Worse than Middle Lane Morons...

[Bing o]

...is the 40mph everywhere brigade.

I used to hate MLM's for their copmplete ignorance of road discipline and other traffic, the total subjugation to driving in any way that resembles the highway code, the "I've gota 250 mile drive so I will do 75 in the middle lane all the way" attitude to their journey.

I would say MLM's have been a constant irritant in the 10 years I have been driving - ie it's not a "new" phenomenon caused by scameras.

HOWEVER the 40mph everywhere brigade have sprung up in force in the same period IMHO. There is a local road that is well lit and skirts Bournemouth airport, it is an NSL, yet I am constantly stuck behind 40mph moron regardless of conditions - sunny, drizzle, night etc. Last night I overtook 8 cars in one go at a very constant 60-65mph, over a reasonable stretch of distance with good vision.I can only think that this is a result of the governments failed speed camera policy, "normal" drivers with 3 points on their license suddenly turn into rabbits?

My suggestion is to scrap the NSL signs, and instead replace them with what the NSL would be on that stretch of road (though I'm not sure how you could apply that to vehicles that have different NSL speeds (trailers IIRC?).

Would wonder if others share my observations/frustrations?

[7db]

If they're doing 40, then they are a lot easier to overtake than people doing 60...

[david_s]

My pet hate is unnecessary braking.

Every morning I drive to work along a twisty NSL B road and often get stuck behind someone who thinks 30mph is fast enough, which is bad enough but why on earth do they have to slow down to 15mph every time there is a bend in the road?

[Bing o]

7db said:

If they're doing 40, then they are a lot easier to overtake than people doing 60...

Not when youget a queue forming of either other 40 mphers or people unable/unwilling to overtake themselves.

Besides, if someone is doing 60, I usually won't overtake - I expect to be flamed but as long as the guy ahead is driving well, and I'm not due anywhere, I wouldn't go for it unless it was a long stretch of clear road.

My point about the 40 mph crew is that quite often the overtaking opportunities are limited/or when you can overtake, there is a queue of people coming the other way behind a 40mph moron...

I attribute this phenomenon to ten years of scameras personally...

[supermono]

In Norfolk we find they'll flash their lights as you overtake. Happened to me the other day on the bit of A505 east of Duxford just over the M11 junction (ok cmabridge, but he was on his way to Norfolk!). Just after the last roundabout before the s/c drag I passed someone crawling in the left lane ~200 yards before the d/c ended, and he honked and flashed.

These people are definitely more annoying than MLMs because these ones are actually deliberately wishing to obstruct you, rather than just being imbeciles without a clue. You know this to be true because they get all exercised when passed and you've "beaten them".

SM

[mattyb123]

I travel this road nearly everyday and i feel your pain!

Everytime i get stuck behind one i want to hurt their family, quite badly!

The worst part is when you overtake some of them they either speed up in the customary mannner or give you a flash of full beam and shake their head!

s the lot of them

[herewego]

mattyb123 said:

I travel this road nearly everyday and i feel your pain!

Everytime i get stuck behind one i want to hurt their family, quite badly!

The worst part is when you overtake some of them they either speed up in the customary mannner or give you a flash of full beam and shake their head!

s the lot of them

If there are a lot of them maybe they have a point. Maybe you don't need to overtake everybody.

[Bing o]

Please not another overtaking thread - I want to explore why people do it, and if it a result of scamera's or not!!

[herewego]

Here we have some people driving at the speed they thought was appropriate, but you didn't like it because you thought they should be driving at the limit? Also you want the limit to be highlighted to them so that they know they mustn't drive less than that.
If you think many are driving slower than they used to I’d guess it’s a combination of enforcement and advertising.

[Bing o]

herewego said:

Here we have some people driving at the speed they thought was appropriate, but you didn't like it because you thought they should be driving at the limit?

So it is appropriate for them to drive through a village at 40 mph, and then appropriate on a well lit SC NSL?

But yes, you are generally correct

herewego said:

Also you want the limit to be highlighted to them so that they know they mustn't drive less than that.

I honestly think that they don't know what the NSL is anymore - it's the only way I can explain the sheer volume of 40mphers these days - why not 45 or 52 or 68? It always seems to be a rigid 40, so I can only assume that they think the speed limit is 40.

herewego said:

If you think many are driving slower than they used to I’d guess it’s a combination of enforcement and advertising.

That's what I thought - is that what you think?

[vonhosen]

Bing o said:

Please not another overtaking thread - I want to explore why people do it, and if it a result of scamera's or not!!

