An epidemic of insanely slow drivers
Discussion
I recently had one sitting at 25mph in a 60 limit, the driver in front of me was was on its arse trying to persuade them to get a move on...why people drive at this speed I don't know.
What really gets me is when you see someone dawdling and a big line of traffic behind and nobody will overtake...I am nearly chewing the steering wheel watching this going on.
What really gets me is when you see someone dawdling and a big line of traffic behind and nobody will overtake...I am nearly chewing the steering wheel watching this going on.
Tom8 said:
theplayingmantis said:
Caddyshack said:
LARK F1 GTR said:
I've suddenly had an imaginary 20 MPH limit rolled out. I managed to go over a couple of speed humps the other day behind a Vauxhall Adam mooching along at 12 MPH. I had enough of that so I over took them and drove normally.
And a big shout out to the idiots between Thurrock & Rainham who think that NSL is 35 MPH. It f
king well isn't!! They don't speed up when it's NSL or even get to 40 when it goes back down again.
Hindhead tunnel shows NSL and it s a dual carriageway with central reservation (actually a huge tunnel wall) but as it s an average speed camera area people don t know their rules and drive through at an exact 60 .i wouldn t mind if they moved to the left as they should and got out of the way for people who know they can do 70 but they hog the outside lane. And a big shout out to the idiots between Thurrock & Rainham who think that NSL is 35 MPH. It f
king well isn't!! They don't speed up when it's NSL or even get to 40 when it goes back down again. I undertook on my motorbike recently after a I flashed as someone was doing 55 outside lane with clear inside and he went a bit mad flashing as I made off for quite some time and still hogging that lane with other drivers backing up behind him. I only flashed him once as a wake up, waited, then moved left and slowly went past with a Paddington bear stare.
if its someone who has moved right to overtake something in the distance (probably as they have acc on and don't want it to kick in needlessly!) and has ample opportunity to move over then back out again to let faster traffic past (the wait your turn mob, even though they could and should move left then out again, usually a bloke of a certain age - obviously not an issue if the vehicle cannot do the limit - HGV for example) and undertaking is not a 'safe' option (but them moving left and then back out would easily still be), then i leave the indicator on rather than flash.
in this scenario more umbrage will be taken by some who are lazy, as they are notionally in the OT lane for a reason, albeit either needlessly early, or they cant be bothered to move in then out again whilst overtaking a spaced out train of vehicles.
if its someone going absolutely know where speed matching what they are overtaking, which I've experienced a couple of times on the a30 and a12 recenetly, they get the full beams after a while. usually they are on the phone or fiddling with something and often 'professional' drivers...
TikTak said:
Red9zero said:
The0perator said:
xx99xx said:
Do you find flashing your lights at people 'works'?
Never it just makes them double downIf someone is stupid enough to brake check you I think they will do it whether you flash quickly once or multiple times though. It's a very type of special to brake check someone.
The right indicator is less aggressive than a flash but tends to go unnoticed or not understood.
Clad-Hach said:
I recently had one sitting at 25mph in a 60 limit, the driver in front of me was was on its arse trying to persuade them to get a move on...why people drive at this speed I don't know.
What really gets me is when you see someone dawdling and a big line of traffic behind and nobody will overtake...I am nearly chewing the steering wheel watching this going on.
Absolutely! Many moons ago, when I was taught to drive, consideration for other road users was a theme. If not looking to overtake, it was good practise to leave plenty of space in front so that a following vehicle could overtake. I guess it was more of an issue back then when so many cars were underpowered and there was a gulf of performance between, say, a big Jag and a Mini.What really gets me is when you see someone dawdling and a big line of traffic behind and nobody will overtake...I am nearly chewing the steering wheel watching this going on.
Ahh, them good old days....(forgetting sliding/winding windows, wet electrics, dismal headlights, etc, etc.)
xx99xx said:
The0perator said:
Never it just makes them double down
Precisely. So why do it?!I certainly wouldn't speed up just because someone was tailgating me flashing their lights as I'm never massively under a speed limit to be causing a nuisance. I wouldn't slow down either though.
mobile chicane22 said:
M4cruiser said:
I think know that road (goes to tot hill services IIRC), 60-70 appears to be the default speed of most who drive down there, I tend to stick to about the 50 limit as there are a few hidden driveways and bambi and co have a habit of playing chicken on it as well.
- The B4640 heading south towards the A34 - https://maps.app.goo.gl/B6H5M3r4AQmwxDYeAmobile chicane22 said:
I have also overtaken (on a bike) a line of cars following an oxygen thief doing no more than 25 along there, clear day no obstructions, as I passed the 02 tea leaf I did notice a large mobile phone or some kind of sat nav stuck slap bang in the middle of their windscreen.
The amount of distracting electronic gadgetry/infotainment in modern vehicles doesn't help either. Too busy scrolling through menus instread of concentrating on what's going on outside.silencepoint said:
Yes.
