An epidemic of insanely slow drivers
Discussion
KTMsm said:
Yes but those of us who have been driving enthusiastically for the last 30 years can see a huge change
I used to regularly get in a convoy of fast moving cars on the motorway - that hasn't happened for 15 years
I also used to sit happily at 120 on deserted sections and 99 in general without much fear of a ban - that was in a 1983 car - yet with all the better tyres and tech I generally cruise at GPS 77 now to avoid points and am still one of the faster vehicles on the motorway !
When discussing speed on here - mention 100+ on an NSL and you'd think you were discussing stamping on kittens - presumably most only use first and second gear enthusiastically
That is the PH enthusiast’s view. The general population who wish to go to work, travel from A to B, or enjoy the countryside or the shops, visit family have different requirements - and the authorities mostly back their needs I used to regularly get in a convoy of fast moving cars on the motorway - that hasn't happened for 15 years
I also used to sit happily at 120 on deserted sections and 99 in general without much fear of a ban - that was in a 1983 car - yet with all the better tyres and tech I generally cruise at GPS 77 now to avoid points and am still one of the faster vehicles on the motorway !
When discussing speed on here - mention 100+ on an NSL and you'd think you were discussing stamping on kittens - presumably most only use first and second gear enthusiastically
simon_harris said:
biggbn said:
irc said:
Foss62 said:
How did you cope when LGVs were limited to 40 (as they still are in Scotland)?
Apart from the A9 of course where the limit was raised to 50 after Tesco lorries were generating huge queues by doing 39mph. The A9 of course, between Perth and Inverness, even on the single cariageway sections is not typical. Low gradients and no sharp bends.The 50 limit works far better.
As for doing 50 average. My average would have been around 60 between Tyndrum and Ballachuillish last week around 35 miles. Light traffic. I was aiming for an indicated 66 and was only held up for more than a mile once.
Some on this thread would consider I spent the day 'dawdling' when they see my average speed, but I never held anyone up all day and was still quicker than 90% of traffic, despite never approaching the legal 'limit'. This thread has been an eye opener for me. Things must be dreadful in England if it is as described by some, yet some don't seem to experience the problems, or anger others do? It surely must he geographical. It is also interesting how some perceive driving standards and what constitutes a good, safe driver. This perhaps isn't thst surprising actually, I can remember a similar thread complaining about roundabout etiquette and some of the claims made about how people had been taught to use a roundabout were wildly different and frankly shocking, yet those who thought they were right were unshakeable in their belief.
For me, it's live and let live, each to their own. I have driven @50miles this morning, beautiful weather, chose to sit around 80mph, no issues, not held up by anyone although I was one of the faster drivers on the dual carriageway. If the road had been busier and full of irritable commuters, I'd have knocked 20mph off that speed and sat and watched the world go by. I want to enjoy driving my car, and manage to do so every day. I look forward to every single drive, and feel sad so many are having this taken from them or have the personality type that sees them triggered by certain things and then spend miles in a rage, dangerous for them and others. These are public roads, paid for by public coffers so can be used by the public. Do these people get similarly irritated by pedestrians who dawdle whilst they stride manfully from a to b. Slow runners on their parkrun, people training at their own pace in a gym, cycling slowly in a cycle lane? We all operate at different paces, and taking the choice to do so out of our hands is draconian and oppressive.
Chill our people, there is a wonderful world at your doorway. I'm off out for a slow walk with my dogs, then off to the gym, then, hell, I'm going for a drive...and I've not decided where I'm going, nor how fast I'll travel. But I'll enjoy it.
I think for the most part what the complaining "team" want are drivers that pay attention to their surrounds and drive in a manner which is considerate to other drivers on the road, the defending "team" just want to be able to drive how they want and not be bothered.
the two sides really are not that far apart and just like in the rest of life if everyone was a little more considerate of those around them there would be far fewer issues.
Pica-Pica said:
That is the PH enthusiast’s view.
The general population who wish to go to work, travel from A to B, or enjoy the countryside or the shops, visit family have different requirements - and the authorities mostly back their needs
It isThe general population who wish to go to work, travel from A to B, or enjoy the countryside or the shops, visit family have different requirements - and the authorities mostly back their needs
As they did 30 years ago
But despite everything getting better and safer, speeds are consistently being forced ever lower
Pica-Pica said:
That is the PH enthusiast’s view. The general population who wish to go to work, travel from A to B, or enjoy the countryside or the shops, visit family have different requirements - and the authorities mostly back their needs
Even that is blinkered, its an enthusiasts view point, not ALL enthusiasts. 
KTMsm said:
Yes but those of us who have been driving enthusiastically for the last 30 years can see a huge change
I used to regularly get in a convoy of fast moving cars on the motorway - that hasn't happened for 15 years
I also used to sit happily at 120 on deserted sections and 99 in general without much fear of a ban - that was in a 1983 car - yet with all the better tyres and tech I generally cruise at GPS 77 now to avoid points and am still one of the faster vehicles on the motorway !
When discussing speed on here - mention 100+ on an NSL and you'd think you were discussing stamping on kittens - presumably most only use first and second gear enthusiastically
Occasionally frustration gets the better of me and I go for a quick blatt into three figure speeds. Feels so alien these days as though I am committing a crime against humanity. Wasn't always that way. I used to regularly get in a convoy of fast moving cars on the motorway - that hasn't happened for 15 years
I also used to sit happily at 120 on deserted sections and 99 in general without much fear of a ban - that was in a 1983 car - yet with all the better tyres and tech I generally cruise at GPS 77 now to avoid points and am still one of the faster vehicles on the motorway !
