An epidemic of insanely slow drivers

[Wardy78]

Trixxz said:

I have the pleasure of Simister Island and the M62 every day - I am absolutely convinced, that Lorries, Vans, Cars are all convinced that Lane 1 is landmined or something. Most evenings coming home, I can sit in Lane 1 with 3 or 4 others and make good progress and wonder why 2 3 and 4 are either crawling at 30mph or completely stopped. Lets not even start with the people who ignore the lane closed ahead signs and insist on driving right up to the Red X lane closed and sometimes right through it. I see all sorts, lorry drivers eating breakfast off a plate at 56MPH, make up being applied, People head down on their phones.We never see anyone prosecuted for going too slow on Motorway, yet it is an offence.

My sister-in-law is a structural engineer. When studying she did a stint with a civil engineering firm which builds motorways, and as part of her project she had to map traffic usage, speed, volume etc - in order to construct each lane optimally.

In every test, lane 1 was overall the fastest when a low maximum speed was imposed (i.e., smart motorway/temporary limit). I don't believe her, so I tested it for a few weeks. Every time the traffic slowed down for a jam, I moved to Lane 1. I always moved ahead of the vehicles in lane 2/3/4.

[Goldfever4]

Wardy78 said:

Trixxz said:

I have the pleasure of Simister Island and the M62 every day - I am absolutely convinced, that Lorries, Vans, Cars are all convinced that Lane 1 is landmined or something. Most evenings coming home, I can sit in Lane 1 with 3 or 4 others and make good progress and wonder why 2 3 and 4 are either crawling at 30mph or completely stopped. Lets not even start with the people who ignore the lane closed ahead signs and insist on driving right up to the Red X lane closed and sometimes right through it. I see all sorts, lorry drivers eating breakfast off a plate at 56MPH, make up being applied, People head down on their phones.We never see anyone prosecuted for going too slow on Motorway, yet it is an offence.

My sister-in-law is a structural engineer. When studying she did a stint with a civil engineering firm which builds motorways, and as part of her project she had to map traffic usage, speed, volume etc - in order to construct each lane optimally.

In every test, lane 1 was overall the fastest when a low maximum speed was imposed (i.e., smart motorway/temporary limit). I don't believe her, so I tested it for a few weeks. Every time the traffic slowed down for a jam, I moved to Lane 1. I always moved ahead of the vehicles in lane 2/3/4.

Doesn't surprise me. I look where the lorries go, they seem to usually have a good idea of what will flow best where

[Magikarp]

Wardy78 said:

My sister-in-law is a structural engineer. When studying she did a stint with a civil engineering firm which builds motorways, and as part of her project she had to map traffic usage, speed, volume etc - in order to construct each lane optimally.

In every test, lane 1 was overall the fastest when a low maximum speed was imposed (i.e., smart motorway/temporary limit). I don't believe her, so I tested it for a few weeks. Every time the traffic slowed down for a jam, I moved to Lane 1. I always moved ahead of the vehicles in lane 2/3/4.

Bloody women eh? Never believe them - always carry out your own tests, just in case,

[Wardy78]

Magikarp said:

Wardy78 said:

My sister-in-law is a structural engineer. When studying she did a stint with a civil engineering firm which builds motorways, and as part of her project she had to map traffic usage, speed, volume etc - in order to construct each lane optimally.

In every test, lane 1 was overall the fastest when a low maximum speed was imposed (i.e., smart motorway/temporary limit). I don't believe her, so I tested it for a few weeks. Every time the traffic slowed down for a jam, I moved to Lane 1. I always moved ahead of the vehicles in lane 2/3/4.

Bloody women eh? Never believe them - always carry out your own tests, just in case,

Very funny. (except not.... this is exactly where people get hung, drawn and quartered for sexism despite it not being so )

[Mr Tidy]

Wardy78 said:

Very funny. (except not.... this is exactly where people get hung, drawn and quartered for sexism despite it not being so )

What's the problem? There has been plenty of ageism on here too!

[Dbag101]

There were a lot of dozy ditherers out today for sure. I was behind a small hatchback thing today, no idea really what it was, except that it was a Hyundai something or other, at a set of lights that are notoriously quick changing. The lights went green, and this raasclaat took so long to accelerate / move, the bloody lights changed before I got through. That is really bothersome.

[Goldfever4]

Did not enjoy being stuck in a queue following a tractor towing a bowser from Brecon to Bwlch earlier. Perfect conditions, loads of clear overtaking opportunities, no one took them. Shame we were in a slow vehicle 25+ cars back, I nearly died of old age

[littleredrooster]

Goldfever4 said:

Did not enjoy being stuck in a queue following a tractor towing a bowser from Brecon to Bwlch earlier. Perfect conditions, loads of clear overtaking opportunities, no one took them. Shame we were in a slow vehicle 25+ cars back, I nearly died of old age

Exactly the same situation on the A19 north of York t'other day. Fast-Trac tractor on his limiter at 30mph heading a large convoy with numerous (easy, safe) overtaking opportunities; no-one bothered, I was about car 20 in the queue so I had no chance.

Worse still was when the tractor turned off and the moron at the front of the queue then thought that the NSL for a standard single-carriageway was 50mph (so we were doing a genuine 46), so the convoy and frustration persisted. Dry, bright day, very quiet traffic, plenty of lay-byes so no excuses for either not making progress or getting out of the way.

[Pit Pony]

redrabbit29 said:

Stalin-Karmer said:

https://youtu.be/F0EOfKwcAd4?si=e7A4jIGQTk8oGW6z

Nice! That cyclist at 1:07 is asking for trouble on that road.

The one at 4:44 with the triple overtake - that drives me mad when there's a big queue of traffic held up by someone going slow. I see it a lot on dual carraigeways before an exit in about 2 miles time, where a car is doing 50-60mph on a very "fast" dual carraigeway, but has a huge tailback behind them.

Edited by redrabbit29 on Monday 17th February 10:02

This is not a cyclist hating post. I'm a cyclist myself. I have realised I don't understand other cyclists.
Yesterday it was a sunny spring Sunday and I was driving along a not too busy dual carriage way where the limit is 70. I came across cars moving to overtake a cyclist. Admittedly this cyclist was going faster than I could, but I don't imagine he was doing more than 20 mph.

I'm assuming he was cycling for pleasure.

When there is an alternative almost parallel route what would make anyone want to cycle on a dual carriageway? I spotted that there was something happening, because cars in front were braking, swerving into lane 2 and indicating their intentions to move to.lane 2 (in that order) from some distance away. They were all giving him appropriate space, but it doesn't seem like fun.

Here:

[Huntsman]

Jesus fking wept.

4 days of fog here and people are driving at 2 fking miles a fking week.

[bolidemichael]

I had the job of driving to Ilford from SW London on a Sunday — and through London to get there.

It infuriates me in that was once an efficient road network with wide lanes and prioritised traffic lights has now become the fetishistic outlet for a bunch of bureaucrats. Twenty four hour bus lanes, twenty mile an hour roads everywhere, few overtaking opportunities. It’s hell. bds.

[swisstoni]

bolidemichael said:

I had the job of driving to Ilford from SW London on a Sunday — and through London to get there.

It infuriates me in that was once an efficient road network with wide lanes and prioritised traffic lights has now become the fetishistic outlet for a bunch of bureaucrats. Twenty four hour bus lanes, twenty mile an hour roads everywhere, few overtaking opportunities. It’s hell. bds.

This is the reason I think roads need to come out of local authority control. They are national resources, not the plaything of local politicians.

[bolidemichael]

swisstoni said:

bolidemichael said:

I had the job of driving to Ilford from SW London on a Sunday — and through London to get there.

It infuriates me in that was once an efficient road network with wide lanes and prioritised traffic lights has now become the fetishistic outlet for a bunch of bureaucrats. Twenty four hour bus lanes, twenty mile an hour roads everywhere, few overtaking opportunities. It’s hell. bds.

This is the reason I think roads need to come out of local authority control. They are national resources, not the plaything of local politicians.

Absolutely. All that happens is that the ability to cover ground is continually degraded due to the localisation of decision making.

[bigothunter]

bolidemichael said:

swisstoni said:

bolidemichael said:

I had the job of driving to Ilford from SW London on a Sunday — and through London to get there.

It infuriates me in that was once an efficient road network with wide lanes and prioritised traffic lights has now become the fetishistic outlet for a bunch of bureaucrats. Twenty four hour bus lanes, twenty mile an hour roads everywhere, few overtaking opportunities. It’s hell. bds.

This is the reason I think roads need to come out of local authority control. They are national resources, not the plaything of local politicians.

Absolutely. All that happens is that the ability to cover ground is continually degraded due to the localisation of decision making.

Agreed

But politically, either there's vehement anti-car rhetoric or at best indifference.

The younger generations (sub-30) are largely disinterested in cars, viewing them as a necessary evil until replaced by alternative transport.

Labour's cancellation of road improvement projects has met almost no criticism.

Road maintenance has reached an all time low.

Journey times get slower and slower without objection from the vast majority of road users.


Anti-car lobby has won and their plan is working. The car has been relegated. Tough luck if you don't like it - go by train.

Edited by bigothunter on Tuesday 11th March 11:06

[bolidemichael]

bigothunter said:

bolidemichael said:

swisstoni said:

bolidemichael said:

I had the job of driving to Ilford from SW London on a Sunday — and through London to get there.

It infuriates me in that was once an efficient road network with wide lanes and prioritised traffic lights has now become the fetishistic outlet for a bunch of bureaucrats. Twenty four hour bus lanes, twenty mile an hour roads everywhere, few overtaking opportunities. It’s hell. bds.

This is the reason I think roads need to come out of local authority control. They are national resources, not the plaything of local politicians.

Absolutely. All that happens is that the ability to cover ground is continually degraded due to the localisation of decision making.

Agreed

But politically, either there's vehement anti-car rhetoric or at best indifference.

The younger generations (sub-30) are largely disinterested in cars, viewing them as a necessary evil until replaced by alternative transport.

Labour's cancellation of road improvement projects has met almost no criticism.

Road maintenance has reached an all time low.

Journey times get slower and slower without objection from the vast majority of road users.


Anti-car lobby has won and their the plan is working. The car has been relegated. Tough luck if you don't like it - go by train.

It's true. I hate it.

Part of my IAM bike group's soul searching is really 'what's the point?' when it's nigh on impossible to find national A roads in Surrey in which to train associates in making progress.

In fact, I can't even get started on bikes which are completely and utterly sidelined when it comes to any type of road improvements, whether that's continual solid white lines inappropriate for a mode of transport for whom manouevreability is paramount to being safe or reduced road space in favour of bicycles etc, thereby rendering flitering very dangerous and encouraging the dangerous but seductive practice of riding in empty cycle lanes in what was always know as the 'valley of death' i.e. the nearside of a single lane of vehicular traffic.

[Tigerj]

swisstoni said:

This is the reason I think roads need to come out of local authority control. They are national resources, not the plaything of local politicians.

But it’s central government’s funding arrangements which least to Local Authorities doing these schemes.

Say a LA wants to fun road improvements in their area. They create a scheme but then need to apply to central government to get the funding. Central government then turn around and say they won’t approve it unless it contains certain sustainability measures. This leads to the LA having to put in things like bike and bus lanes they know won’t be used but have to otherwise they won’t be able to fund the repairs the road needs.

If central government gave LA’s proper control over their budgets it probably would be better.

[Quadratica]

I'm a slow driver, always have been. I drive at 28-30, 35, 45 or 60 on roads with limits of 30, 40, 50 and 70 respectively. I just don't trust myself to drive faster. It would endanger me and others. 37 years driving without so much as a scrape.