But there's a trick on how you do it. A polite quick single flash on the beams and people are likely to move left and let you pass. However, if you just hold them on full beam then people usually tend to double down and hold the lane OR slow down further or brake check.
In my case, if a quick flash causes them to double down then they get the full beams until they move out the way. Or if possible I will always undertake them and get on with it.
Flashing your lights when behind people isn't "polite" - it's aggressive. You are impatient, that's all. But there's a trick on how you do it. A polite quick single flash on the beams and people are likely to move left and let you pass. However, if you just hold them on full beam then people usually tend to double down and hold the lane OR slow down further or brake check.
In my case, if a quick flash causes them to double down then they get the full beams until they move out the way. Or if possible I will always undertake them and get on with it.
I bet you wouldn't flash a police car that was driving in front of you at a speed slower than you would like, so why do it to other motorists?
theplayingmantis said:
Do you find yourself flashed often? Who mentioned tailgating?
Not often, maybe about once a year and it's more likely on a motorway. The last time it occurred I was in lane 1 (of 4) at 60mph and the flasher was just too lazy to overtake as his exit was coming up about half a mile away. Hence I just ignore it.I mentioned tailgating - because whenever I see cars getting the impatient flash (usually from my relaxing vantage point of lane 1), the impatient car is more often than not tailgating or has been/is about to, as the flashing hasn't had the desired result.
SpeedBash said:
BBC can't even spell brake correctly. theplayingmantis said:
Tom8 said:
theplayingmantis said:
Caddyshack said:
LARK F1 GTR said:
I've suddenly had an imaginary 20 MPH limit rolled out. I managed to go over a couple of speed humps the other day behind a Vauxhall Adam mooching along at 12 MPH. I had enough of that so I over took them and drove normally.
And a big shout out to the idiots between Thurrock & Rainham who think that NSL is 35 MPH. It fking well isn't!! They don't speed up when it's NSL or even get to 40 when it goes back down again.
Hindhead tunnel shows NSL and it s a dual carriageway with central reservation (actually a huge tunnel wall) but as it s an average speed camera area people don t know their rules and drive through at an exact 60 .i wouldn t mind if they moved to the left as they should and got out of the way for people who know they can do 70 but they hog the outside lane. And a big shout out to the idiots between Thurrock & Rainham who think that NSL is 35 MPH. It f
king well isn't!! They don't speed up when it's NSL or even get to 40 when it goes back down again. I undertook on my motorbike recently after a I flashed as someone was doing 55 outside lane with clear inside and he went a bit mad flashing as I made off for quite some time and still hogging that lane with other drivers backing up behind him. I only flashed him once as a wake up, waited, then moved left and slowly went past with a Paddington bear stare.
if its someone who has moved right to overtake something in the distance (probably as they have acc on and don't want it to kick in needlessly!) and has ample opportunity to move over then back out again to let faster traffic past (the wait your turn mob, even though they could and should move left then out again, usually a bloke of a certain age - obviously not an issue if the vehicle cannot do the limit - HGV for example) and undertaking is not a 'safe' option (but them moving left and then back out would easily still be), then i leave the indicator on rather than flash.
in this scenario more umbrage will be taken by some who are lazy, as they are notionally in the OT lane for a reason, albeit either needlessly early, or they cant be bothered to move in then out again whilst overtaking a spaced out train of vehicles.
if its someone going absolutely know where speed matching what they are overtaking, which I've experienced a couple of times on the a30 and a12 recenetly, they get the full beams after a while. usually they are on the phone or fiddling with something and often 'professional' drivers...
Clad-Hach said:
I recently had one sitting at 25mph in a 60 limit, the driver in front of me was was on its arse trying to persuade them to get a move on...why people drive at this speed I don't know.
What really gets me is when you see someone dawdling and a big line of traffic behind and nobody will overtake...I am nearly chewing the steering wheel watching this going on.
The other common issue with not overtaking is keeping a huge distance between the slow vehicle and the car which should overtake. Followed a tractor last night and the Honda Jazz two cars ahead would not get closer than say 50m. Car behind wouldn't overtake either so no one has a chance unless you come across a long extended straight.What really gets me is when you see someone dawdling and a big line of traffic behind and nobody will overtake...I am nearly chewing the steering wheel watching this going on.
I love reading this thread, but now must add myself due to the Road Zombies just this morning.
Following white Suzuki SUV in a 50mph limit who just decides to take foot off throttle about 1/4 mile from upcoming junction, why use the brakes to tell anyone who might be following your slowing down.
Then they turn off same direction as I am going. They accelerate very slowly then seem to wiggle a bit, we have a flash of main beam (from them), then all lights off, then back on again (new to the car?) then they brake to 25mph for a bend (this is in a 60mph zone). Thankfully their slow speed made the overtake easy for me on the straight after the bend even for my 1.4T to accomplish.
Then in a 30mph zone the car behind catches me quickly, considering I am doing 30mph. So (unfortunately) I am already thinking d*ck. And sure enough when we get on the 60mph with have them in limpet mode on my bumper (why do people think wet weather is if your windscreen needs clearing and not that the fking road is wet).
