Is 25 the new 30?
Discussion
Now i thought maybe its me being more impatient with old age or something but I have been deliberately (and quite sadly) making notes to back up my thoughts.
The route I have driven for the last 5 years has slowed down for no good reason. its a wide open 30 zone, in my direction traffic volume is very light.
Yet the average drivers are slowing down for no good reason. Couple years back it was routine that I would pretty much hit the main road and sit at 30 all the way, only occasionally being held up by dawdling morons.
Now its the opposite, I am pretty much always held up by dawdlers doing around 25 or less and only rarely do i get to 30.
Being the saddo that I am, I have made a note every trip to see if i was held up for most the journey or not. I originally assumed maybe i was getting impatient in old age or i was driving faster due to a different speedo. But no, my speedo uses GPS which has not changed.
To compare i looked at old dashcam footage from the days a few years ago when i used to save the footage to a harddrive in case of getting some crash for cash claim a few weeks after it would be overwritten. I dont bother doing that now.
When comparing the two, I looked at a couple of weeks journeys and found on average around 90% of journeys in 2018 were hovering around 30. Whereas now its around 95% are around 25.
Why the change?
Traffic density on this road has not changed,
Fuel costs are less plus the practical difference in economy at 25 versus 30 is immesurable unless you do like 50k miles a year.
Less active speed cameras than before.
Road has been repaired so is in better condition.
The anti-speed mantra hasn't really changed in recent years?
Is it hypermiling
s trying to eeek every mpg?
People now more than ever on facebook, doing their makeup, on the phone etc instead of looking at where they going?
The usual responses of "its a limit not a target" are pointless as they dont explain the slow down.
The wealth of PH knowledge must have a reasoned and well though out answer?
Over to you!!
The route I have driven for the last 5 years has slowed down for no good reason. its a wide open 30 zone, in my direction traffic volume is very light.
Yet the average drivers are slowing down for no good reason. Couple years back it was routine that I would pretty much hit the main road and sit at 30 all the way, only occasionally being held up by dawdling morons.
Now its the opposite, I am pretty much always held up by dawdlers doing around 25 or less and only rarely do i get to 30.
Being the saddo that I am, I have made a note every trip to see if i was held up for most the journey or not. I originally assumed maybe i was getting impatient in old age or i was driving faster due to a different speedo. But no, my speedo uses GPS which has not changed.
To compare i looked at old dashcam footage from the days a few years ago when i used to save the footage to a harddrive in case of getting some crash for cash claim a few weeks after it would be overwritten. I dont bother doing that now.
When comparing the two, I looked at a couple of weeks journeys and found on average around 90% of journeys in 2018 were hovering around 30. Whereas now its around 95% are around 25.
Why the change?
Traffic density on this road has not changed,
Fuel costs are less plus the practical difference in economy at 25 versus 30 is immesurable unless you do like 50k miles a year.
Less active speed cameras than before.
Road has been repaired so is in better condition.
The anti-speed mantra hasn't really changed in recent years?
Is it hypermiling
s trying to eeek every mpg?People now more than ever on facebook, doing their makeup, on the phone etc instead of looking at where they going?
The usual responses of "its a limit not a target" are pointless as they dont explain the slow down.
The wealth of PH knowledge must have a reasoned and well though out answer?
Over to you!!
I have noticed this myself to be honest - more on the motorway than around town.
People do seem to drive closer to the speed limits now. Not surprising I guess with the number of cameras. I can remember when the bulk of the motorway flow was 80mph and if you drove at the speed limit there was a constant stream of passing cars/vans. Much less nowadays. Even the white vans are slower these days...
Personally I tend to keep within a few mph (above though) of the posted speed for a simpler life - on longer runs especially. It is more relaxing to know that I am not going to get stopped/have my picture taken and if I don't have to keep eyes peeled for cameras/police cars then I can use my attention/senses to look out for other hazards.
People do seem to drive closer to the speed limits now. Not surprising I guess with the number of cameras. I can remember when the bulk of the motorway flow was 80mph and if you drove at the speed limit there was a constant stream of passing cars/vans. Much less nowadays. Even the white vans are slower these days...
Personally I tend to keep within a few mph (above though) of the posted speed for a simpler life - on longer runs especially. It is more relaxing to know that I am not going to get stopped/have my picture taken and if I don't have to keep eyes peeled for cameras/police cars then I can use my attention/senses to look out for other hazards.
I'd happily drive at 100 if I was allowed, but I stick to the speed limit almost religiously these days as I just don't want to be caught by a van/camera etc.
10 years ago I can't say I ever really stuck to the limit on major A roads or the motorway, but nowadays I really do feel like there will be a van around the next corner.
I certainly don't sit BELOW the limit though!
10 years ago I can't say I ever really stuck to the limit on major A roads or the motorway, but nowadays I really do feel like there will be a van around the next corner.
I certainly don't sit BELOW the limit though!
I think, during lockdown, people are happy to be out and are in no hurry to get home. I'm still going to work but now pootle along at 60 on the motorway. It's below the limit but not dangerously slow. But it does seem to irritate some people, even though I'm in the inside lane minding my own business.
But I'm in no rush to get in, no rush to get home, so why not just have a leisurely commute.
But I'm in no rush to get in, no rush to get home, so why not just have a leisurely commute.
Om said:
I have noticed this myself to be honest - more on the motorway than around town.
People do seem to drive closer to the speed limits now. Not surprising I guess with the number of cameras. I can remember when the bulk of the motorway flow was 80mph and if you drove at the speed limit there was a constant stream of passing cars/vans. Much less nowadays. Even the white vans are slower these days...
Personally I tend to keep within a few mph (above though) of the posted speed for a simpler life - on longer runs especially. It is more relaxing to know that I am not going to get stopped/have my picture taken and if I don't have to keep eyes peeled for cameras/police cars then I can use my attention/senses to look out for other hazards.
On motorways i certainly agree with you, there are more cameras, higher traffic density, much much poorer lane discipline and driving standards than a few years ago.People do seem to drive closer to the speed limits now. Not surprising I guess with the number of cameras. I can remember when the bulk of the motorway flow was 80mph and if you drove at the speed limit there was a constant stream of passing cars/vans. Much less nowadays. Even the white vans are slower these days...
Personally I tend to keep within a few mph (above though) of the posted speed for a simpler life - on longer runs especially. It is more relaxing to know that I am not going to get stopped/have my picture taken and if I don't have to keep eyes peeled for cameras/police cars then I can use my attention/senses to look out for other hazards.
In previous jobs (pre 2008) i did a lot of motorway miles and like you mentioned, flow in the outside lane was generally 75-80mph and is much slower now. Doesnt help that these days if i use motorways its commonly the M6 and in the last 10 years I have yet to see a bit that is not stuck in 50mph road works constantly.
TwigtheWonderkid said:
But I'm in no rush to get in, no rush to get home, so why not just have a leisurely commute.
But would you dawdle in a 30 during rush hour for no reason despite clearly seeing the growing que of drivers behind you?Simple consideration for others would say keep close to 30.
Multilane roads are different as you keep left and if someone is bothered they can go in another lane.
Psycho Warren said:
Riley Blue said:
Black boxes?
They really arent that common and arent growing as much as insurers had hoped. Its mostly a young driver and fleet issue. Sheets Tabuer said:
I'll go with this, cars without limiters tend to sit well under the limit, I drove to Coventry where they seem to have placed average speed cameras on every road and everyone was doing 5-10 under the limit.
I think that's more to do with the fact that the speed limits on Cov A-roads are so all over the shop that people regularly get confused about what limit they're actually driving in. sim72 said:
I think that's more to do with the fact that the speed limits on Cov A-roads are so all over the shop that people regularly get confused about what limit they're actually driving in.
How can people get confused??Oh yes because they arent paying attention....
Anything other than a 30 or a countryside NSL is clearly sign posted with repeaters as well as the large speed limit change signs at the start and end. Now It is possible to occasionally mis a change but that isnt going to be soo common it causes speed reductions like that.
Plus the road in question and 99% of my journey is in 30 zones and my city does not have lots of 20 zones. So locally that isnt going to be a problem.
Also it isnt going to be an issue with competent and careful drivers?
The limit is the limit. It is not a target.
Where do you draw the line ?
Is 27/ 28/ 29 MPH acceptable ? Or do we require absolute perfection and only 30 MPH (no more, no less) will do ?
I know, I know, I'll hand in my PH membership at the door ...
But who are you to judge the speed that others drive at (provided they are not breaking the law) if the speed is only a few MPH (or even 5 MPH) under the limit ?
NB. I know this is a bit antagonistic, I'm just providing an alternativs view (which I may or may not agree with).
Where do you draw the line ?
Is 27/ 28/ 29 MPH acceptable ? Or do we require absolute perfection and only 30 MPH (no more, no less) will do ?
I know, I know, I'll hand in my PH membership at the door ...
But who are you to judge the speed that others drive at (provided they are not breaking the law) if the speed is only a few MPH (or even 5 MPH) under the limit ?
NB. I know this is a bit antagonistic, I'm just providing an alternativs view (which I may or may not agree with).
Psycho Warren said:
sim72 said:
I think that's more to do with the fact that the speed limits on Cov A-roads are so all over the shop that people regularly get confused about what limit they're actually driving in.
How can people get confused??Oh yes because they arent paying attention....
Anything other than a 30 or a countryside NSL is clearly sign posted with repeaters as well as the large speed limit change signs at the start and end. Now It is possible to occasionally mis a change but that isnt going to be soo common it causes speed reductions like that.
Red 4 said:
The limit is the limit. It is not a target.
Where do you draw the line ?
Is 27/ 28/ 29 MPH acceptable ? Or do we require absolute perfection and only 30 MPH (no more, no less) will do ?
I know, I know, I'll hand in my PH membership at the door ...
But who are you to judge the speed that others drive at (provided they are not breaking the law) if the speed is only a few MPH (or even 5 MPH) under the limit ?
NB. I know this is a bit antagonistic, I'm just providing an alternativs view (which I may or may not agree with).
The counterpoint to that is you should make progress where safe to do so. If the limit it 30, that’s how fast you should be driving if you haven’t got a reason to be going slower.Where do you draw the line ?
Is 27/ 28/ 29 MPH acceptable ? Or do we require absolute perfection and only 30 MPH (no more, no less) will do ?
I know, I know, I'll hand in my PH membership at the door ...
But who are you to judge the speed that others drive at (provided they are not breaking the law) if the speed is only a few MPH (or even 5 MPH) under the limit ?
NB. I know this is a bit antagonistic, I'm just providing an alternativs view (which I may or may not agree with).
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