Vulnerability in 50mph zones

[8IKERDAVE]

I am not sure if anyone shares my huge sense of vulnerability when travelling on the increasing number of average 50mph zones on our motorways. I am a very confident driver and quite happy driving in heavily populated cities, flat out on the autobahn or in snow, fog, the dark, etc.

However, I absolutely HATE travelling along for mile after mile at 50mph next to a line of HGV's with another HGV 3 feet from my bumper. I get a sense of Claustrophobia (if that is the right way of describing it). It's always nice to know in any driving situation you can put your foot down and get the hell out of there if you need to but in these zones you're all stuck driving along at the same speed. I know half the people on there have pretty much switched off from driving, the HGV drivers are frustrated because they can't sit on their limiters and it's just a generally unpleasant experience. Add narrowed lanes to this and it is my absolute worst type of driving.

When I've asked passengers about this they generally don't seem phased by it but one of my close mates pretty much emphaised my fears by saying "I just whack the cruise control on and switch off till the nationals come up". I'm the opposite; constantly checking mirrors, blind spots and peoples behaviour.

Anyone else or should I just hand my license in

[8IKERDAVE]

Reading all the comments it appears I'm definitely not the only one - I was expecting a good old PH flaming met with suggestions of "It's your fault there are roadworks you piece of scum! "

In all seriousness though, with these going on all over the UK on a daily basis there must be a fair few accidents reported when you consider how dangerous they are. Presumably statistics are swept upder the carpet for 'the greater good'.

[8IKERDAVE]

Randy Winkman said:

JagLover said:

Randy Winkman said:

What are dangerous, the roadworks or the 50mph limits? If it's the latter, would the roadworks be safer with the normal 70mph limit?

It is more the distance they can go on for. Why do roadworks need to be 15 miles long as they were in the M4 example?. It is that which creates the danger.

Slowing down for a mile or two isn't much of an issue.

Cheers. I agree - it breeds frustration. I guess the counterargument is that they can do the whole job quicker if they do it that way.

I think this is one of the main issues. I was on the M1 south yesterday and from J33 to J29 we were sat in the exact sitation I described originally. The road was too busy to do anything but just sit there and drive as defensively as possible.

In the 15 -20 miles travelled I saw absolutely zero activity in the roadworks so we are being put at completely unecessary risk. Why they can't work on 2 mile sections at once I don't know (well I do - it will be the cost).

Germany is different, you enter roadworks there for a few miles and theres a hive of constant activity. Through the section in 5 minutes and you're off again. No frustration, danger minimised and everyone is on their merry way!