Motorway Driving Question

Manxman_in_exile

OP - when I eventually got round to learning to drive (in my 40s) the first thing I did after passing my test was to hire my driving instructor for a day specifically to gain experience of motorway driving. It was extremely helpful and really gave me confidence and a much better appreciation of the dangers and skills of motorway driving.


I know you're going to do IAM but this may be worth thinking of too?

DKLS

Baby jesus gave you a right foot for a reason, use it appropriately.

GabbaGabbaHey

Noble_Viking wrote: »

According to my digital speedometer in the car, I was doing 50 - 51mph.

Just be aware that all car speedometers (whether analogue or digital) will overestimate your speed - UK law says that a speedometer must never show less than the actual speed, and must never show more than 110% of actual speed + 6.25mph. Therefore an indicated 50mph means that (assuming your speedometer is within the legal limits) your actual speed was somewhere between 39.77mph and 50mph.

The easiest way to be certain is to use a GPS-based system to compare your car's speedometer against. (There are a number of smartphone apps which will use GPS to show your actual speed - for example SpeedOverlay or Velociraptor on Android).

esuhl

Noble_Viking wrote: »

... I did wonder / question myself about those vehicles with different speed limit restrictions. I would be curious to know how those drivers who did undertake me would have 'coped' if they had been behind a vehicle with a limit of 56mph (3.5-7.5 tonnes) and a limited view of the road ahead, would they have been so hasty to undertake not knowing what was in front or would they have happily driven behind a van with a fixed speed limit!

Exactly. The rabid drivers would have just had to cope with it, and they would have been fine. Just like they were with you travelling around that speed.

It's just one big p***ing contest for some. They think that travelling fast makes them more important and generally a "better person". Sad, really.

GabbaGabbaHey

esuhl wrote: »

Exactly. The rabid drivers would have just had to cope with it, and they would have been fine. Just like they were with you travelling around that speed.

It's just one big p***ing contest for some. They think that travelling fast makes them more important and generally a "better person". Sad, really.

Firstly, I'd suggest that you go back and re-read the thread. The so-called "rabid" (wow, you really do have a bee in your bonnet about people who actually want to get somewhere on the roads!) drivers were not "fine", and in fact overtook the OP on the left hand side to get past him.

What evidence do you have for your assertions about fast drivers thinking that they are "more important", or is that just another one of your sad, unsubstantiated, prejudices? Some of do a lot of motorway miles, and every minute that we save on the journey is an additional minute that we can spend with our families.

The OP will also learn, when he starts his IAM training - and yes, I have passed the IAM test - that you would never start an overtaking manoeuvre from an unsighted position. You would be expected to drop back to a position where you have sufficient visibility of the road ahead and only when you have a clear view that it is safe to proceed would you use the acceleration of your vehicle to commence the overtaking manoeuvre - all the while having a fallback plan should conditions change.

takman

esuhl wrote: »

Exactly. The rabid drivers would have just had to cope with it, and they would have been fine. Just like they were with you travelling around that speed.

It's just one big p***ing contest for some. They think that travelling fast makes them more important and generally a "better person". Sad, really.

So according to your logic you must never go faster than 56mph on the motorway, because there is no reason to go that fast?.
There is a big difference between being stuck behind a HGV going as fast as they can at 56mph than being stuck behind a going 50 instead of 70 due to a lack of driving skill.
Anyone with any sense travels at the fastest legal and safe speed on the motorway at all times. Going slower just wastes time that could be spent doing things that are worthwhile.

If you still can't understand why people like to travel fast... Have you even been on an aeroplane to go abroad?. Why would you choose to go on the aeroplane that travels 500mph rather than a car that can go 70 at most?

BeenThroughItAll

takman wrote: »

So according to your logic you must never go faster than 56mph on the motorway, because there is no reason to go that fast?.
There is a big difference between being stuck behind a HGV going as fast as they can at 56mph than being stuck behind a going 50 instead of 70 due to a lack of driving skill.
Anyone with any sense travels at the fastest legal and safe speed on the motorway at all times. Going slower just wastes time that could be spent doing things that are worthwhile.

If you still can't understand why people like to travel fast... Have you even been on an aeroplane to go abroad?. Why would you choose to go on the aeroplane that travels 500mph rather than a car that can go 70 at most?

I'd imagine he doesn't believe in those new-fangled aeroplanes. I mean, how do they stay up? Witchcraft!

Norman_Castle

Noble_Viking wrote: »

Thank you for your comment. Before I read your post I did wonder / question myself about those vehicles with different speed limit restrictions. I would be curious to know how those drivers who did undertake me would have 'coped' if they had been behind a vehicle with a limit of 56mph (3.5-7.5 tonnes) and a limited view of the road ahead, would they have been so hasty to undertake not knowing what was in front or would they have happily driven behind a van with a fixed speed limit!

Most drivers understand some vehicles are restricted to about 60mph. These restricted vehicles all tend to drive at 60mph and no slower. Other drivers accept there is a reason for their speed. Presumably you drive an average looking car which should be capable of going faster so many drivers will wonder why you are choosing to drive so slowly. For other drivers there is a noticeable difference between 50 and 60mph.
As before, don't drive to a set speed. Use your judgement and not your speedometer to set your speed. I suspect most experienced drivers would have been driving at between 65 and 75mph rather than 50. Its likely even the most casual drivers would be at 60mph. If you match the speed of the slower vehicles which tend to be HGVs most would consider that acceptable.

dannyrst

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

I'd imagine he doesn't believe in those new-fangled aeroplanes. I mean, how do they stay up? Witchcraft!

Strings. I think.

martinsurrey

esuhl wrote: »

Exactly. The rabid drivers would have just had to cope with it, and they would have been fine. Just like they were with you travelling around that speed.

It's just one big p***ing contest for some. They think that travelling fast makes them more important and generally a "better person". Sad, really.

can I come and walk in front of your car for a few days, I'm sure you wouldn't mind, after all going fast is a p***ing contest, going 50mph as apposed to 70mph makes a 70 mile journey take 24 mins extra, or 40% longer.

Noble_Viking wrote: »

At a guess I was about 800 metres away from the split off,

800m at 50 mph is 36 seconds, on that stretch of road you cannot even see the split at 800m, the heavy dashing starts 100m from the split.

there is a sign at 1mile telling you of the split.

so you drove past this sign for 36 seconds in the left hand lane and then pulled out into the outside lane going 50mph, for a further 36 seconds?

and in this 36 seconds 3 cars manged to undertake you and pull back in front.

while I don't condone bad behavior, I don't condone inconsiderate slow drivers either (and I consider a lack of confidence inconsiderate as well, just because you have passed your test you should only get into a car if you are confidant in its use, you can have lessons as a license holder if you're not).