Hazards of sticking to the speed limit - Advice ?
Discussion
I drive regularly on the M25 around the Surrey section, junctions 10 to M3, Heathrow or M4. When the variable speed limit is in operation I tend to stick to the limit, whether is be 30, 40, 50 or 60 mph. It's generally there for good reason and I see no reason to defy that. I use the inside lane as a matter of course and use the other three lanes only to overtake.
I am however getting rather sick and tired of running on the limit, say 50 in a 50mph zone with lorries, vans and other "larger" road users inches from my rear number plate. The other day I had an articulated lorry trying to get into the boot of my car. He was clearly very frustrated, flashing lights, sounding his horn etc and so close I could count individual bugs on his radiator grill. The sad thing is, this is not at all uncommon. What's the advice from the traffic police in this situation ? The options appear to be accelerate away from the situation and risk prosecution, pull over onto the hard shoulder, which can't exactly be legitimate or hang in there and risk a little unwelcome exchanging of paint. Or worse. (Remember I'm in the inside lane on the speed limit). Any suggestions welcome, particularly from the "pros".
many thanks
T4
I am however getting rather sick and tired of running on the limit, say 50 in a 50mph zone with lorries, vans and other "larger" road users inches from my rear number plate. The other day I had an articulated lorry trying to get into the boot of my car. He was clearly very frustrated, flashing lights, sounding his horn etc and so close I could count individual bugs on his radiator grill. The sad thing is, this is not at all uncommon. What's the advice from the traffic police in this situation ? The options appear to be accelerate away from the situation and risk prosecution, pull over onto the hard shoulder, which can't exactly be legitimate or hang in there and risk a little unwelcome exchanging of paint. Or worse. (Remember I'm in the inside lane on the speed limit). Any suggestions welcome, particularly from the "pros".
many thanks
T4
, im sure theyll back off then. 
Intstall video in your car. Catch the offenders number plate and then pan round to your speedo and the speed restriction in force. Send it off to the police and demand the they get banned for dangerous driving stating that "Speed Kills" and enclosing all associated legislation and discusion documents about the Scamera Partnerships. Ask for a written reply about what the police will do and what advice they have on how to deal with that situation.
_Al_ said:
Munta, a normal speedo isn't an accepted legal means of determining speed, but the rear-facing camera idea may have a bit more weight...
I also tend to follow the limits, though I've never had any stress over it. People just overtake me.
It is not acceptable to prove speeding but with the distance of the lorry behind you, the speed of the other traffic and the speed limit in force, it should be acceptable to prove dangerous driving
T4R said:
I drive regularly on the M25 around the Surrey section, junctions 10 to M3, Heathrow or M4.
T4
I do exactly the same journey twice a day. God knows what I did in a previous life but it must have been very very evil indeed to warrant this kind of punishment.
I get exactly the same response you are talking about too, so on the bright side at least it's not just you
Last week had a Saab so far inside the boot of the Elise that I felt I should just be able to lean back and change the volume on the stereo. Muppet, it isn't as though there's anywhere to go as the road is always chokka with traffic. My solution is same as Ted's just lift off a little and then after a 5mph dip just ease back on the throttle to get back up to the limit. The other thing that really really pisses these people off is to leave a resonable distance to the car in front i.e. one that you feel comfortable with if you get the old slam on the anchors moment. They seem to feel that any gap over 3 feet is 3 feet too many.
Chris
T4R said:
I am however getting rather sick and tired of running on the limit, say 50 in a 50mph zone with lorries, vans and other "larger" road users inches from my rear number plate. The other day I had an articulated lorry trying to get into the boot of my car. He was clearly very frustrated, flashing lights, sounding his horn etc and so close I could count individual bugs on his radiator grill. The sad thing is, this is not at all uncommon. What's the advice from the traffic police in this situation ? The options appear to be accelerate away from the situation and risk prosecution, pull over onto the hard shoulder, which can't exactly be legitimate or hang in there and risk a little unwelcome exchanging of paint. Or worse. (Remember I'm in the inside lane on the speed limit). Any suggestions welcome, particularly from the "pros".T4
When you pull into L1, choose carefully who you pull in front of. If he's showing no sign of tailgating anyone else, why would he suddenly start tailgating you?
If you still end up with a problem behind, overtake until you are in a nice safe gap. See also this Safe Speed page:
www.safespeed.org.uk/tailgate.html
Best Regards,
Paul Smith
Safe Speed
www.safespeed.org.uk
safespeed said:
When you pull into L1, choose carefully who you pull in front of. If he's showing no sign of tailgating anyone else, why would he suddenly start tailgating you?
If you still end up with a problem behind, overtake until you are in a nice safe gap. See also this Safe Speed page:
www.safespeed.org.uk/tailgate.html
Best Regards,
Paul Smith
Safe Speed
www.safespeed.org.uk
Sorry to pick up on a small point Paul but if I remember correctly T4R said that he is sticking to the speed limit within any area prone to enforcement therefore overtaking (and thus increasing speed) could ask for trouble from a non-discretionary (sp?) speed camera? So this option may not be open.
P.S - I'm not angling for a fight by the way, just gaining the best advice poss.
nigelbasson said:
If you still end up with a problem behind, overtake until you are in a nice safe gap.
Sorry to pick up on a small point Paul but if I remember correctly T4R said that he is sticking to the speed limit within any area prone to enforcement therefore overtaking (and thus increasing speed) could ask for trouble from a non-discretionary (sp?) speed camera? So this option may not be open.
Sure. Care and discretion may be required. All the more reason to choose your "rearguard" well in the first place.
Best Regards,
Paul Smith
Safe Speed
www.safespeed.org.uk
Thanks for responses so far chaps.
The problem with slowing down IMHO is that it may have several undesirable consequences;
a) Driver behind not paying attention (e.g. catching up with a little cross-stitch)and I get hit.
b) Worse still, driver reacts late and swerves into another lane and other vehicles
c) Driver gets even more angry (and hits everyone)
Very often, and the reason for the limit is the traffic is extremely heavy with no gaps, (and no escape route other than the hard shoulder). Lanes two, three and four may be travelling at the same speed or occasionally slower so there's no incentive or possibility he can overtake easily, if at all. It's also very difficult to spot potential tail-gaters when joining at a busy junction when all traffic is at crawling pace or slower.
(In a completely different situation, I had an instance a couple of years ago, when driving around the Swindon by-pass where I had a Peugeot 406 tail-gating me for no reason. I was in the inside lane, with virtually no traffic on the road. I ended up driving at over 100 mph, but the guy was still on my tail. If I slowed to 60 he did the same. Eventually I was pulled by a VASCAR unit, averaging 108mph over a half mile. The Trafpol and I had a bit of a chat, and he then apologised for pulling me over and congratulated me on my driving, particularly indication and lane discipline (!) vowing to get the "gentlemen" (not his words)in the Peugeot prosecuted. I never heard anything else.)
The problem with slowing down IMHO is that it may have several undesirable consequences;
a) Driver behind not paying attention (e.g. catching up with a little cross-stitch)and I get hit.
b) Worse still, driver reacts late and swerves into another lane and other vehicles
c) Driver gets even more angry (and hits everyone)
Very often, and the reason for the limit is the traffic is extremely heavy with no gaps, (and no escape route other than the hard shoulder). Lanes two, three and four may be travelling at the same speed or occasionally slower so there's no incentive or possibility he can overtake easily, if at all. It's also very difficult to spot potential tail-gaters when joining at a busy junction when all traffic is at crawling pace or slower.
(In a completely different situation, I had an instance a couple of years ago, when driving around the Swindon by-pass where I had a Peugeot 406 tail-gating me for no reason. I was in the inside lane, with virtually no traffic on the road. I ended up driving at over 100 mph, but the guy was still on my tail. If I slowed to 60 he did the same. Eventually I was pulled by a VASCAR unit, averaging 108mph over a half mile. The Trafpol and I had a bit of a chat, and he then apologised for pulling me over and congratulated me on my driving, particularly indication and lane discipline (!) vowing to get the "gentlemen" (not his words)in the Peugeot prosecuted. I never heard anything else.)
safespeed said:
Sure. Care and discretion may be required. All the more reason to choose your "rearguard" well in the first place.
Best Regards,
Paul Smith
Safe Speed
www.safespeed.org.uk
That and fitting rear facing machine guns?
safespeed said:
When you pull into L1, choose carefully who you pull in front of. If you still end up with a problem behind, overtake until you are in a nice safe gap.
Paul, good idea and one I use on many occasions on the M25. You know how vulnerable you feel in a low car with other idiots becoming more wound up, easier to get out of trouble. the only issue I normally run into is the road is so full of traffic it's difficult to find an opportunity to nip out and then back into a safe spot.
Chris
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff