driving slow : your views ?

Cornucopia

DUTR wrote: »

Gents I urge you to view this video, probably older than the majority if not all of the readers, especially between 55seconds to 1'30 lane hogging is far from new (as is road rage)

Thanks, that was excellent - not seen it before.

I think though, that times have changed, and most people now would probably undertake rather than sound the horn on the motorway (not least because the other driver probably wouldn't hear it).

It also doesn't address the scenario we're talking about, which is slow overtaking, rather than lane-hogging when the inside lane is empty.

Strider590

DUTR wrote: »

Gents I urge you to view this video, probably older than the majority if not all of the readers, especially between 55seconds to 1'30 lane hogging is far from new (as is road rage)

I've seen that before, these days doing that would probably result in the car ahead staying stubbornly in that lane, probably brake testing you and making negative hand gestures.

IamNotAllowedToUseMyName

Strider590 wrote: »

I've seen that before, these days doing that would probably result in the car ahead staying stubbornly in that lane, probably brake testing you and making negative hand gestures.

In reality the guy was probably deafened by his engine, and slowly being poisoned by exhaust fumes leaking into the passenger compartment.

The Vitesse overtaking on a corner crossing the white line followed by a MGIF (must get in front) overtake into the lay-by was a gem.

Not sure what was going on in Newbury with the unmarked junction with no apparent priority.

However, while there were a few little oddities, (mainly the complete lack of faith in any braking system available at the time!) the commentary was not dis-similar to the Chris Gilbert Driving Craft dvd.

arcon5

marlot wrote: »

If you're holding traffic up then you should look for opportunities to pull over and let them past.

You're in the right to make your own risk assessment, but so is the other driver.

Well how do you define 'holding traffic up'. Driving 55 in a 60 is probably holding lots of people up - certainly not cause to pull over though. Doing 45 in a 60 in hazardous conditions is hardly holding people up.

arcon5

greensalad wrote: »

I do wonder what peoples opinions are on this:

I was once driving along a long, winding country road. Speed limited varied between 50 and 60 at various points along the road. Personally I feel 60 is far too high for such a road... lots of twists and narrow bits with walls...

It was pouring with rain and the visibility was low. Also this route is used by a lot of big lorries that really shouldn't be allowed down there... so I was driving 45.

I thought that was an acceptable speed especially in the rain. But after doing so for about 10 minutes I got overtaken (dangerously) by a people carrier and then the guy stuck his finger out the window at me! Best of all he had a "baby on board" sign in the back!

Was I in the wrong or was he just an impatient !!!!!!?

If the roads you describe are anything I imagine them to be then imo your speed was fine - if not too fast at points. typically on such roads in wet conditions your speed can vary greatly.

Wait for the guy to have to brake hard, feel ABS kick in and poop his pants. Sounds like he was driving too fast........
.....but, and a big but - I suspect these roads was new to you where as he may travel them regularly and know them much better than you! Can make a massive difference to speed and would may be safe for each driver.

Stoke

I love the fact this debate is still raging on

Ultimately, it's subjective. The poster above who talked about driving in the heavy rain with poor visibility is trying to make those who prefer to drive at limit look like dangerous drivers. The fact is, it's subjective, but we all know that driving too fast in dangerous conditions is a no no. However we're talking about driving in perfect conditions unnecessarily slowly.

Iceweasel

Stoke wrote: »

I love the fact this debate is still raging on

Ultimately, it's subjective. The poster above who talked about driving in the heavy rain with poor visibility is trying to make those who prefer to drive at limit look like dangerous drivers. The fact is, it's subjective, but we all know that driving too fast in dangerous conditions is a no no. However we're talking about driving in perfect conditions unnecessarily slowly.

I'm enjoying this thread - it's seems to be ranging far and wide from the original topic, which was as you say driving in perfect conditions unnecessarily? slowly.

But as a small minority of drivers think that anyone driving slower than they want to go (legally or otherwise) is going unnecessarily slowly, we have had posts from folks who think that 70mph on a motorway is unnecessarily slow, and that drivers who don't want to break the law should either keep well to the left out of the way or drive above the speed limit.

In reality all we needed was to agree that if someone wants to drive slowly all they have to do is not impede the legal progress of others.

Stoke

Iceweasel wrote: »

I'm enjoying this thread - it's seems to be ranging far and wide from the original topic, which was as you say driving in perfect conditions unnecessarily? slowly.

But as a small minority of drivers think that anyone driving slower than they want to go (legally or otherwise) is going unnecessarily slowly, we have had posts from folks who think that 70mph on a motorway is unnecessarily slow, and that drivers who don't want to break the law should either keep well to the left out of the way or drive above the speed limit.

In reality all we needed was to agree that if someone wants to drive slowly all they have to do is not impede the legal progress of others.

This is completely wrong. The speed limit is 70, and while I'm not going to stand on my high horse and claim I haven't ever gone over 70 on the motorway, to criticize others for not doing so is wrong. I do however, think that pootling along in the fast lane at 65mph is dangerous and selfish. I had to go down the motorway yesterday and was stuck behind some goon doing 65 in the fast lane. The problem was, powerful cars such as Merc's, Range Rover's, BMW's and what not were undertaking me because they could and I found it very difficult to move into the middle lane without eventually chopping someone up, which in the end, I did.

I also think pootling in the middle lane is a bit dangerous as well. If your plan is to cruise, you really need to cruise in the slow lane unless overtaking. That's the problem though, people get on the motorway and hog the middle lane until they leave.

DUTR

Iceweasel wrote: »

I'm enjoying this thread - it's seems to be ranging far and wide from the original topic, which was as you say driving in perfect conditions unnecessarily? slowly.

But as a small minority of drivers think that anyone driving slower than they want to go (legally or otherwise) is going unnecessarily slowly, we have had posts from folks who think that 70mph on a motorway is unnecessarily slow, and that drivers who don't want to break the law should either keep well to the left out of the way or drive above the speed limit.

In reality all we needed was to agree that if someone wants to drive slowly all they have to do is not impede the legal progress of others.

What iceweasel concludes.

Iceweasel

Stoke wrote: »

This is completely wrong. The speed limit is 70, and while I'm not going to stand on my high horse and claim I haven't ever gone over 70 on the motorway, to criticize others for not doing so is wrong. I do however, think that pootling along in the fast lane at 65mph is dangerous and selfish. I had to go down the motorway yesterday and was stuck behind some goon doing 65 in the fast lane. The problem was, powerful cars such as Merc's, Range Rover's, BMW's and what not were undertaking me because they could and I found it very difficult to move into the middle lane without eventually chopping someone up, which in the end, I did.

I also think pootling in the middle lane is a bit dangerous as well. If your plan is to cruise, you really need to cruise in the slow lane unless overtaking. That's the problem though, people get on the motorway and hog the middle lane until they leave.

This is the problem that I experience too.

But the 'goon' may well think that he is doing 70mph because his high-reading speedo tells him so.

I normally drive in the leftmost lane except when overtaking and often have trouble entering lane 3 because of the folks doing 80mph plus who are not prepared to slow down for someone doing 70mph to overtake the middle lane hoggers and those who wish to drive at less than 70mph.

The unrealistic speed limit of 70mph is the underlying problem as it takes away the decision making of the individual.

I don't need a government to tell me what a safe speed should be, anymore than I need yellow lines to tell me where I shouldn't park as it will cause an obstruction to traffic-flow.

There is similar speed-dictatorship on rural roads in France where they often have signs posting the limit for a 'dangerous' corner.

The speed must have been decided taking a Citroen 2CV with a heavy roof-rack load in mind. LOL.