Also, with the volume of traffic, cameras and other measures one hardly gains anything by 'pushing on'. I prefer to put the cruise control on at 55-60 in the left lane for 100 miles of the M40. If I tear away at 70-75, (increasing the probability of an accident each time I change lanes), I reach my destination stressed, poorer and about 20 mins sooner.

Edited by Quadratica on Wednesday 12th March 00:04

[RSTurboPaul]

Quadratica said:

I'm a slow driver, always have been. I drive at 28-30, 35, 45 or 60 on roads with limits of 30, 40, 50 and 70 respectively. I just don't trust myself to drive faster. It would endanger me and others. 37 years driving without so much as a scrape.

Also, with the volume of traffic, cameras and other measures one hardly gains anything by 'pushing on'. I prefer to put the cruise control on at 55-60 in the left lane for 100 miles of the M40. If I tear away at 70-75, (increasing the probability of an accident each time I change lanes), I reach my destination stressed, poorer and about 20 mins sooner.

Edited by Quadratica on Wednesday 12th March 00:04

Sounds like you need some training.

[wazztie16]

Quadratica said:

I'm a slow driver, always have been. I drive at 28-30, 35, 45 or 60 on roads with limits of 30, 40, 50 and 70 respectively. I just don't trust myself to drive faster. It would endanger me and others. 37 years driving without so much as a scrape.

Also, with the volume of traffic, cameras and other measures one hardly gains anything by 'pushing on'. I prefer to put the cruise control on at 55-60 in the left lane for 100 miles of the M40. If I tear away at 70-75, (increasing the probability of an accident each time I change lanes), I reach my destination stressed, poorer and about 20 mins sooner.

Edited by Quadratica on Wednesday 12th March 00:04

"37 years driving without so much as a scrape."

But you've seen plenty in front and in the rear view mirror

[Pit Pony]

RSTurboPaul said:

Quadratica said:

I'm a slow driver, always have been. I drive at 28-30, 35, 45 or 60 on roads with limits of 30, 40, 50 and 70 respectively. I just don't trust myself to drive faster. It would endanger me and others. 37 years driving without so much as a scrape.

Also, with the volume of traffic, cameras and other measures one hardly gains anything by 'pushing on'. I prefer to put the cruise control on at 55-60 in the left lane for 100 miles of the M40. If I tear away at 70-75, (increasing the probability of an accident each time I change lanes), I reach my destination stressed, poorer and about 20 mins sooner.

Edited by Quadratica on Wednesday 12th March 00:04

Sounds like you need some training.

I'll add.

Maybe glasses.

And that 35: You THINK you are doing in a 40. In my car that would be a true 32 mph as the speedo over reads by just under 10%.
Can you imagine the frustration of a more confident driver. Knows that he won't get a ticket if he's doing 42 mph on a road that used to be 60 mph. And then he meets 10 cars all following you, with no safe opportunity to overtake. I bet his piss is boiling.

So yes training. Skid pan training. Practice swerving and hard braking. It occurs to me that people imagine that cars will fall off the road if we get any force of G on cornering. In the dry with wide grippy tyres. It's not like cars handle like a morris marina 1300 automatic with ditchfinder branded tyres. Most have more grip than you'd ever be comfortable using and yet people don't know they are only using 10% of the capability.

Edited to add.

There's a statement made. One hardly gains by pushing on.
And then you say that you'd get their 20 mins faster.

That sounds like a gain to me.

It is actually quicker to just be in the right lane at the right time. I used to comute weekly to the Midlands from Merseyside. Without any stress or speeding I knew that I could get there in the optimum time. I knew in advance which lane would be moving quickest at what point. Coming off the motorway, knowing that there were 2 lanes going left and the right one of 2 would be empty could save 4 mins.

Edited by Pit Pony on Wednesday 12th March 07:35