Who knows in this case ?
May be that they don't want to drive at exactly the same pace as you. Perhaps the extra 20mph of progress was not as important as something else at that time, perhaps they thought it was fast enough for the conditions, perhaps the others didn't think it was safe to overtake & remain within the limit.

[vonhosen]

Bing o said:

I honestly think that they don't know what the NSL is anymore - it's the only way I can explain the sheer volume of 40mphers these days - why not 45 or 52 or 68? It always seems to be a rigid 40, so I can only assume that they think the speed limit is 40.

Perhaps they find it comfortable at that speed.
To be honest (as has been said) if I'm looking to be doing 60mph I'd rather them be doing 40 than 50, it's easier for me to pass.

[herewego]

Bing o said:

herewego said:

Here we have some people driving at the speed they thought was appropriate, but you didn't like it because you thought they should be driving at the limit?

So it is appropriate for them to drive through a village at 40 mph, and then appropriate on a well lit SC NSL?

But yes, you are generally correct

herewego said:

Also you want the limit to be highlighted to them so that they know they mustn't drive less than that.

I honestly think that they don't know what the NSL is anymore - it's the only way I can explain the sheer volume of 40mphers these days - why not 45 or 52 or 68? It always seems to be a rigid 40, so I can only assume that they think the speed limit is 40.

herewego said:

If you think many are driving slower than they used to I’d guess it’s a combination of enforcement and advertising.

That's what I thought - is that what you think?

I'd guess some people just feel comfortable driving at a steadyish speed rather than trying to push as fast as they can. I agree some people don't slow enough when they encounter a village or whatever.
Yes, that's what I think. i.e. not cameras specifically but generally getting the calmer driving message. Of course it could just be that the average driver is getting older and no longer feels the need for speed.

[freedman]

herewego said:

Bing o said:

herewego said:

Here we have some people driving at the speed they thought was appropriate, but you didn't like it because you thought they should be driving at the limit?

So it is appropriate for them to drive through a village at 40 mph, and then appropriate on a well lit SC NSL?

But yes, you are generally correct

herewego said:

Also you want the limit to be highlighted to them so that they know they mustn't drive less than that.

I honestly think that they don't know what the NSL is anymore - it's the only way I can explain the sheer volume of 40mphers these days - why not 45 or 52 or 68? It always seems to be a rigid 40, so I can only assume that they think the speed limit is 40.

herewego said:

If you think many are driving slower than they used to I’d guess it’s a combination of enforcement and advertising.

That's what I thought - is that what you think?

I'd guess some people just feel comfortable driving at a steadyish speed rather than trying to push as fast as they can. I agree some people don't slow enough when they encounter a village or whatever.
Yes, that's what I think. i.e. not cameras specifically but generally getting the calmer driving message. Of course it could just be that the average driver is getting older and no longer feels the need for speed.

Why is it that drivers likje these, appear to either, speed up whilst you are overtaking, or after you have, flash full beam at you, sound their horn??

All after you have overtaken them withn the limit in a perfectly safe manner

I would tend to agree with the OP that a lot of drivers have no concept what the NSL is especially on single track roads

[vonhosen]

freedman said:

herewego said:

Bing o said:

herewego said:

Here we have some people driving at the speed they thought was appropriate, but you didn't like it because you thought they should be driving at the limit?

So it is appropriate for them to drive through a village at 40 mph, and then appropriate on a well lit SC NSL?

But yes, you are generally correct

herewego said:

Also you want the limit to be highlighted to them so that they know they mustn't drive less than that.

I honestly think that they don't know what the NSL is anymore - it's the only way I can explain the sheer volume of 40mphers these days - why not 45 or 52 or 68? It always seems to be a rigid 40, so I can only assume that they think the speed limit is 40.

herewego said:

If you think many are driving slower than they used to I’d guess it’s a combination of enforcement and advertising.

That's what I thought - is that what you think?

I'd guess some people just feel comfortable driving at a steadyish speed rather than trying to push as fast as they can. I agree some people don't slow enough when they encounter a village or whatever.
Yes, that's what I think. i.e. not cameras specifically but generally getting the calmer driving message. Of course it could just be that the average driver is getting older and no longer feels the need for speed.

Why is it that drivers likje these, appear to either, speed up whilst you are overtaking, or after you have, flash full beam at you, sound their horn??

All after you have overtaken them withn the limit in a perfectly safe manner

I would tend to agree with the OP that a lot of drivers have no concept what the NSL is especially on single track roads

Perhaps they don't think that your overtaking is safe, you've judged it as so but they may not.

[Bing o]

herewego said:

Yes, that's what I think. i.e. not cameras specifically but generally getting the calmer driving message.

