Irrespective of the definition of what the term refers to in the Highway code, the first part of 169 refers to all road users and not just those that are classed as slow moving:

That may be true but it is not what the argument here is.

Some posters have been saying that there is some legal requirement that people should drive at or near the speed limit. (Which is rubbish.)

There is a world of difference between saying:

"If you are driving slowly do not allow a long queue to build up behind you."

and

"Don't drive slowly."

stephen77

vassa wrote: »

.


It's not dangerous just because you think it. Show me stats that back up doing 45 in a 60 zone is dangerous.


.

Purely anecdotal.
I have drove a old land rover that did not go very fast and it was scary when some vehicle went flying past.


Another time I saw a motorway variable speed limit sign with "10 mph" on and I had to move over to the middle lane as the motorway was splitting. I was not sure If there were speed camera or not.
But I sh*t myself when a few car completely ignored the 10mph and were doing about 70mph.
This was about 11:00pm on a empty motorway. M42 were it joins m6 coming from Tamworth.
Where a turning off, roadworks were going on the bottom. But 10mph. why so slow, it almost like it was a typo. The speed sign before it was 40mph. The following one was national speed limit.

stephen77

Minimum speed limits

We are all aware that exceeding the speed limit is illegal and with the ever increasing static and mobile enforcement cameras in the UK, speeding is an offence that catches out many motorists each year.
Minimum speed limits on the other hand is a law that on the most part, is not enforced in the UK. Certain countries enforce the minimum speed limit in a rather more assertive manner than the UK.
Many of us in the UK will have never seen a minimum speed limit sign and were perhaps unaware of their existence. So if there isn't a minimum speed limit sign, can you travel at any speed you like legally, providing you do not exceed the maximum?
Minimum speed limit signs

Generally speaking no. Where the few minimum speed limit signs are in the UK, they are used to ensure traffic keeps running smoothly, but outside of any area that has a minimum speed limit, it's down to the driver to use common sense and courtesy to determine as safe and appropriate minimum speed at which to drive.
Is there a motorway minimum speed limit in the UK?

There are currently no laws pertaining to a minimum speed limit on either motorways or dual carriageways in the UK. If minimum speed limits are enforced on motorways or dual carriageways, these will be temporary, circular signs will be displayed and used to help reduce congestion.
Many people are nervous when driving on motorways due to the volume of traffic and the high speeds. Such drivers may tend to drive a little slower than the maximum speed limit of 70 mph. Anywhere between 50 mph and 70 mph is acceptable although any slower, you would yourself become a hazard and increase the potential of being involved in an accident or creating an accident for others.
If you do feel the need to drive excessively slow on a motorway, if possible find an alternative route that eliminates such high speed roads.

Minimum speed limit sign
End of minimum speed limit signIs driving too slow dangerous?

It can be due to two main reasons. On a high speed road such as motorways or dual carriageways, excessively slow speeds effectively creates a hazardous obstacle that other motorists must avoid. Drivers may not correctly assess a much slower vehicles speed in time resulting in abrupt braking or evasive overtaking. This can be particularly hazardous for large vehicles such as HGV's that need a good deal of time to prepare in a change of speed or direction.
Slow moving vehicles typically utilise hazard warning beacons to alert motorists of a potential hazard.
Motorists hogging the centre lane, particularly when they're driving rather slowly is a form of inconsiderate driving that infuriates most motorists as it can often force drivers to illegally undertake rather than overtake.
Another reason why driving too slow is dangerous can be found on single carriageway roads where overtaking is difficult. Following motorists will likely become stressed and impatient whilst following an excessively slow vehicle leading to the possibility of dangerous overtaking manoeuvres and erratic driving.
Can you be fined for driving too slow

Although there is no minimum speed limit on the majority of UK roads, you can still be fined for driving too slow if it is seen that you are a hazard to other road users. There is no specific penalty for driving too slowly and as such, penalties may be as little as a verbal warning by a police officer along with a lecture of the dangers of driving too slow and in more serious cases, a motorist may find themselves in court charged with driving without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other road users (penalty code CD30). The more serious penalty CD30 comes with penalty points on a motorists licence, anywhere from 3 to 9 along with a fine. Penalty points stay on a motorists licence for four years from the date of the offence and are likely to seriously impact the cost of car insurance.
The amount of penalty points set between 3 and 9 and a fine of anything up to a maximum of £5,000 are determined by the seriousness of the incident and the decision of the court.
If driving excessively slow is dangerous, what should I do?

Driving too slow may originate from an driving incident that has knocked the confidence out of them, making them feel vulnerable and scared behind the wheel. For others, they may hold the belief that it is in fact safer, whilst others may drive excessively slow to save on fuel.
If you are unable to break the driving too slow habit yourself, seek the guidance of a qualified driving instructor. Refresher driving lessons are essentially offered to those that can drive, but need to require lost driving skills. This short driving course often lasting just a few hours will see the instructor impart their knowledge and skills, making you a more confident and safer driver.
If driving slowly is dangerous, how should I drive?

Quite simply, if weather, road and traffic conditions allow, drive at whatever the speed limit is on that particular road.

*******************

THis was from a driving lesson site.

vassa

stephen77 wrote: »

Purely anecdotal.
I have drove a old land rover that did not go very fast and it was scary when some vehicle went flying past.


Another time I saw a motorway variable speed limit sign with "10 mph" on and I had to move over to the middle lane as the motorway was splitting. I was not sure If there were speed camera or not.
But I sh*t myself when a few car completely ignored the 10mph and were doing about 70mph.
This was about 11:00pm on a empty motorway. M42 were it joins m6 coming from Tamworth.
Where a turning off, roadworks were going on the bottom. But 10mph. why so slow, it almost like it was a typo. The speed sign before it was 40mph. The following one was national speed limit.

Well sorry but 'it was scary' isn't a definition of dangerous.

stephen77

vassa wrote: »

Doesn't matter what the vehicle is, the debate here is speed.


.

Course it matter what vehicle it is.

If your driving lorry I would not expect you to be driving at 60mph. I would not say your a bad driver for driving at 40mph on a road where me in my car can be doing 55-60mph.
It would be frustrating, but I would not say its lack of driving skills.
Same with a car with L plates on etc. It frustrating but not the drivers fault.

sharnad

Azari wrote: »

Yes, there's definitely a threshold below which the police will consider prosecution.

It's all relative and dependant on conditions.

No one is going to be prosecuted for doing 15mph along a road with vehicles parked both sides near a school, particularly when pupils will be arriving or departing.

But 25 mph on clear section of NSL carriageway in good conditions might well be a problem.

I've never heard of anyone being prosecuted for going too slowly at 30mph or above (and don't believe they ever would be), despite what some of the boy racers here seem to think.

Doing a little under the speed limit is way better than the morons who don't believe the speed limit applies to them and they can drive t whatever they deem to be safe

vassa

stephen77 wrote: »

Course it matter what vehicle it is.

If your driving lorry I would not expect you to be driving at 60mph. I would not say your a bad driver for driving at 40mph on a road where me in my car can be doing 55-60mph.
It would be frustrating, but I would not say its lack of driving skills.
Same with a car with L plates on etc. It frustrating but not the drivers fault.

No...the debate was whether driving under the speed limit is dangerous. A 'danger' doesn't cease to be a danger because it's on two wheels instead of 4 does it?

stephen77

vassa wrote: »

Well sorry but 'it was scary' isn't a definition of dangerous.

Ok,
I will change "it was scary" to "it was dangerous" Happy?

It was dangerous as there was a chance harm could have been caused due to speed difference between me and other cars / lorry's.

Azari

stephen77 wrote: »

Ok,
I will change "it was scary" to "it was dangerous" Happy?

It was dangerous as there was a chance harm could have been caused due to speed difference between me and other cars / lorry's.

Between you and the other lorry's what?

vassa

stephen77 wrote: »

Ok,
I will change "it was scary" to "it was dangerous" Happy?

It was dangerous as there was a chance harm could have been caused due to speed difference between me and other cars / lorry's.

Not necessarily...but that's a different point.

And if it was dangerous, it's dangerous because they're going fast, not because you're going slow. You adapt to the road conditions of what's in front of you. If there's a queue of traffic doing 10mph and someone is approaching them too quickly then it's up to them to slow down, not the slower ones to speed up. Person behind always takes the responsbility, the same as you approaching the person in front of you at speed puts the onus on YOU to amend your driving.