I pull into a layby to let them pass, which is handy as just up the road is this old boy in a 03 blue Fiesta who just drives at 40mph and is the type of driver that if I hint to become - book me a 1 way ticket to that place in Switzerland.
After I get back onto the 60mph road I then catch a Hyundai SUV rank Road Captain. I think his/her car forgot to tell them they had exited the earlier 40mph zone as they again were going 40 in a 60. Then at the short stretch of dual carriageway (no central barrier so 60) they rapidly accelerate to over 60mph and make progress.
The old boy in the blue Fiesta is very annoying. I think this is the 3rd time I've met him. The first he was 3 cars ahead and both the other cars made bad overtakes with on coming cars, but when you get frustrated you make silly choices. Thankfully on that occasion my overtake opportunity (and basically the last for 6miles) was on same stretch as this morning's Suzuki and was clear.
And relax, your now at work
Following white Suzuki SUV in a 50mph limit who just decides to take foot off throttle about 1/4 mile from upcoming junction, why use the brakes to tell anyone who might be following your slowing down.
Then they turn off same direction as I am going. They accelerate very slowly then seem to wiggle a bit, we have a flash of main beam (from them), then all lights off, then back on again (new to the car?) then they brake to 25mph for a bend (this is in a 60mph zone). Thankfully their slow speed made the overtake easy for me on the straight after the bend even for my 1.4T to accomplish.
Then in a 30mph zone the car behind catches me quickly, considering I am doing 30mph. So (unfortunately) I am already thinking d*ck. And sure enough when we get on the 60mph with have them in limpet mode on my bumper (why do people think wet weather is if your windscreen needs clearing and not that the f
king road is wet).I pull into a layby to let them pass, which is handy as just up the road is this old boy in a 03 blue Fiesta who just drives at 40mph and is the type of driver that if I hint to become - book me a 1 way ticket to that place in Switzerland.
After I get back onto the 60mph road I then catch a Hyundai SUV rank Road Captain. I think his/her car forgot to tell them they had exited the earlier 40mph zone as they again were going 40 in a 60. Then at the short stretch of dual carriageway (no central barrier so 60) they rapidly accelerate to over 60mph and make progress.
The old boy in the blue Fiesta is very annoying. I think this is the 3rd time I've met him. The first he was 3 cars ahead and both the other cars made bad overtakes with on coming cars, but when you get frustrated you make silly choices. Thankfully on that occasion my overtake opportunity (and basically the last for 6miles) was on same stretch as this morning's Suzuki and was clear.
And relax, your now at work
xx99xx said:
Not often, maybe about once a year and it's more likely on a motorway. The last time it occurred I was in lane 1 (of 4) at 60mph and the flasher was just too lazy to overtake as his exit was coming up about half a mile away. Hence I just ignore it.
I mentioned tailgating - because whenever I see cars getting the impatient flash (usually from my relaxing vantage point of lane 1), the impatient car is more often than not tailgating or has been/is about to, as the flashing hasn't had the desired result.
The flash is not asking anyone to speed up. It is a wake up call that you are behind and they are in the outside lane when the inside is clear and they should have moved over.I mentioned tailgating - because whenever I see cars getting the impatient flash (usually from my relaxing vantage point of lane 1), the impatient car is more often than not tailgating or has been/is about to, as the flashing hasn't had the desired result.
I think many lane hoggers are just stupid but some drivers have dropped in to a subconscious type of hypnosis, their mind is elsewhere and just haven’t realised they should move over. Sometimes, they wake up and get out of the way and they get a nice thank you
silencepoint said:
xx99xx said:
Do you find flashing your lights at people 'works'?
Yes. But there's a trick on how you do it. A polite quick single flash on the beams and people are likely to move left and let you pass. However, if you just hold them on full beam then people usually tend to double down and hold the lane OR slow down further or brake check.
In my case, if a quick flash causes them to double down then they get the full beams until they move out the way. Or if possible I will always undertake them and get on with it.
simon_harris said:
silencepoint said:
xx99xx said:
Do you find flashing your lights at people 'works'?
Yes. But there's a trick on how you do it. A polite quick single flash on the beams and people are likely to move left and let you pass. However, if you just hold them on full beam then people usually tend to double down and hold the lane OR slow down further or brake check.
In my case, if a quick flash causes them to double down then they get the full beams until they move out the way. Or if possible I will always undertake them and get on with it.
A brake check should never really cause the driver behind an issue, if it does then you are too close to them.
Tom8 said:
The other common issue with not overtaking is keeping a huge distance between the slow vehicle and the car which should overtake. Followed a tractor last night and the Honda Jazz two cars ahead would not get closer than say 50m. Car behind wouldn't overtake either so no one has a chance unless you come across a long extended straight.
A big gap is normally preferable to too small a gap IME. Then you have a gap to drop into rather than having to pass multiple vehicles in one go. You can be confident the driver leaving the gap isn't about to pull out and overtake themselves as well. Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff