40mph?

[AlfaJohn]

missingman said:

Like many on here I've been driving for well over 30 years. My opinion on things is:

1 - Over the last 10 years, standards of driving have dropped dramatically.
2 - Over that same period, drivers have become more aggresive and considerably less aware of other road users.
3 - Ladies continue to be considerably less predictable when driving than men. Just my opinion, others will disagree for sure.

With this whole "slow driving" thing though I think there's a genuine fear about being caught speeding. People just play things very safe. Having an accident of any kind has also become astonishingly tedious and expensive.

People are confusing driving slowly with driving safely. The mindset seems to be that "I'm driving slowly, therefore I must be safe".

[R8VXF]

I always just assumed that the flashing lights were people thanking me for waking them up as I hoon past them

[swisstoni]

Hoofy said:

SuperchargedVR6 said:

AH33 said:

I cant handle the lights flashing after an overtake, I have to try and find out what their issue is, I cant just leave it.

I like the ones who aren't satisfied with a quick flash after being overtaken. No, these special sorts pursue me as quickly as possible to continue the flashing and gesticulation assault, 3" off my bumper.

They were perfectly happy to dribble around corners and meander along at 40 just prior to the overtake. F'ckin oddballs.

As you say, if you try and stop these people to see what their problem is, they usually speed off with nothing to say. F'ckin oddballs.

You know the ones that get me is the tossers who then chase you, flashing their lights so angry they even flash blue lights, making all sorts of wailing noises, then attempt to overtake me, and gesticulating at me as they try to overtake.

And those ones in the big red trucks - they really get annoyed.

[Europa1]

Hoofy said:

Roger Irrelevant said:

moffat said:

I also laugh at the muppets that slam their brakes on when you overtake them on a nice clear stretch of road... it's like they think they're about to die!

I've noticed this a few times recently - really really odd - and a bit disconcerting too as you're not sure if something's just ran out in front of them that you haven't seen and they'll start swerving too (though it never has). I can only assume it's just a default setting for some people: if anything at all is happening on the road around you, brake just in case.

Your overtaking them has made them panic hence they brake. When someone overtakes me, I just lift off to reduce the time for the overtake.

I think you're right - they are so oblivious to what's going on around them that someone overtaking them is a shock to their senses.

[Mr2Mike]

DavidJG said:

They're just saying thank you for a nicely executed overtake. At least that's what I always assume it means

Give them a thumbs up for their politeness, really confuses them.

I'm pretty sure the issue is that you've have passed one of those numpties that will never, ever dare to overtake. The type that will follow a cyclist of tractor for miles, despite numerous safe opportunities. Since you are doing something they don't have the confidence to do then you must be a lunatic.

[fivepointnine]

Alex_225 said:

It's the continuation of the 40mph through a 30 that staggers me. Quite clearly paying zero attention to speed limits, just blinkered driving and clearly not

If someone doesn't do more than 40mph on an open stretch of national speed limit, then I'll overtake. If they don't like it, tough s**t! If they flash me, well they're the morons and probably wonder why everyone is a 'maniac'. Should be asking themselves a few questions.

I could swear on my daily commute, where 40 is the normal in the wide open stretches, that the idiots actually SPEED UP through the villages! I always slow to 30 or so through the villages, then on the throttle as soon as the village is clear...people on my ass through the village and nowhere to be seen past the village, and I always catch up to everyone within a quarter miles because they are scared to go over 40.
Another annoying thing for me is overloaded lorries on the B road I take, it is not an approved freight route, yet lorries that are clearly heavier than 7 tonnes use it as a cut through for the motorway.

Thank you OP (or OP-1) for bringing this up, at least I know I am not alone!

[littleredrooster]

.:ian:. said:

SpudLink said:

Recently attended a 'speed awareness course'. It's supprised me how many people actually believe NSL is 40 or 50 on roads where it's 60.

- Shows picture of a dual carriageway that only has 1 lane on each carriageway.. "Whats the speed limit on this road?"

"40?!"
"50?!"
"30?!"

Indeed. Of the 24 people on my recent course, I was the ONLY ONE who correctly said 60. One thought it was 70, everyone else said 40 or 50. Un-fekkin-believable ignorance! In a similar vein, only two of us knew that if a road (other than a m-way!) had a system of street-lighting, it was a 30 limit unless signed otherwise.

[simion_levi]

littleredrooster said:

.:ian:. said:

SpudLink said:

Recently attended a 'speed awareness course'. It's supprised me how many people actually believe NSL is 40 or 50 on roads where it's 60.

- Shows picture of a dual carriageway that only has 1 lane on each carriageway.. "Whats the speed limit on this road?"

"40?!"
"50?!"
"30?!"

Indeed. Of the 24 people on my recent course, I was the ONLY ONE who correctly said 60. One thought it was 70, everyone else said 40 or 50. Un-fekkin-believable ignorance! In a similar vein, only two of us knew that if a road (other than a m-way!) had a system of street-lighting, it was a 30 limit unless signed otherwise.

