Why Oh Why Oh Why ?

[Uncle Buck]

I realise this is probably going to be a contentious issue, so I hereby apologise if it upsets anyone.

Something has been happening on the public roads that seems to have become even more of a problem recently. I know I'm not the only one to have experienced it, as most of my friends & family have mentioned it too. I fully understand in these times of austerity that most folks are cutting back on money spending, even cutting some things out of their budget completely. I'm doing this myself.

However, can I please encourage all the drivers doing 35-40 mph in 60 zones to stop doing so when there are no physical reasons/hazards stopping them from keeping up with everyday traffic. It's incredibly frustrating to do a journey that would normally take an hour at legal speeds, but because of all these 'dodderers' it takes much longer. When there is too much oncoming traffic it is nigh on impossible to overtake safely, so these 'eco' warriors are forcing everyone else to drive 20-25 mph under the speed limit !

Obviously many people take great exception to being held up & overtake where they shouldn't, so instead of aiding road safety these 'snails' are actually making things worse. If I was a traffic policeman, I would have no hesitation in pulling these drivers over & asking a few pertinent questions.

Things such as 'Good morning Sir/Madam, do you have any idea why I've pulled you in ?' or 'Do you realise or care that you're causing a 2 mile tailback ?' or 'When was the last time you had your eyesight checked ?'

This problem is a growing epidemic & will surely only result in more accidents, so please - if you recognise yourself as one of these mobile chicanes stop holding everyone up & think of others who have a job to do or time constrictions upon them. You are not helping !

And release ........... :)

[Parts-King]

I think you need to relax

People doing very low speeds are a bit of a pain, however you must remember, speed limits are just that, a maximum limit on the speed you can do on that road, they are not a target speed that has to be acheived. Not everyone is comfortable driving on the limit, in fact, if we all drove a few MPH slower in a 30 area, hundreds of lives a year would be saved...........

Kingo

[Raistlin]

It's not how fast but how well you drive...

[Uncle Buck]

I think you need to relax

People doing very low speeds are a bit of a pain, however you must remember, speed limits are just that, a maximum limit on the speed you can do on that road, they are not a target speed that has to be acheived. Not everyone is comfortable driving on the limit, in fact, if we all drove a few MPH slower in a 30 area, hundreds of lives a year would be saved...........

Kingo

Kingo - I am relaxed, there's no other way to be when faced with such unnecessary hold-ups. I don't go over 30 in built-up areas anyway, so that doesn't bother me at all. I also don't demand that other drivers get up to 60 mph & stay there, but as any driving instructor will tell you it's important to make progress w/out impeding other road users.

As far as I'm concerned, it's either ignorance or arrogance that allows people to hold up everyone else on the road & not give a hoot about it.

It's not how fast but how well you drive...

I totally agree & wish more would recognise this. I've actually spoken to a serving Policeman who agrees with me that very slow driving is causing accidents.

[Karma Supra]

It always used to amuse me that in the owners handbook of a MKIII Supra Turbo Auto, its most fuel efficiant speed was actually over 70 :D

It annoys me too... and it always seems to be when I am late, and when I can't overtake!

What REALLY gets my goat is when they give you the full beams of disaproval after you execute a perfectly sensible., legal overtaking move.

[balli hi]

IIt annoys me too... and it always seems to be when I am late, and when I can't overtake!

What REALLY gets my goat is when they give you the full beams of disaproval after you execute a perfectly sensible., legal overtaking move.

Question: while you are waiting your chance to overtake, are you tailgating out of frustration, or are you keeping a safe distance, don't get me wrong i'm not having a pop at you as overly slow drivers annoy me too, My guessing is that the reason they flash their full beam of disapproval after you have overtaken is not because you have, but because they probably feel they have been tailgated, being tailgated for me is far worse than having a slow driver in front, as frustrating as it might be i always maintain a safe distance when faced with a plodder-er in front .

[Raistlin]

Question: while you are waiting your chance to overtake, are you tailgating out of frustration, or are you keeping a safe distance, don't get me wrong i'm not having a pop at you as overly slow drivers annoy me too, My guessing is that the reason they flash their full beam of disapproval after you have overtaken is not because you have, but because they probably feel they have been tailgated, being tailgated for me is far worse than having a slow driver in front, as frustrating as it might be i always maintain a safe distance when faced with a plodder-er in front .

Is this a five minute rant or the full half hour ?

[Karma Supra]

I stay back, it gives better visibility for overtaking and minimilises stone chips.

People just don't like being overtaken... I see it all the time on the motorway.. I set my cruise to a "sensible cruise speed" I slowly come up and go to overtake and people speed up... or failing that I overtake them, they then decide they want to go faster and overtake me, only to slow down back to their original speed again, I know my speed is not changing as I'm on cruise!

Either that of the people being overtaken (who tend to be nervous drivers, which is why they are going so slow.) Get intimidated by the sheer size of the Hilux as when it is aliong side, most small car's roofs are about level with the top of my doors. Not sure why they do it in the M3, probably the noise and speed I zip past (I don't like being on the wrong side of the road for longer than needed!)

People are funny, I live on country lanes, you often have to stop, back up to let people past.
People get all shirty when I'm in the truck because it's "too big" and they can't get through.

They don't mind at all when I'm in the M3.

The M3 is actually wider!

[balli hi]

Now that's a proper reply :)