An epidemic of insanely slow drivers
Discussion
ChemicalChaos said:
I totally feel your pain.
As with you, I'm not looking to tear arse around at double the limit as I too have a track car, but I agree the slow drivers are everywhere these days. I think the enforced several months of not going anywhere during the pandemic has caused a step change in people's driving - for the worse. The amount of times I come up behind someone doing 40 on a clear, straight NSL arterial road makes me want to pull the steering wheel out of the dashboard in frustration..... and of course, when there's a "Trulli train" of cars behind a slowpoke, not one of the other f
kers dares to try and overtake either, even when the road is clear and straight 
This. And this ALL day long, “The Trulli Train”.As with you, I'm not looking to tear arse around at double the limit as I too have a track car, but I agree the slow drivers are everywhere these days. I think the enforced several months of not going anywhere during the pandemic has caused a step change in people's driving - for the worse. The amount of times I come up behind someone doing 40 on a clear, straight NSL arterial road makes me want to pull the steering wheel out of the dashboard in frustration..... and of course, when there's a "Trulli train" of cars behind a slowpoke, not one of the other f
kers dares to try and overtake either, even when the road is clear and straight I read this before and thought exactly.
Absolutely horrendous driving behaviour, it happens all the time where I commute and drive. The clowns that join these ‘trains’ are just the worst.
Can’t be arsed overtaking, no consideration for other road users. f
k it, I’ll stay behind this farmer in a tractor doing 30. Even though the road is straight and safe to manoeuvre.Every other f
ker will (mindset) stay behind.And yet when you try and move up the ‘train’ aghainst gaps that are not left.
Flashing lights, horns beeping.
There is one single thing that truly boils my piss.
And it’s this.
simon_harris said:
I put these morons in the same group as those who go into lane 2 at traffic lights and then make zero attempt to pull away quicker than the car in lane 1 and as often as not have multiple cars pass them on the inside.
That really annoys me and I will never understand it.Definitely only two speeds on single carriageways now, 25 or 40. Infuriating.
I'll add the trend of:
1) Drivers stopping dead at the merest hint of a blue light in the rear view mirror
2) Lack of acceleration away from traffic lights (and slip roads as mentioned which is downright dangerous)
3) Cars just careering through narrow gaps past parked cars on their side, forcing you right over near the kerb and over the inevitable dropped drains/potholes
I'll add the trend of:
1) Drivers stopping dead at the merest hint of a blue light in the rear view mirror
2) Lack of acceleration away from traffic lights (and slip roads as mentioned which is downright dangerous)
3) Cars just careering through narrow gaps past parked cars on their side, forcing you right over near the kerb and over the inevitable dropped drains/potholes
LennyM1984 said:
I know this is a pointless rant but I am beginning to feel as though I am the only sane person to drive on the roads in Oxfordshire and wanted to see if I was alone in this observation.
In the good old days (I'm 39) most people would drive at a sensible speed. Every now and again you would meet a little old lady driving at 40mph but in general that was the exception rather than the norm. Fast forward to today and the norm is for me to be stuck behind people (of all ages, sex, race, and weight... before anybody tries to go there) doing 30mph in a well sighted 50 or 60. The speed is often dangerously slow and will result in a queue of cars/lorries bumper to tail crawling along (some of the roads are busy enough - like the A40 - to make overtaking opportunities low).
Some of the perpetrators of these heinous crimes are parents at the school where my kids go. They seem like normal people and yet the speeds at which they are driving would imply that they are incapable of rational decision making and/or being in control of a vehicle. Even white van man these days is likely to be doing 35 in a 60 - these guys used to be the fastest human beings on earth and yet here we are today with articulated lorries trying to overtake them.
So what the hell is going on with people??? Am I alone in wanting to get where I am going???
[For context, I do not drive fast on public roads - I have a race license for that - and am not expecting others to break the speed limit or drive beyond a safe speed for the conditions. What I am objecting to is the dangerously slow speed at which almost everybody now wants to try and traverse the roads]
It’s not a pointless rant !! It’s the same here in the south east, t who cannot drive and shouldn’t be driving. Roll on spring and I can blast past them on my R1 & 1098S……In the good old days (I'm 39) most people would drive at a sensible speed. Every now and again you would meet a little old lady driving at 40mph but in general that was the exception rather than the norm. Fast forward to today and the norm is for me to be stuck behind people (of all ages, sex, race, and weight... before anybody tries to go there) doing 30mph in a well sighted 50 or 60. The speed is often dangerously slow and will result in a queue of cars/lorries bumper to tail crawling along (some of the roads are busy enough - like the A40 - to make overtaking opportunities low).
Some of the perpetrators of these heinous crimes are parents at the school where my kids go. They seem like normal people and yet the speeds at which they are driving would imply that they are incapable of rational decision making and/or being in control of a vehicle. Even white van man these days is likely to be doing 35 in a 60 - these guys used to be the fastest human beings on earth and yet here we are today with articulated lorries trying to overtake them.
So what the hell is going on with people??? Am I alone in wanting to get where I am going???
[For context, I do not drive fast on public roads - I have a race license for that - and am not expecting others to break the speed limit or drive beyond a safe speed for the conditions. What I am objecting to is the dangerously slow speed at which almost everybody now wants to try and traverse the roads]
bobtail4x4 said:
The standard of driving dropped remarkedly after covid, its like everyone forgot how to drive,
we have always had the 40mph everywhere type, but now they slow to 20 in a 30 but sit in the middle of the road,
Certainly a huge shift post Covid but not sure why. I'm the other side of Oxfordshire and it certainly seems that a huge number of young pensioners just aged shockingly suddenly and now crawl in the middle of the road, lane wander or just pull out of junctions. But the increase in the number of people just doing 30 on an NSL might be linked to finances and just not being willing to pull over every so often to let the large queue through as slow drivers used to do. we have always had the 40mph everywhere type, but now they slow to 20 in a 30 but sit in the middle of the road,
Passing was already problematic just due to the increased levels of oncoming traffic.
The A40 the OP mentions has gone from a fast road to crawling in many places as one car holds up many for miles. The number of crawlers on the M40 is quite shocking also.
I have been reading an article about why learner drivers could fail the driving test, as I wondered why everyone is driving so slowly now.
https://www.drivejohnsons.co.uk/learning-centre/fa...
All these slow drivers should have their licence taken away.
https://www.drivejohnsons.co.uk/learning-centre/fa...
All these slow drivers should have their licence taken away.
Edited by dreamcracker on Friday 15th March 01:02
Definitely noticed this. Regularly get stuck behind people doing 20-30mph down unrestricted lanes on my commute. Also see many bimbling along at 50mph on the motorway completely oblivious to the chaos they are causing.
Definitely noticed this weird behaviour over the last few years and I put it down to people driving ‘economically’ when fuel prices were high.
Definitely noticed this weird behaviour over the last few years and I put it down to people driving ‘economically’ when fuel prices were high.
Edited by Sixpackpert on Friday 15th March 05:40
Between poor driving, crumbling roads, and awful weather, the U.K. is a pretty miserable at the moment - maybe I’m just getting old and grumpy.
I was in Switzerland last month and reminded how things can be done. Their roads, train service, and cycle networks are on another planet.
RE slow drivers, it’s definitely regional. Down south it’s particularly bad, but head further West, North or East and the speed increases. The pace also picks up in mainland Europe.
I was in Switzerland last month and reminded how things can be done. Their roads, train service, and cycle networks are on another planet.
RE slow drivers, it’s definitely regional. Down south it’s particularly bad, but head further West, North or East and the speed increases. The pace also picks up in mainland Europe.
The lane discipline on the 2 motorways of Tenerife was brilliant whilst I covered 2000 miles over 5 weeks there over winter.
Outside lane only used for overtaking. Every slower driver that I came across immediately knew I was there and although overtaking slower traffic themselves, always pulled over.
Would be useful over here if they used those giant dot matrix signs that warn of non existent animals crossing the highway to just constantly flash 'Keep Left, unless overtaking'
Outside lane only used for overtaking. Every slower driver that I came across immediately knew I was there and although overtaking slower traffic themselves, always pulled over.
Would be useful over here if they used those giant dot matrix signs that warn of non existent animals crossing the highway to just constantly flash 'Keep Left, unless overtaking'
brums evil twin said:
I find that to add to the matters - that they do 40mph in the NSL and then carry on doing 40mph in the villages signed at 30mph
They've always existed. That's just a particular selfish type of skint money saver. Speed in built up areas where it often isn't safe to do so and then hold up many other road users on the open road for mile after mile because they worship some kind of MPG god above all else. Arguably, the same self centred mentality of the awful creatures that stick their car in the middle lane, set the cruise to 60 and spend an entire journey deliberately holding others up. DonkeyApple said:
They've always existed. That's just a particular selfish type of skint money saver. Speed in built up areas where it often isn't safe to do so and then hold up many other road users on the open road for mile after mile because they worship some kind of MPG god above all else. Arguably, the same self centred mentality of the awful creatures that stick their car in the middle lane, set the cruise to 60 and spend an entire journey deliberately holding others up.
Yep.They also think they're good drivers and doing everyone and the world a favour by moderating other peoples driving and then tell people to leave 10 minutes earlier.Jim H said:
This. And this ALL day long, “The Trulli Train”.
I read this before and thought exactly.
Absolutely horrendous driving behaviour, it happens all the time where I commute and drive. The clowns that join these ‘trains’ are just the worst.
Can’t be arsed overtaking, no consideration for other road users. fk it, I’ll stay behind this farmer in a tractor doing 30. Even though the road is straight and safe to manoeuvre.
Every other fker will (mindset) stay behind.
And yet when you try and move up the ‘train’ aghainst gaps that are not left.
Flashing lights, horns beeping.
There is one single thing that truly boils my piss.
And it’s this.
It's a lack of manners amongst many. Few appear to have been taught that it's just basic etiquette to leave a gap if you have no plan to overtake, just so that others who do can leapfrog. Likewise, the operator of the slow vehicle must know it's basic manners to pull over periodically to allow the built up traffic to pass and while many still do that there are clearly more today that make the overt decision to deliberately hold others up. I read this before and thought exactly.
Absolutely horrendous driving behaviour, it happens all the time where I commute and drive. The clowns that join these ‘trains’ are just the worst.
Can’t be arsed overtaking, no consideration for other road users. f
k it, I’ll stay behind this farmer in a tractor doing 30. Even though the road is straight and safe to manoeuvre.Every other f
ker will (mindset) stay behind.And yet when you try and move up the ‘train’ aghainst gaps that are not left.
Flashing lights, horns beeping.
There is one single thing that truly boils my piss.
And it’s this.
But I do suspect the real driving issue is just that it doesn't take much of an increase in traffic volume for the number of easy and safe passing opportunities for the average car user to simply evaporate. I find these days that it isn't the obstacle in front that is the issue, just as it never really was but that the increased frequency of oncoming traffic is the actual cause for being stuck behind someone.
Many of the A roads around here are more what one would think of as B roads. They can be a delight to drive but safe passing places are few and far between. While you can double the number of safe passing places when using an SUV as the sight advantage really does open up more opportunities, the fact is that it seems much more common than ever to arrive at one of these points only for there to be oncoming traffic, each and every time.
monkfish1 said:
king arthur said:
I'm convinced that most drivers on the roads these days do not understand what this sign means:
Think you are right.Because it doesnt have numbers, its ignored. So they just keep driving at whatever the last numbered sign they saw.
Ive been on two speed awareness courses 15 years apart. The level of understanding of speed limits, never mind any other road laws is dire.
Incidentally, both courses started the same way. Im going to show you some pics (4) If everyone gets the speed correct, we will wrap it up and go home. Needless to say, we didnt go home. On niether course did everone even get the motorway speed limit right. How hard can it be!
I saw a very first hand demo of this on the A1M recently. Quiet motorway on a saturday morning. I had the cruise set at 70 (partly due to the aforementioned SAC that came about from a misdemeanor on the exact same bit of tarmac!). A car overtook me doing about 80 and then pulled into the inside line in front of me and started braking down to below 60. As I was on CC, I just pulled out again to re-pass and he's desperately gesturing to tell me to slow down and pointing to the camera van parked on the bridge ahead. Yes mate, I've seen it and I'll continue at 70 thanks very much. As soon as we're passed, he floors it past me again. Sometimes you just have to roll your eyes!
Even when there are very obvious limit signs, it doesn't seem to help. I came along that 50mph underpass by Edinburgh airport yesterday and the inside lane was all doing about 40 so I pulled out to overtake but a car in front braked fairly hard down to about 35 for the camera! There are very obvious 50 signs everywhere.
I don't generally have much of a problem with people driving slowly though I would agree that I notice more and more of it. Within reason, I don't think we can complain too much. But I do think it's reasonable to expect some courtesy along with it. If you have a long queue of traffic behind, look for safe places to let people past and don't give those who overtake you abuse. And if you're following a slow vehicle leave a sensible gap to them so that you can either A) see past to overtake or B) allow others to overtake you safely. To me not doing that is the main issue, not the slow vehicle.
While I'm having a moan, I drove over the some great roads in the Cairngorms yesterday. Weather and visibility were fairly poor so nothing balls out but I wasn't dawdling but I did end up with an Audi glued to my arse. I was on the road that goes past the Lecht ski centre for anyone that knows it. It's windy in places but there are also long well sighted sections. I was making a point of slowing a little on those and positioning the car all the way over to the left but the Audi stayed right behind me. Eventually it was peeing me off so much, that when I got onto another straighter section, I indicated, pulled right into the side and came to a stop and the f'ing clown behind me just sat there stationery for a few seconds until the penny eventually dropped. Really annoyingly even after waiting a while to set off after they had passed, I still ended up catching them a few miles later, now going much slower. I think in hindisght, given the aream they were perhaps a tourist in hire car and were perhaps using me as a barometer for acceptable speed and were also a bit unsure on rules around overtaking. I cling on to that hope!
monkfish1 said:
Ive been on two speed awareness courses 15 years apart. The level of understanding of speed limits, never mind any other road laws is dire.
If one attended an AA meeting would one not be surprised to in a room full of alcoholics? Is it a shock to find people who have broken the law to be prolific in prisons? 
Speed awareness course are, for the most part, for people who were unaware of the speed limit or their speed so we would probably expect the room to contain a rather high percentage of people with a predilection to being unaware of speed limits.
Only the cosmetics industry is allowed to base their analysis on such rigged environments.
Gad-Westy said:
monkfish1 said:
king arthur said:
I'm convinced that most drivers on the roads these days do not understand what this sign means:
Think you are right.Because it doesnt have numbers, its ignored. So they just keep driving at whatever the last numbered sign they saw.
Ive been on two speed awareness courses 15 years apart. The level of understanding of speed limits, never mind any other road laws is dire.
Incidentally, both courses started the same way. Im going to show you some pics (4) If everyone gets the speed correct, we will wrap it up and go home. Needless to say, we didnt go home. On niether course did everone even get the motorway speed limit right. How hard can it be!
I saw a very first hand demo of this on the A1M recently. Quiet motorway on a saturday morning. I had the cruise set at 70 (partly due to the aforementioned SAC that came about from a misdemeanor on the exact same bit of tarmac!). A car overtook me doing about 80 and then pulled into the inside line in front of me and started braking down to below 60. As I was on CC, I just pulled out again to re-pass and he's desperately gesturing to tell me to slow down and pointing to the camera van parked on the bridge ahead. Yes mate, I've seen it and I'll continue at 70 thanks very much. As soon as we're passed, he floors it past me again. Sometimes you just have to roll your eyes!
Even when there are very obvious limit signs, it doesn't seem to help. I came along that 50mph underpass by Edinburgh airport yesterday and the inside lane was all doing about 40 so I pulled out to overtake but a car in front braked fairly hard down to about 35 for the camera! There are very obvious 50 signs everywhere.
I don't generally have much of a problem with people driving slowly though I would agree that I notice more and more of it. Within reason, I don't think we can complain too much. But I do think it's reasonable to expect some courtesy along with it. If you have a long queue of traffic behind, look for safe places to let people past and don't give those who overtake you abuse. And if you're following a slow vehicle leave a sensible gap to them so that you can either A) see past to overtake or B) allow others to overtake you safely. To me not doing that is the main issue, not the slow vehicle.
While I'm having a moan, I drove over the some great roads in the Cairngorms yesterday. Weather and visibility were fairly poor so nothing balls out but I wasn't dawdling but I did end up with an Audi glued to my arse. I was on the road that goes past the Lecht ski centre for anyone that knows it. It's windy in places but there are also long well sighted sections. I was making a point of slowing a little on those and positioning the car all the way over to the left but the Audi stayed right behind me. Eventually it was peeing me off so much, that when I got onto another straighter section, I indicated, pulled right into the side and came to a stop and the f'ing clown behind me just sat there stationery for a few seconds until the penny eventually dropped. Really annoyingly even after waiting a while to set off after they had passed, I still ended up catching them a few miles later, now going much slower. I think in hindisght, given the aream they were perhaps a tourist in hire car and were perhaps using me as a barometer for acceptable speed and were also a bit unsure on rules around overtaking. I cling on to that hope!
DonkeyApple said:
Arguably, the same self centred mentality of the awful creatures that stick their car in the middle lane, set the cruise to 60 and spend an entire journey deliberately holding others up.
They drive me mad too 
But your calibration to modern think is in question. Many drivers believe 60 is fast enough for them and everyone else. Safety and environmental propaganda confirms that on an almost daily basis. They have bought in.
You may need to buy-in too. Especially when/if the motorway limit reduces to a strictly controlled 60mph. Could happen in the next parliament.
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