Oh dear. One person got it right, but I'm afraid it wasn't you.

[Toonshorty]

simion_levi said:

Oh dear. One person got it right, but I'm afraid it wasn't you.

Good, so I'm not the only one who got confused there.

All dual carriageways are 70 mph regardless of the number of lanes aren't they?

[Monkeylegend]

OP, it's a limit not a target and it only cost you probably a couple of minutes, you really need to calm down a bit and not get so stressed.

[knitware]

WD39 said:

I think that your chest area is now somewhat lighter.

First things first. Not every driver wants to charge about at the speed limit, whatever that may be. That includes me.

I'm not talking tortoise speed either. When a driver decides to travel a little slower, he should be allowed to do so and not be harrassed by following motorists.

You say yourself that you lose only a matter of minutes on a journey when you are 'Following a line of nuggets at 40mph', so just go with it, take a deep breath, listen to Ludwig, you will be a more relaxed and less irritated driver.

As for 'Flashing' after an overtake, consider the following:

While waiting to overtake have you been tailgating?
Following the O/T did you cut in a bit sharper than is acceptable?
Did you gesticulate to the 'slower driver?
Have you completed an O/T and then sat close to vehicle you have overtaken?

I mention these because they are the subject of many posts on the 'Knob' thread, and could well result in a
'Flash'. It is not something I would advocate, but if you read the aforementioned thread you will discover plenty that would.

Finally, If I happen to be driving at what you would call 'Cretin speed' I always leave a gap big enough for an O/T when safe to do so.

Must go now as my sock drawer awaits.

Yes, good point.

During a NSL sometimes I'll do 60, sometimes 50, sometimes less it depends if I want to hurry home, or not, to two shouty children and an angry wife or I'm with the shouty children and angry wife and my speed can fluctuate due to concentration levels etc. I drive with consideration so I wont impede an overtake or other nonsense. If that upsets some folk, then sorry, overtake and be on your way, (I won't flash you though).

[swisstoni]

Clearly the NSL sign isn't doing it's job.
It's an elegant solution for different vehicle types but it doesn't cater for arsles. Arsles are a large constituency of road users. In fact their human rights might be being violated.

[8potdave]

Monkeylegend said:

OP, it's a limit not a target and it only cost you probably a couple of minutes, you really need to calm down a bit and not get so stressed.

Good trolling

[LunarOne]

All the time, and it drives me bananas! To add insult to injury the driver holding everyone up then proceeds to jump the lights.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MW8QV_iA3CQ

[Monkeylegend]

8potdave said:

Monkeylegend said:

OP, it's a limit not a target and it only cost you probably a couple of minutes, you really need to calm down a bit and not get so stressed.

Good trolling

Just keeping in line with the physic nature of this thread

[Shakermaker]

Monkeylegend said:

OP, it's a limit not a target and it only cost you probably a couple of minutes, you really need to calm down a bit and not get so stressed.

Those couple of minutes count when I'm racing home to have a poo.

[theboss]

jayemm89 said:

john2443 said:

OP, I see your <insert name of county> and raise you Norfolk!

I heave a sigh of relief when I get out of there and onto the M11! there are lots of excellent roads, but everyone who lives there seems to think that 40 is enough, even my sister (who lives there but used to live elsewhere) who's 62 and drives a Polo gets frustrated by how slow they are!

My grandparents (well, Grandfather) live in March. Technically Cambridgeshire but displays the same traits you are referring to I am sure. Not helped by lorries, farm traffic and the inexplicable decision to build narrow one-lane-each-way roads when there is masses of room.

At least on that side of the country you can usually see for miles and overtaking opportunities are frequent, at least that's been my perception whenever I've been there.

I'm in Shropshire and its absolutely abysmal for what the OP has described - knowing the roads well and having a fast accelerating car help considerably. I find when you go over the border into Wales things don't speed up considerably but people do seem to more graciously facilitate others overtaking as opposed to actively hindering and reacting angrily.

[Monkeylegend]

Shakermaker said:

Monkeylegend said:

OP, it's a limit not a target and it only cost you probably a couple of minutes, you really need to calm down a bit and not get so stressed.

Those couple of minutes count when I'm racing home to have a poo.

Welcome to your first whoosh

[Shakermaker]

Monkeylegend said:

Welcome to your first whoosh

Have I missed some piece of forum etiquette/long running joke?

Did I need a to make my point more light hearted?

[R8VXF]

theboss said:

I'm in Shropshire and its absolutely abysmal for what the OP has described - knowing the roads well and having a fast accelerating car help considerably. I find when you go over the border into Wales things don't speed up considerably but people do seem to more graciously facilitate others overtaking as opposed to actively hindering and reacting angrily.

Up in Scotland they do it well

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsCU9DWEWQQ&in...