Please put your foot down... at least a little bit!

[Nick]

I'm a bloke.

Hardwired into my brain is a goal driven motivation system. I can't help it, that's how blokes are. Give us a target to achieve and we're happy, even if the target is pretty much impossible, we'll still be happy to have a crack at it.

Take shoe shopping as an example. I need a new pair of shoes, I go to the shoe shop, see what's on offer and buy a pair of shoes then leave. I don't then go for a stroll down the street, browsing in other shop windows. I don't wander up the road to the estate agent to see how house prices are holding in the area and I don't pop into Next to have a look if they've got any nice shirts... I just buy the shoes I went to get and leave.

Yesterday I wanted to buy some paving slabs. Now I don't mind that the local B&Q doesn't stock paving slabs whereas the larger, slightly further away B&Q Warehouse does. I didn't mind that they were out of stock as there's a Wickes around the corner from them. I still didn't mind that they too had none of the slabs I wanted as there's a Homebase right next door. And even when I found they didn't stock the right slabs I still wasn't bothered as there's a Jewsons just ten minutes up the road.

But what I really DID mind was the complete arse in front of me on the main road who decided to do the whole five mile drive along a national speed limit road at just 35mph.

Because of this sod's dawdling, Jewsons, who close at midday on Saturday, were just locking up as I arrived. And to add to the irritation, I could see a juicy great pile of the very slabs I wanted, right there by the doors. I would've been in and out in less than three minutes... but because of a git in a silver Aygo, my weekend plan to extend the patio was now scuppered.

This annoys me hugely. I can understand and also utterly agree with sticking to speed limits though I'll admit to being no saint and frequently speeding on the motorway. But in built up areas I'm Mr Super Law Abiding citizen and I NEVER speed... I just couldn't live with myself if I ran over someone's kid because I wanted to get somewhere 30 seconds sooner.

But people that don’t drive anywhere near the speed limit wind me up something bloody rotten.

Yes, I know that some cars aren’t as capable as others and have smaller engines or might be older and less powerful and all that, but my transport is hardly what you’d call ‘quick’ in that a 1.9DiD engine is never going to win Le Mans… And I’m not talking about leaving a nice big number eleven on the road at every set of lights… No, I’m talking about just doing something approximating the speed limit where it’s perfectly safe to do so.

Last weekend it was unseasonably, for the UK, warm and sunny. Perfect driving conditions. The roads were dry and warm, so grip shouldn’t be an issue. The sun was high in the sky, so glare wasn’t a problem either. So why was I sitting behind a driver doing 30 mph on a clearly sign posted, straight stretch of road?

And it’s not just me being lead footed. Behind me there was a queue of at least fifteen cars, most of whom decided the best way to go faster was tailgate each other. And that was when Mr. Pootle-along-driver started to get dangerous because everyone behind him started to get impatient, me included.

But I’m not impatient enough to risk overtaking on a stretch of road that has several hidden dips and a bunch of randomly placed central bollards… unlike the three cars that screamed past the pair of us, one of which went the wrong side of a keep left bollard. Now of course this was wrong. And yes, if I had to stand up at the inquest into that driver’s death, I could hardly argue that the driver who had just planted his Saxo into the front of an oncoming lorry was doing the right thing, but I would have to say that the accident was caused by the driver of the Aygo because he was going too slowly.

You see, in the highway code it very clearly states that you should be aware and considerate of other road users. I’m way past getting annoyed about people forgetting about the bit that says when you pull out onto a road you must do so in a manner that does not cause other drivers to have to change direction or speed, (lorry drivers love going for a gap that their cab will fit into, neatly forgetting about the 40 feet of articulated trailer behind them).

But I am getting more and more irate about drivers who, whilst perhaps not oblivious of other drivers, choose to just ignore them instead.

A chap I used to work with was once 30 minutes late for work. He had decided, for a giggle, to drive the three mile stretch of national speed limit road to work at a sedate 30 mph. He boasted about the impressive queue he built up behind him. But why was he 30 minutes late? Because a police patrol, sitting in a lay-by on the road saw what was going on and, once they could pull out through the queue of cars, caught up with him and pulled him over. He got let off with a warning about driving with due care and attention for intentionally disrupting traffic.

