Discussion
is it me, or is everyone driving a lot slower these days 
I know that speed limits have decreased, but people are driving below them. I was taught to drive AT the speed limit. I have just come back from a job where the journey time used to be half an hour. This morning it's taken 45 minutes, that a 50% increase! No wonder drivers are getting frustrated.
Also, have we lost the art of overtaking? The reason that I ask is, in my opinion, due to the amount of mobile cameras, we're not too sure whether one is lurking around the corner, or over the brow of a hill, but come on, there's no need to flash and wave your fist when, on a straight road, good driving conditions, I overtake you when you're doing 50 in a 60 zone
Your thoughts please ladies & gentlemen.
LAWRENCE
I know that speed limits have decreased, but people are driving below them. I was taught to drive AT the speed limit. I have just come back from a job where the journey time used to be half an hour. This morning it's taken 45 minutes, that a 50% increase! No wonder drivers are getting frustrated.
Also, have we lost the art of overtaking? The reason that I ask is, in my opinion, due to the amount of mobile cameras, we're not too sure whether one is lurking around the corner, or over the brow of a hill, but come on, there's no need to flash and wave your fist when, on a straight road, good driving conditions, I overtake you when you're doing 50 in a 60 zone
Your thoughts please ladies & gentlemen.
LAWRENCE
If someone's doing 50 in a 60, unless you have a very straight and clear bit of road, it's nigh on impossible to perform a clean, safe, quick overtake without breaking the speed limit, and with the constant fear of speed cameras, it's often simply not worth risking. For me, it's mobile speed cameras which are the biggest worry, Gatso cameras are very easy to spot, they're painted in a highly visible colour and you can see them from a long way back, but when it comes to mobile speed camera vans, it seems anything goes.
Yes, I'm all for saving fuel etc, but everyone is right up eachother's ars*s, thus not allowing an overtake if it's possible.
Saying that though, the government were talking about INCREASING the motorway speed limit to 80 and the sceptics amongst us thought that this is another way to gain fuel tax money as we'd be using more due to the increased limit.
Saying that though, the government were talking about INCREASING the motorway speed limit to 80 and the sceptics amongst us thought that this is another way to gain fuel tax money as we'd be using more due to the increased limit.
I've only ever picked up one speeding ticket.
Using an overtaking lane after a caravan-er pulled into a crawler lane, thought it was 60mph, it was a 50 limit.
They'll tell you that the camera's aren't strategically placed to catch you out like this but the reality is that the particular camera that got me could have only been there to make money, since it was in the middle of nowhere in Cornwall where the only thing I could have crashed into was a tree.
Using an overtaking lane after a caravan-er pulled into a crawler lane, thought it was 60mph, it was a 50 limit.
They'll tell you that the camera's aren't strategically placed to catch you out like this but the reality is that the particular camera that got me could have only been there to make money, since it was in the middle of nowhere in Cornwall where the only thing I could have crashed into was a tree.
It's worse when you have a string of cars all doing the slow speed, with none of them attempting to overtake, and with none of them leaving an adequate distance to stop between them, let alone for you to slot in (safely) if you want to pick them off 1 by 1. You have to wait for a long stretch and take them all in one go. Not always easy depending on what roads you frequent.
mattball said:
It's worse when you have a string of cars all doing the slow speed, with none of them attempting to overtake, and with none of them leaving an adequate distance to stop between them, let alone for you to slot in (safely) if you want to pick them off 1 by 1. You have to wait for a long stretch and take them all in one go. Not always easy depending on where you live.
Exactly 
Dave Hedgehog said:
40 is also the new 30
90% of the brain dead muppets who don't know what a NSL is carry on doing 40 in a 30 limit ...
Absolutely this! 90% of the brain dead muppets who don't know what a NSL is carry on doing 40 in a 30 limit ...
These are the types of idiot who flash / beep you as you overtake , then carry on at 40 in 30 zones past schools etc....Makes my blood boil!!
Funny thing was when I drove in the USA a few years ago, everyone did the speed limit. Even lorries and other large vehicles. It was so much less frustrating.
Yes its not a target, but its still unnecessary to go 30-40 on a big straight clear 60 mph road IMO. It feels very slow to do that speed on such roads, and as such concentration levels can't be high. I'm witnessing more and more people doing 15 mph in 30 limits these days, utterly ridiculous, I nearly stall the car sometimes they go so slow (even in low gears).
To be honest, I'm more pissed off at poor driving standards. People are in such a hurry, that they perform dangerous maneuvers. Every day this week there have been reports in my area of multiple car pile ups. I'm of the opinion at least half the population should not have, and do not deserve a licence.
Yes its not a target, but its still unnecessary to go 30-40 on a big straight clear 60 mph road IMO. It feels very slow to do that speed on such roads, and as such concentration levels can't be high. I'm witnessing more and more people doing 15 mph in 30 limits these days, utterly ridiculous, I nearly stall the car sometimes they go so slow (even in low gears).
To be honest, I'm more pissed off at poor driving standards. People are in such a hurry, that they perform dangerous maneuvers. Every day this week there have been reports in my area of multiple car pile ups. I'm of the opinion at least half the population should not have, and do not deserve a licence.
I really enjoy driving in Europe as the roads are properly maintained, but more importantly, their driving standards are sooo much better. For example, they abide by the speed limit by actually driving at it, plus the lane discipline is as it should be, you only stay in lane 2 or 3 when overtaking. When the manouvere is complete, then pull in. When someone from the EU disembarks from either the train or ferry, I bet they're wondering what's happening to them in the roads.
Where I live, the limit fluctuates from 30 to 20 in a residential area. In one 400 metre stretch it's 20, then goes to 30 for about another 400 metres, then drops back to 20. WTF!
Where I live, the limit fluctuates from 30 to 20 in a residential area. In one 400 metre stretch it's 20, then goes to 30 for about another 400 metres, then drops back to 20. WTF!
That's certainly not been my experience of driving in "Europe". German drivers tend to be better; French ones are roughly on a par with the British; Italians are downright dangerous;... head over to the east of Europe and the driving standards are shocking.
I've driven in a good 20 or 30 countries, and Germany is the only one with appreciably higher driving standards than the UK; most are much lower.
I've driven in a good 20 or 30 countries, and Germany is the only one with appreciably higher driving standards than the UK; most are much lower.
AJI said:
What happened to the government's proposal of raising NSL on motorways to 80mph?
Did speed lowering lobby groups get their way and block it?
Its unofficially 80+ anyway.Did speed lowering lobby groups get their way and block it?
If they brought in the 80 limit they might strictly enforce it. Ergo, lots of money spent for no real gain.
TameRacingDriver said:
Its unofficially 80+ anyway.
If they brought in the 80 limit they might strictly enforce it. Ergo, lots of money spent for no real gain.
Would it cost much? The signs are already just national speed limit ones - most of the cost would be reprogramming speed cameras, I suppose?If they brought in the 80 limit they might strictly enforce it. Ergo, lots of money spent for no real gain.
It's quite simple, people should drive to the conditions.
I'd say driving at 40mph on a NSL road, on a clear dry day with good viability is not sensible. Neither is driving 40mph on a NSL when the road is covered in thick snow.
I've followed many a car which you can call the "40mph" or "50mph club" where they'll just drive at that speed regardless of the limit. I remember an advanced driving instructor once saying to me that he had a pupil who was taking their advanced lessons with him and this chap would drive everywhere at 40mph. He encouraged the gentleman to increase his speed when in the NSL and said to me that it became apparent very early on that this guy was not safe driving any quicker.
I'd say driving at 40mph on a NSL road, on a clear dry day with good viability is not sensible. Neither is driving 40mph on a NSL when the road is covered in thick snow.
I've followed many a car which you can call the "40mph" or "50mph club" where they'll just drive at that speed regardless of the limit. I remember an advanced driving instructor once saying to me that he had a pupil who was taking their advanced lessons with him and this chap would drive everywhere at 40mph. He encouraged the gentleman to increase his speed when in the NSL and said to me that it became apparent very early on that this guy was not safe driving any quicker.
OP is right, it's bloody awful now.
Motorways are, in the main, 65, and everywhere else is 40. It's painful and tedious.
Lots of MPGists and worry warts around now, and t
ts too, of couse, not to mention scaremongering, crap surfaces, gantry bks on the motorway warning of stuff that's not so or has been sorted out ages ago; spray, fog, accident on a slip road, workmen in road and so on. Where?! When?! FFS!
And what is it with inept workmen who leave their crap on the roads after they've completed a job?! fking diversion signs and cones littering the place months after they've buggered off having made the road surface 10 times worse.
Motorways are, in the main, 65, and everywhere else is 40. It's painful and tedious.
Lots of MPGists and worry warts around now, and t
ts too, of couse, not to mention scaremongering, crap surfaces, gantry bks on the motorway warning of stuff that's not so or has been sorted out ages ago; spray, fog, accident on a slip road, workmen in road and so on. Where?! When?! FFS!And what is it with inept workmen who leave their crap on the roads after they've completed a job?! f
king diversion signs and cones littering the place months after they've buggered off having made the road surface 10 times worse. Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff