increase in cars doing 50 mph on motorways

[car crazy]

I drive a 44 ton artic and recently seem to be spending more and more time in the middle lane on motorways overtaking cars doing 45- 50 mph in the inside lane. It has become more common since the fuel has become dearer. I'm sure it annoys faster car drivers as they go round me. What is the answer is it time for a 60mph minimum speed limit for cars on motorways?

[Humper]

I know what you mean, seems like 70mph is unobtainable nowadays. TBH its not the 45/50 muppets that get me, its the 55.5 ones.

[car crazy]

They cant be saving that much fuel either, just annoying people and making the motorways more dangerous

[Cock Womble 7]

It's the ones that speed up because they can't bear the thought of being overtaken by a lorry that get on my tits.

[car crazy]

Cock Womble 7 said:

It's the ones that speed up because they can't bear the thought of being overtaken by a lorry that get on my tits.

That's a good point well put, I've come across a few of them between Kettering and grangemouth today

[BarnatosGhost]

car crazy said:

They cant be saving that much fuel either, just annoying people and making the motorways more dangerous

Whilst I agree they are annoying people and making motorways more dangerous, they are saving a HUGE amount of fuel.

Perhaps not as much as tailgating a HGV at 56 though.

[rumple]

Got to laugh at this thread, but only when im not in a truck, had this today, from leicester to nottingham, busy m1, 44 and a bit tonnes lol, 480 daf, golf estate, everytime i tried to overtake, either traffic slowed or i hit a hill, funny how these little things can really wind you up

[car crazy]

rumple said:

Got to laugh at this thread, but only when im not in a truck, had this today, from leicester to nottingham, busy m1, 44 and a bit tonnes lol, 480 daf, golf estate, everytime i tried to overtake, either traffic slowed or i hit a hill, funny how these little things can really wind you up

A1 was a pain in the arbe today Peterborough to scotch corner 2 lanes fairly hilly lots of fuel savers and fully Laden trucks trying to get past them on hills. I only had 8 ton of freezers and dishwashers on today with 480 ho I should have been at 56 mph all day, and breath

[simoid]

BarnatosGhost said:

...they are saving a HUGE amount of fuel.

Compared to what? At 45 mph you're likely to save fuel in most cars by speeding up

I'm not a trucker, but I do a fair few motorway miles and one of my pet hates is cars forcing HGVs out of lane 1 at 50 odd mph.

[powerstroke]

rumple said:

Got to laugh at this thread, but only when im not in a truck, had this today, from leicester to nottingham, busy m1, 44 and a bit tonnes lol, 480 daf, golf estate, everytime i tried to overtake, either traffic slowed or i hit a hill, funny how these little things can really wind you up

Yes the bastweards very anoying if you let it get to you , my piss boiler is moving to lane 2 to let some muppet on the motorway then they match your speed or undertake
nearly removing the passinger side step

[BarnatosGhost]

simoid said:

BarnatosGhost said:

...they are saving a HUGE amount of fuel.

Compared to what? At 45 mph you're likely to save fuel in most cars by speeding up

I'm not a trucker, but I do a fair few motorway miles and one of my pet hates is cars forcing HGVs out of lane 1 at 50 odd mph.

Compared to going faster. As long as you're at least at, say, 1500rpm in top, going faster will cost more in fuel.

I'm not arguing for it, but it isn't a pointless activity.

Edited by BarnatosGhost on Friday 13th April 22:31

[rumple]

Cock Womble 7 said:

It's the ones that speed up because they can't bear the thought of being overtaken by a lorry that get on my tits.

What about the tossers that pull out on you, plod along at 25mph , when youve lost all your momentum, they fking wake up and sod off

[simoid]

BarnatosGhost said:

Compared to going faster. As long as your at least, say, 1500rpm in top, going faster will cost more in fuel.

I'm not arguing for it, but it isn't a pointless activity.

I know it varies car by car, but I'd say the majority of cars driven by these numpties would probably save fuel by driving faster than 45 mph, as most cars are most fuel efficient at 50 odd mph.

But yes, I know you're not on their side

[BarnatosGhost]

simoid said:

BarnatosGhost said:

Compared to going faster. As long as your at least, say, 1500rpm in top, going faster will cost more in fuel.

I'm not arguing for it, but it isn't a pointless activity.

I know it varies car by car, but I'd say the majority of cars driven by these numpties would probably save fuel by driving faster than 45 mph, as most cars are most fuel efficient at 50 odd mph.

But yes, I know you're not on their side

Why would 50 odd be more efficient than 45, if we can assume the car isn't labouring at the lower speed?

[Olivera]

I'm all for a minimum speed limit of 56mph on the motorway for passenger cars in good conditions.

[Panda76]

Cock Womble 7 said:

It's the ones that speed up because they can't bear the thought of being overtaken by a lorry that get on my tits.

They need a bit of "persuasion" to back out if it.The indicator and air horns can help them see the error of their ways.Some need a little extra encouragement to back off.

[philmots]

I'd like to see a 60mph minimum tbh.. I often plod along the motorway in my car at 60mph when I cant be bothered or in no rush etc just to cut back in fuel. I'll not go under 60 though for this exact reason.

Worse is slip roads. Don't even get me started on that. I reckon I have a car have to take to the hard shoulder once a fortnight as they just don't look when joining.

[simoid]

BarnatosGhost said:

Why would 50 odd be more efficient than 45, if we can assume the car isn't labouring at the lower speed?

If the marginal improvements in engine efficiency outweigh the marginal increase in drag.

I'm not saying all cars are better off at 50 than 45, just that slowing down to 45 is unlikely to be saving car drivers 'huge amounts' of fuel. It's likely to be a small saving, if any at all.

Pretty sure my Clio is best above 50, and that's quite short geared.

YMMV as they say

[chris182]

When I'm in my barge I often go at 56mph, because going slower is more economical and relaxing, but I don't think cars should go slower than the HGVs. I still end up overtaking some people though, so I can see that would be irritating in a HGV.

[philmots]

What i find is most who are sat at a constant 50mph or similar are well aware what they're doing so when you pass them they flash you back in... No issue passing them, only the same as passing another HGV.

It's the ones that are sat at around 50mph then you go to pass them they put their foot down and leave you hanging so have to pull back in. Half a mile down the road you've caught them up again. Repeat process. Drives me mental tbh.