Which brings me to another thing; In London there’s a congestion charge and I hear talk of them trialling it in Nottingham too. Which means that the authorities are taking active measures to try and keep our roads free and smoothly running. If that’s the case, I suggest more speed cameras… lots more speed cameras… but with a twist.

These are minimum speed cameras, turned on only after rush hour and at weekends. Do less than 45 past one of them in a sixty limit and you get a fine. Either that or fit a set of trailing ramps to the roof of the car… ‘cos if we can’t go around you at least we can over the bloody top.

[Paulm@scan]

There is a queue of work on my desk piling up after reading this post you should be done for slowing us down!

heavy reading for this time of day but I do sympathise.

[MD]

....now about those horse boxes

[nichomach]

I agree with ALL of this rant. I'll admit that there are some roads around here which are theoretically NSL, but which I do take a lot slower, but these are small backroads with poor visibility of oncoming traffic. My favourite similar idiot story was a motorhome on a reasonable A-road in Scotland. Pootling along at about 45. Looked for a long straight stretch to overtake, found one, no oncoming traffic, indicated, moved out to overtake, start doing so, and the bastard speeds up. A lot. Effectively meaning that although I was still overtaking, it was a lot more slowly, and I was going to run out of visible straight bit before I was past him. Dropped back...and he settles back to 45 or less. Repeat. And again. And people think breaking the speed limit's the biggest threat to road safety?

[Lee @ SCAN]

What annoys me is the fools that trundle along the motorway at 40-55 mph causing HGV lorries and other large vechiles to stray into the middle lane for a while. This has a huge ripple effect on the traffic on the motorway.

I also agree with the comments nicho says in that the biggest threat on the roads are the warriors behind the wheel who think that nobody has the right to overtake them and if you get behind them, they start to slow down - not the best thing to do in the fast lane on a motorway ; oi you in the Micra with the gingerish hair that is on the M61 at 5.40 is everyday - I'm talking about you! Get out of the fast last if your only gonna do 60!!

[Paulm@scan]

what annoys me is slow drivers who hold you up then when a passing chance comes they deliberately speed up argh...

I have road rage only when they put my life at risk there has been times I have over took someone purposely then slowed down to bring them to a stop and get out the car to give them what for.

its funny they are all cocky as they feel safe in a car until you get the chance to approach them they seem to turn into whimpering kittens. I will stop now cause I could write a book on these feelings! and get as bad as Nick...

[Salazaar]

What gets me (virtually every day on my way to work) is those people who drive along at 40mph (or slower) in the national speed limit areas and then decide it would be a good idea to carry on at that speed when the reach the 30mph limited villages full of kids on their way to school.

Not only are they antagonising other road users but they're also endangering people in the villages. Bloody 40/40 drivers!

Originally Posted by Nick

Either that or fit a set of trailing ramps to the roof of the car… ‘cos if we can’t go around you at least we can over the bloody top.

I love that idea...

[dave87]

That is one thing I like about the motorbike, by the time they've worked out I'm passing them, I'm gone...

[sleepyhead]

Whole heartedly agree with you there Nick. Alternative is to shoot the drivers off the road.

I too, am aware of the "one speed only" drivers...no matter where or how they will do 40 or 50mph. Everywhere.

[Parm]

I kinda agree, but I kinda disagree too.

I tend to drive to the speed limit, and a country lane near my house has a small stretch where the speed limit drops from 60 to 40. I always slow down to 40, and nine times out of ten, I end up with someone within touching distance of my boot just dying to edge past. Shortly after, he/she will race past in a huff and a puff.

I can understand the frustration with some drivers going too slowly, but it's just as frustrating when drivers don't want to slow down to speed limits.

[nichomach]

That's a different kettle of fish, though, Parm - 10-1 that drop in speed's there for a reason, and not one entirely dissociated from the mupptard huffing at you (or those like him who've probably piled into people, buildings etc on that stretch); you're being entirely responsible AND considerate.

[Rave]

If I'm not in a hurry I always cruise at 55-60 on the motorway, and I'm often the slowest person on the road. I'm very mean, and you save a lot of diesel doing that. If a truck overtakes me though I slow down a smidge and flash them in the minute their trailer is in front of my nose. That way I can get a free tow for a couple of hundred yards. When I used to undertake the odd long journey in my mum's 2CV I was frequently to be found 8-10 metres behind an HGV. At 60 on an open road a 2CV needs at least 3/4 throttle. In the slipstream it needs about 1/4.

