driving slow : your views ?

Stoke

To me, the whole thing is very simple. Speed limits aren't a target, no, but they're a speed you can travel at safely when the conditions allow it. By driving unnecessarily slowly, e.g. because you enjoy a relaxing drive, then you actually make the trip uncomfortable for others behind you.

In most cases, there's a reason why someone won't drive at the speed limit and rather than blaming those who feel frustrated by being held up on their trip to work/home, we should identify the root cause, e.g:

-Driver lacks the confidence to drive at that speed,
-Driver is genuinely incapable of handling vehicle at that speed.
-Driver doesn't trust vehicle to travel safely at speed (e.g. blown shock absorbers, damaged springs, old tyres)
-Driver is driving slowly due to temporary vehicle issue (e.g. space saver tyre, tyre weld)
-Driver is selfish.

All but the fourth can be resolved very simply by the driver in question:

Learning to drive confidently at the speed limit should really be something you pick up early on, however it's understandable that some may drive slower because they've perhaps had an accident at high speed and are scared. The best thing is to get some lessons or advice, even if it's from a friend or family member. A few trips down the motorway with a friend with experience would surely help this?

If the driver genuinely lacks the ability to handle a vehicle at those speeds then it's clearly time to get some top up lessons. Many old/retired police officers now run their own driving schools with advanced courses, that will no doubt give you the tips and skills you need to handle a car at higher speeds.

If the driver is not convinced about the vehicles safety then it should be a priority to get this fixed asap. People who drive with blown/leaking shock absorbers and damaged springs should either endeavor to get this fixed or drive via slower roads to avoid putting you and others at risk. Changing a shock absorber is not an expensive job, and not even a hard one if you know how, so don't muck about.

If the driver is using a temporary measure, such as a space saver or tyre weld, then really, they should aim to use the slower roads as most temporary measures have limits of 30mph. Space saver wheels certainly do. If the driver cannot do this, they should perhaps pull over every so often to allow people past, if the road allows it.

If the driver is that selfish, then unfortunately, only education and perhaps the realization that what they're doing is unfair on other people will help.

Weyoun

Stoke wrote: »

In most cases, there's a reason why someone won't drive at the speed limit and rather than blaming those who feel frustrated by being held up on their trip to work/home, we should identify the root cause, e.g:

-Driver lacks the confidence to drive at that speed,
-Driver is genuinely incapable of handling vehicle at that speed.
-Driver doesn't trust vehicle to travel safely at speed (e.g. blown shock absorbers, damaged springs, old tyres)
-Driver is driving slowly due to temporary vehicle issue (e.g. space saver tyre, tyre weld)
-Driver is selfish.

Or, to add to your list:
- Driver simply doesn't want to drive at that speed, and doesn't see the need to go fleeing everywhere at top speed for the sake of saving a few seconds.

Call that selfish if you wish, but it's no more selfish than the drivers who, thanks to their frustration, overtake dangerously, or the drivers who go above the speed limit for the sake of their own precious time.

I'm firmly with the OP here. It seems it's socially acceptable to go above the speed limit, yet not below it, despite the fact that the limit is an upper limit, not a lower one.

matttye

Weyoun wrote: »

Or, to add to your list:
- Driver simply doesn't want to drive at that speed, and doesn't see the need to go fleeing everywhere at top speed for the sake of saving a few seconds.

Call that selfish if you wish, but it's no more selfish than the drivers who, thanks to their frustration, overtake dangerously, or the drivers who go above the speed limit for the sake of their own precious time.

I'm firmly with the OP here. It seems it's socially acceptable to go above the speed limit, yet not below it, despite the fact that the limit is an upper limit, not a lower one.

If you want to meander around everywhere then walk. We've built cars to get places quickly, and most people who make use of the road want to get to their destination quickly.