When discussing speed on here - mention 100+ on an NSL and you'd think you were discussing stamping on kittens - presumably most only use first and second gear enthusiastically
Blatt over, I soon return to regular speeds and conform like a good boy. Days of enthusiastic road driving are over.
simon_harris said:
M4cruiser said:
simon_harris said:
You seem to have interactions with a disproportion number of vehicles with mechanical defects, I wonder what the common denominator is...
The common denominator is that I've been driving a long time, with a lot of miles per year, in many different cars.
and that I notice faults which others don't.
if you are so nervous about traveling at the speed limit or the potential for mechanical failure I once again kindly suggest that perhaps driving is not for you.
I like to leave an extra safety margin, there's nothing wrong with that.
I'm amazed that other drivers seem to assume their car will work correctly 100% of the time, for example braking at the last possible moment for a hazard (junction or whatever), and also assume that other drivers will conform to the signals they are giving (today I saw many drivers giving incorrect signals).
The brake failures were on cars I didn't maintain myself because they were "company cars" maintained "correctly" by professional garages.
KTMsm said:
Unreal said:
Some of us happily accept that the roads are used by different people with differing abilities, in different vehicles and with different motivations and priorities from our own.
Yes but those of us who have been driving enthusiastically for the last 30 years can see a huge changeI used to regularly get in a convoy of fast moving cars on the motorway - that hasn't happened for 15 years
In the 80s/90s and early 2000s 80/90 was my default Motorway cruising speed, but with so many variable limits and cameras all over the place it's 77 now most of the time even though my cars are way more competent.
It's just tedious, so I often try to seek out A Road alternatives for a bit of fun!
M4cruiser said:
Perhaps you are misinterpreting what I'm saying.
I like to leave an extra safety margin, there's nothing wrong with that.
I'm amazed that other drivers seem to assume their car will work correctly 100% of the time, for example braking at the last possible moment for a hazard (junction or whatever), and also assume that other drivers will conform to the signals they are giving (today I saw many drivers giving incorrect signals).
The brake failures were on cars I didn't maintain myself because they were "company cars" maintained "correctly" by professional garages.
I was involved in product development including brake testing and certification for over 30 years, raced, stage rallied and track dayed cars for even longer, and driven around one million miles on the road. In all that time, I have never experienced brake failure.I like to leave an extra safety margin, there's nothing wrong with that.
I'm amazed that other drivers seem to assume their car will work correctly 100% of the time, for example braking at the last possible moment for a hazard (junction or whatever), and also assume that other drivers will conform to the signals they are giving (today I saw many drivers giving incorrect signals).
The brake failures were on cars I didn't maintain myself because they were "company cars" maintained "correctly" by professional garages.
Something funny is going on
croyde said:
I was impressed at the driving on the motorways of Tenerife.
Lane discipline was damn near perfect.
That's all I'm asking for. Slow or fast, just be attentive!
I can say the same for the high standard of driving on the Belgium motorways! Been very impressed with drivers indicating ± 1th mile back a lane change, changing lanes, then ± 1th mile past us smoothly moving back in.Lane discipline was damn near perfect.
That's all I'm asking for. Slow or fast, just be attentive!
Steve-B said:
croyde said:
I was impressed at the driving on the motorways of Tenerife.
Lane discipline was damn near perfect.
That's all I'm asking for. Slow or fast, just be attentive!
I can say the same for the high standard of driving on the Belgium motorways! Been very impressed with drivers indicating ± 1th mile back a lane change, changing lanes, then ± 1th mile past us smoothly moving back in.Lane discipline was damn near perfect.
That's all I'm asking for. Slow or fast, just be attentive!
Got stuck behind a 35mph train on a NSL A road for a good 10 miles whilst trying to get my 2 year old to A&E last night. A black Nissan Micra (why is it always the same cars). Safe to say my tolerance for them has dropped to below zero and a nice anecdote for those who say we should all leave sooner/respect others ability and other such nonsense.
If you can't do close to 60 on an A road you should have your licence taken away and be made to re sit the test.
If you can't do close to 60 on an A road you should have your licence taken away and be made to re sit the test.
Edited by CLK-GTR on Friday 12th April 12:37
Mr Tidy said:
KTMsm said:
Unreal said:
Some of us happily accept that the roads are used by different people with differing abilities, in different vehicles and with different motivations and priorities from our own.
Yes but those of us who have been driving enthusiastically for the last 30 years can see a huge changeI used to regularly get in a convoy of fast moving cars on the motorway - that hasn't happened for 15 years
In the 80s/90s and early 2000s 80/90 was my default Motorway cruising speed, but with so many variable limits and cameras all over the place it's 77 now most of the time even though my cars are way more competent.
It's just tedious, so I often try to seek out A Road alternatives for a bit of fun!
A Yaris nearly killed me an hour ago. She was at the front of the queue and she did about 20 mph down a motorway slip road. Causing the 20 cars or so all behind her have to try and then get on the motorway at 20 mph. She nearly caused a motorway pile up. I think she might have carried on doing 20 mph in the inside lane. That would have made life fun for the lorry drivers. (If she doesn't end getting rear ended).
But people doing stuff like never seem to get done. It was really dangerous all caused by going so slow.
But people doing stuff like never seem to get done. It was really dangerous all caused by going so slow.
Noesph said:
A Yaris nearly killed me an hour ago. She was at the front of the queue and she did about 20 mph down a motorway slip road. Causing the 20 cars or so all behind her have to try and then get on the motorway at 20 mph. She nearly caused a motorway pile up. I think she might have carried on doing 20 mph in the inside lane. That would have made life fun for the lorry drivers. (If she doesn't end getting rear ended).
But people doing stuff like never seem to get done. It was really dangerous all caused by going so slow.
How do you almost die from that? The slip road is a give way.But people doing stuff like never seem to get done. It was really dangerous all caused by going so slow.
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