I stopped when I figured out how dangerous it was though.

Anyway, Nick's complaint is exactly why I want the seemingly impossible- a car that's very frugal, but with genuinely fast acceleration for overtaking muppets. I have the same problem on my commute to work. At 6am in the morning it should only take 15 minutes to do 6 miles down suburban 30mph limit roads. Get stuck behind a chump doing 25mph though, and you'll be late, because you'll miss every single traffic light on the way. It's not easy to overtake them safely in a car with 65bhp. I might have to cough up enough to get a Citroen with an HDi engine, and then chip it. Alternatively, I could just get my bloody bike fixed.

[directhex]

this'll probably surprise people who see me as a speed limit nazi, but i agree with Nick. not because he missed out on getting his slabs, but because driving too slowly is dangerous. if all the traffic around you expects a certain speed, then that speed should be followed where possible. i remember a case a couple of months ago about a woman who'd had her license take off her for doing ~30 on the motorway.

Rave, can't beat an electric car for acceleration, if you're serious about frugal-but-nippy. if you can find/afford one.

[this_is_gav]

Not often I do, but I'm going to disagree with you there Hex. In the majority of cases, the speed limit's a maximum limit, and most will get to a speed they're comfortable with and stay around there. While you get the occasional 84 year old idiot who just cruises along (and panicked into accelerating when you try to overtake ), most are just going that slowly because they're cautious.

Don't get me wrong - I've more reason to be annoyed than most - I've a Honda Shadow 125 - probably one of the worst modern bikes available in terms of power:weight - I just can't overtake anyone over 40mph unless I've planned well ahead and not got the wind isn't against me (seriously), and to compound the issue my journey to work covers most of rural Northumberland, but I'm Mr. Slow and cautious myself when I'm in unknown territory.

The only difference is that I'll happily wave people past at the first safe opportunity, whereas Mr. and Mrs. 84 yr old 'ooh, look at that sea' never do.

[directhex]

Originally Posted by this_is_gav

Not often I do, but I'm going to disagree with you there Hex. In the majority of cases, the speed limit's a maximum limit, and most will get to a speed they're comfortable with and stay around there. While you get the occasional 84 year old idiot who just cruises along (and panicked into accelerating when you try to overtake ), most are just going that slowly because they're cautious.

Don't get me wrong - I've more reason to be annoyed than most - I've a Honda Shadow 125 - probably one of the worst modern bikes available in terms of power:weight - I just can't overtake anyone over 40mph unless I've planned well ahead and not got the wind isn't against me (seriously), and to compound the issue my journey to work covers most of rural Northumberland, but I'm Mr. Slow and cautious myself when I'm in unknown territory.

The only difference is that I'll happily wave people past at the first safe opportunity, whereas Mr. and Mrs. 84 yr old 'ooh, look at that sea' never do.

a safe speed is one where you can adequately anticipate and react to the behaviour of other users on the road

for example, if the limit on a country road is 60, and conditions are fine, it's reasonable to assume everyone will be travelling at 60

people who deviate wildly from that expected norm are dangerous - in both directions. too slow, and you could suddenly find yourself up their rears after turning a corner (it's very hard to judge speed of things coming straight at you). too fast, and they may lose control on that same corner and pass into the opposing lane (and have a head-on with something)

perhaps the most annoying kind of driver is mister 40 mph - who can manage to drive at 40mph and NOTHING ELSE. no faster in national limit, no slower outside primary schools in 20 zones

[this_is_gav]

Originally Posted by directhex

perhaps the most annoying kind of driver is mister 40 mph - who can manage to drive at 40mph and NOTHING ELSE. no faster in national limit, no slower outside primary schools in 20 zones

Don't agree with the rest (as I've never really experienced coming around a corner to find another vehicle in my face - though I have turned into a corner just as a bus drifted away from his apex on a narrowish road... that was... fun...) but I'm 100% with you on that last bit. It's something else pensioners seem to specialise at. 31mph is too dangerous when there's only verges to hit, but they'll happily drive at 30mph down a street lined either side with cars and kids queuing up to jump into their path.