Why do you drive everywhere at 40mph?

Mercdriver

EdGasketTheSecond wrote: »

There's no obligation to drive at the maximum speed allowed. Each person has a right to drive at the speed they want and feel safe driving at so long as it doesn't cause a danger. I'd say 40mph in a 60 zone is quite acceptable but under 30 probably not. You can always overtake when safe to do so.

Or the person bimbling along can pull in when safe to do so to let others pass

deaston

JP08 wrote: »

Having denigrated the subjects of the original post I will hold my hand up to, on a weekly basis for a couple of years, travelling at 40mph on a straight, wide road in good weather conditions for miles at at time. In fact on this road. Google Streetview Link

And yes - it was annoying to other road users too.

But the reason was to do with the undulating nature of the road surface. And the soft suspension of the car at the time. And it being fairly low slung (yes it's that Mitsubishi Galant again !!!). So much so that anything over 40 meant that something (probably the mudflaps) kept scraping the road and the girlfriend got car sick.

So its not always obvious why the doodlebug in front is doodling ... though this particular one did slow for the 30 limit a bit further along.

Personally, I think road users should be able to do whatever speed they want (as long as it's within the limit) without feeling pressured or intimidated to go faster. I have no problem with you doing 40mph, although I'd almost certainly overtake once I was able.

It's purely those people who then break the limit in a 20 or 30mph where, arguably, the limit is all the more important.

kmb500

EdGasketTheSecond wrote: »

There's no obligation to drive at the maximum speed allowed. Each person has a right to drive at the speed they want and feel safe driving at so long as it doesn't cause a danger. I'd say 40mph in a 60 zone is quite acceptable but under 30 probably not. You can always overtake when safe to do so.

Agreed, but 40 in a 30 is not allowed. Also it's more the fact that these drivers may well be unaware of their surroundings or the speed they're going, which in itself is dangerous.

EdGasketTheSecond

kmb500 wrote: »

Agreed, but 40 in a 30 is not allowed.

Actually I meant doing under 30 in a 60 mph limit zone.

kmb500

EdGasketTheSecond wrote: »

Actually I meant doing under 30 in a 60 mph limit zone.

Yes, but this thread is about people who go at 40 everywhere.

AdrianC

EdGasketTheSecond wrote: »

There's no obligation to drive at the maximum speed allowed. Each person has a right to drive at the speed they want and feel safe driving at so long as it doesn't cause a danger. I'd say 40mph in a 60 zone is quite acceptable...

Simple question - if you did it on a driving test, would you fail because of it?

Simple answer - yes, absolutely.
http://www.drivingtesttips.biz/speed-awareness.html
http://www.passthedrivingtest.me.uk/2009/03/driving-test-tip-speed.html
https://www.rac.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?8471-Failed-my-test-for-going-quot-too-slow-quot

DoaM

Agreed ^^^

As a driver you're expected to "make progress" whilst adhering to the rules of the road (including speed limits) and also driving to the conditions.

A NSL (60) road might be fine at 60 on the straight in the dry, but 50 round the bends might be prudent. Equally, 50 on the straight and 40 round the bends might be prudent in the wet.

kmb500

AdrianC wrote: »

Simple question - if you did it on a driving test, would you fail because of it?

Simple answer - yes, absolutely.
http://www.drivingtesttips.biz/speed-awareness.html
http://www.passthedrivingtest.me.uk/2009/03/driving-test-tip-speed.html
https://www.rac.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?8471-Failed-my-test-for-going-quot-too-slow-quot

Correct. I almost failed my test for this. I had been in a newly built 20 zone and went back into the 30 zone, but I saw no sign for 30, so kept going at 20 in a 30. I got two minors for it and the examiner said if I had kept it up any longer she would have given me a third minor and failed me.

Jackmydad

The "drives at 40-45 mph" thing is just one of the signs of people who should never have licences.
There are plenty more.
I suspect that most of these people would be "good drivers" if asked what they thought of their driving.
About time everyone started driving as if they're in control of a ton or so of dangerous machinery, and not an extension of their living room.

DoaM

Jackmydad wrote: »

I suspect that most of these people would be "good drivers" if asked what they thought of their driving.

You mean like Rainman?