Why do drivers do 30 in a 40 with a long queue behind?

[Vasco]

PF62 said:

Exactly.

When I visit relatives in Birmingham the speed limits appear to have no relationship to their surroundings. One area might have a 20mph limit, and an identical area 30mph, and yet another identical area 40mph.

And these limits appear to be constantly being amended as the speed limit indicator in my car based on TomTom data frequency disagrees with that in Google Maps and Apple Maps, one showing 30 and the other 40 - do I feel lucky today?

Now sure there are signs as you enter the 40mph zone, but given the limit can have changed several times along the same road within a few hundred meters, and the local authority puts the minimum number of repeaters so if you haven’t seen any for a while was it gone back to 30 and I missed the sign?

And then there is a special place in hell for the s who put a speed camera and signs telling me there are speed cameras, but don’t put a fking sign saying what the speed limit is!

Ordinary road signs for 20/30/40 have always seemed adequate for me and I haven't been done for speeding. Have you got too accustomed to relying on gadgets?

[anonymous-user]

PF62 said:

Exactly.

When I visit relatives in Birmingham the speed limits appear to have no relationship to their surroundings. One area might have a 20mph limit, and an identical area 30mph, and yet another identical area 40mph.

And these limits appear to be constantly being amended as the speed limit indicator in my car based on TomTom data frequency disagrees with that in Google Maps and Apple Maps, one showing 30 and the other 40 - do I feel lucky today?

Now sure there are signs as you enter the 40mph zone, but given the limit can have changed several times along the same road within a few hundred meters, and the local authority puts the minimum number of repeaters so if you haven’t seen any for a while was it gone back to 30 and I missed the sign?

And then there is a special place in hell for the s who put a speed camera and signs telling me there are speed cameras, but don’t put a fking sign saying what the speed limit is!

If there are no repeater signs and lamp posts, you are in a 30 MPH limit.

[Ardennes92]

Vasco said:

Because they are entitled to ?

Unless they are causing an obstruction, which a train of 12 other vehicles is

[snuffy]

Superleg48 said:

Worse is drivers doing 40 mph along a NSL stretch and then carrying on doing 40 mph when it becomes a 30mph limit. This happens all the time in Norfolk and drives me insane. Normally elderly drivers.

I used to work in Lancaster and have a 15 mile drive to/from my house. It was a combination of 60mph twisty roads, a couple of quite long 60mph dead straight roads where you could hit 150 if you wanted to and 4 or 5 tiny villages that were 30mph, but 20 was more realistic because of how narrow the roads became, especially having parked car.

However, for a lot of drives on my daily route, they only had one speed: A constant 40.

[Milkyway]

dvenman said:

Milkyway said:

Sometimes the varying 30 / 40 zones aren’t always clearly marked...

Aren't there speed limit signs at the start and end?

There is a Road near me, it’s about six miles, but the limit goes up & down between thirty & fifty... sometimes only for a short distance.
Even though I only use it occasionally, I’m wary of the speed limit.

[NS66]

Ardennes92 said:

Unless they are causing an obstruction, which a train of 12 other vehicles is

I often have a que of traffic behind me when I use my old Land Rover - speed is not its greatest asset neither is slowing down!! Whilst I am conscious I cant do modern speeds I do look for opportunities to allow the vehicles behind to pass as tractors do (should do).

When I am in a que behind a slower moving vehicle it doesnt worry or stress me I just look for an opportunity to pass.

Why does this world need to be at 100mph all the time, chill out and we will all get to our destinations at some point and less stressed as well.

[Cascade360]

Tbh that isn't what annoys me. People can drive at whatever speed they like. You can overtake.

What really annoys me is the people following them at the same speed, who leave no gap in between but have no intention of overtaking. So you have almost no chance of overtaking either, as it is rare you get enough space to do a safe two or three car overtake ...

[PF62]

Vasco said:

Ordinary road signs for 20/30/40 have always seemed adequate for me and I haven't been done for speeding. Have you got too accustomed to relying on gadgets?

No. It was to explain that the limits are changed so frequently that even the mapping companies cannot keep up.

[PF62]

jsf said:

If there are no repeater signs and lamp posts, you are in a 30 MPH limit.

Until you eventually come across a 40mph repeater, and then you are not.

The point being if you have missed the initial 40mph sign because of the frequent changes, then you won’t know for some time whether you are in a 30 zone or something else.

[anonymous-user]

PF62 said:

jsf said:

If there are no repeater signs and lamp posts, you are in a 30 MPH limit.

Until you eventually come across a 40mph repeater, and then you are not.

The point being if you have missed the initial 40mph sign because of the frequent changes, then you won’t know for some time whether you are in a 30 zone or something else.

Try paying attention, but even if you don't, you should only be a few hundred metres from a repeater sign, unless you are in a lit zone, which is mandatory 30 limit unless signed otherwise.

You should find section 8 useful.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/governmen...

especially table 8-4

[TTmonkey]

I was doing 50 odd in a NSL zone the other day and my wife asked if I was ok, thought I was having a stroke or something.


It’s a limit nit a target, some people are just not in a hurry or perhaps have other reasons not to drive at the limit.


But if they are in a honda Jazz and wearing a hat whilst driving, then that’s the answer.

[Dashnine]

I think the point is that the 40mph gang are doing 40 in a 30, having been doing 40 in a 60.

So it’s not a matter of erring on the side of caution, or taking a few minutes more to arrive at their destination - they’re speeding in a 30 when previously dawdling in a 60.

[TTmonkey]

Dashnine said:

I think the point is that the 40mph gang are doing 40 in a 30, having been doing 40 in a 60.

So it’s not a matter of erring on the side of caution, or taking a few minutes more to arrive at their destination - they’re speeding in a 30 when previously dawdling in a 60.

The OP didn’t bring this issue up. That’s s thread hijack.

[Biker9090]

Milkyway said:

Sometimes the varying 30 / 40 zones aren’t always clearly marked... so sometimes it’s best to err on the side of caution.
Ten mph difference isn’t exactly the end of the World.

Christ it's really not difficult to work out the bloody limit. It's lack of awareness at best and pure stupidity otherwise.

[Vipers]

ScoobyChris said:

Overtake?

Chris

My first thought, just overtake.

[Oilchange]

Glenn63 said:

I don’t get this behaviour when on a motorway, massive long line of cars doing 50mph in lane 2 when 1 and 3 are both empty.

Then simply do 70 in lane one and the world's your lobster.

[PF62]

jsf said:

PF62 said:

jsf said:

If there are no repeater signs and lamp posts, you are in a 30 MPH limit.

Until you eventually come across a 40mph repeater, and then you are not.

The point being if you have missed the initial 40mph sign because of the frequent changes, then you won’t know for some time whether you are in a 30 zone or something else.

Try paying attention, but even if you don't, you should only be a few hundred metres from a repeater sign, unless you are in a lit zone, which is mandatory 30 limit unless signed otherwise.

You should find section 8 useful.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/governmen...

especially table 8-4

‘Should’ but often isn’t.

[anonymous-user]

PF62 said:

‘Should’ but often isn’t.

I've not found it an issue in the last 40 years.

[PF62]

jsf said:

PF62 said:

‘Should’ but often isn’t.

I've not found it an issue in the last 40 years.

Aren’t you the lucky one.

[Johnnytheboy]

Vipers said:

ScoobyChris said:

Overtake?

Chris

My first thought, just overtake.

Yes, that would solve the problem of being stuck behind someone slow.

This may be a bit out there, but maybe it isn't always possible?