I have to agree to an extent - there were roads last night that even 2 years ago I would have been caning it down, but ironically now that I have a much faster/better performing car, I drive slower (within 10mph of the limit anyway) - I think it must be hitting 30 that does it!!

So is my assumption that they believe the NSL to be 40 unfounded then? I just wonder why so many people seem to choose exactly 40mph to travel at - it seems more than a coincidence?

I don't get the headlight flashing thing - not happened to me except where I have <nearly> cocked up an overtake.

[Bing o]

vonhosen said:

Perhaps they don't think that your overtaking is safe, you've judged it as so but they may not.

So they are such good drivers that they show their disgust at your overtaking by breaking one of three rules in the Highway Code.

Last time I looked, speeding up to block ovetaking drivers is not only against the HC, but also DWDC, using full beam in such a manner is also against the HC and DWDC, and sounding your horn is also not strictly by the book.

SO in summary, any driver who behaves like that is unlikely to be the best judge of appropriate driving behaviour, when their own is so poor?

[herewego]

freedman said:

herewego said:

Bing o said:

herewego said:

Here we have some people driving at the speed they thought was appropriate, but you didn't like it because you thought they should be driving at the limit?

So it is appropriate for them to drive through a village at 40 mph, and then appropriate on a well lit SC NSL?

But yes, you are generally correct

herewego said:

Also you want the limit to be highlighted to them so that they know they mustn't drive less than that.

I honestly think that they don't know what the NSL is anymore - it's the only way I can explain the sheer volume of 40mphers these days - why not 45 or 52 or 68? It always seems to be a rigid 40, so I can only assume that they think the speed limit is 40.

herewego said:

If you think many are driving slower than they used to I’d guess it’s a combination of enforcement and advertising.

That's what I thought - is that what you think?

I'd guess some people just feel comfortable driving at a steadyish speed rather than trying to push as fast as they can. I agree some people don't slow enough when they encounter a village or whatever.
Yes, that's what I think. i.e. not cameras specifically but generally getting the calmer driving message. Of course it could just be that the average driver is getting older and no longer feels the need for speed.

Why is it that drivers likje these, appear to either, speed up whilst you are overtaking, or after you have, flash full beam at you, sound their horn??

All after you have overtaken them withn the limit in a perfectly safe manner

I would tend to agree with the OP that a lot of drivers have no concept what the NSL is especially on single track roads

It has never happened to me so it may be a local tradition.

[vonhosen]

Bing o said:

vonhosen said:

Perhaps they don't think that your overtaking is safe, you've judged it as so but they may not.

So they are such good drivers that they show their disgust at your overtaking by breaking one of three rules in the Highway Code.

Last time I looked, speeding up to block ovetaking drivers is not only against the HC, but also DWDC, using full beam in such a manner is also against the HC and DWDC, and sounding your horn is also not strictly by the book.

SO in summary, any driver who behaves like that is unlikely to be the best judge of appropriate driving behaviour, when their own is so poor?

There's a lot of bad driving out there.
It's quite possible that you see what you're doing as OK, whilst what they are doing as not.
Conversely they see what you are doing as wrong, but their response as OK.

Look at collisions, how many times do both honestly believe it is completely the fault of the other party ?

By the sound of it you are willing to disregard some of the HC rules when it suits you (ie drive at a speed higher than the limit whe you consider it safe & appropriate) yet you are surprised when they wish to disregard some that they don't consider important such as headlamp flashing you or sounding the horn.

Edited by vonhosen on Monday 7th May 11:56

[Bing o]

vonhosen said:

There's a lot of bad driving out there.
It's quite possible that you see what you're doing as OK, whilst what they are doing as not.
Conversely they see what you are doing as wrong, but their response as OK.

Look at collisions, how many times do both honestly believe it is completely the fault of the other party ?

I don't get flashed or tooted or anything else except in situations where I can own up to making an error of judgement.

My argument is that if they can't fully apply the HC and the RTA then they have no right to comment on other's driving.

I have been involved in 4 collisions - one I was run off the road by a car that didn't stop, and I lost control and hit some railings. Second one I hit someone up the backside (ooer) caused by a pedestrian running in front of a bus, unsee by me, but lesson learnt, I didn't allow sufficient reaction.braking time - lesson learnt. 3 was a 50:50 collision with a bus, and 4 was a ped who ran out in front of my car. SO i have been at fault for two, and not at fault for two.

I am honest enough to own up to when I have done bad on the roads.

To add - so Von, how many people do you think have no idea what the NSL is, as opposed to those who choose 40mph as an appropriate speed?

Edited by Bing o on Monday 7th May 11:59