I am one of those people who gets more frustrated by slow drivers than fast drivers, unless the fast drivers drive dangerously.

nobbysn*ts

I love this thread. I love the idiot that was so confident he ploughed into the back of the inconfident driver who didn't pull into oncoming traffic. I love the idiot that followed the driver at 35mph,for 1/2 a mile and added whole 60s to his journey time, while jumping up and down. For the record, I drive at the limit, or below. So why are all the super drivers unable to speed from the front? No problem if they're behind me, and happy to be sheep on second place, but incapable of passing. But I really I love the idiot behind me a few days ago. So close I could see the veins in his forehead throbbing, wildly holding up six fingers, to advise me I shouldn't be doing forty in a sixty limit, then the look of utter panic as he wildly grabbed the wheel again, as I braked and indicated for the turning I'd been looking for. No problem if he hit me, I'd have liked the hire car and the whiplash claim.

Weyoun

matttye wrote: »

If you want to meander around everywhere then walk.

If you want to get to where you're going sooner, set off earlier. I wish I could walk at 60mph - I'd save a fortune in petrol money!

Oh, and I'd hardly call 60mph (in a 70 limit) "meandering".

matttye wrote: »

We've built cars to get places quickly, and most people who make use of the road want to get to their destination quickly.

Which is precisely why I drive at 60mph (in a 70 limit), rather than go walking.

matttye wrote: »

I am one of those people who gets more frustrated by slow drivers than fast drivers, unless the fast drivers drive dangerously.

We've already seen in this thread suggestions that slower drivers should have extra training. Perhaps you should have anger management sessions?

Stoke

Weyoun wrote: »

If you want to get to where you're going sooner, set off earlier. I wish I could walk at 60mph - I'd save a fortune in petrol money!

Oh, and I'd hardly call 60mph (in a 70 limit) "meandering".

What a ridiculous thing to say. My drive is an hour and half each way. You think I should set off 2 hours early? 3 hours early? How stupid.

I bet you only work a few miles away from work. Consider investing in a push bike

nobbysn*ts

Stoke wrote: »

What a ridiculous thing to say. My drive is an hour and half each way. You think I should set off 2 hours early? 3 hours early? How stupid.

I bet you only work a few miles away from work. Consider investing in a push bike

mmm, I guess maths isn't your strongpoint here? To avoid your obvious stress. 70mph, for 1.5 hours, you drive 105 miles, (I doubt you do, you probably just potter a bit here and there, and drive a much shorter distance). But assume it's real, if you drive at 60, it'll take you 15 minutes longer, not 2 hours. How stupid indeed.

Weyoun

Stoke wrote: »

What a ridiculous thing to say. My drive is an hour and half each way. You think I should set off 2 hours early? 3 hours early? How stupid.

I bet you only work a few miles away from work. Consider investing in a push bike

You lose the bet; I've got an hour's drive each way.

It may have been a ridiculous thing to say, but not so ridiculous as matttye's suggestion that I walk. Not even close.

nobbysn*ts

Actually, I have an hours commute. Due to roadworks, 8 miles (horror) is in a 40mph, reduced from 60mph. So, that's 4 minutes extra each way. Can I survive the extra stress, or should I tailgate the unconfident drivers to get them to drive at 44mph, as their speedos are obviously wrong, and save a minute? Thoughts, as I obviously can't overtake?

Stoke

nobbysn*ts wrote: »

mmm, I guess maths isn't your strongpoint here? To avoid your obvious stress. 70mph, for 1.5 hours, you drive 105 miles, (I doubt you do, you probably just potter a bit here and there, and drive a much shorter distance). But assume it's real, if you drive at 60, it'll take you 15 minutes longer, not 2 hours. How stupid indeed.

Of course I don't do 70 all the way. What a stupid thing to say, but my route is mostly made up of NSL zones with a few towns. It only takes a few people driving at 40 and those unwilling to overtake to make my journey significantly longer than it should be. I avoid speeding through the towns but I'm happy to admit i get tempted when I've spent the last 15 miles stuck behind some Dorris in a Ford Ka doing 35 in a 60 with no opportunity to overtake and no interest in letting the people behind past.