Careless drivers to face on-the-spot fines

[Ferret]

Down to 50mph is fine IMO, so long as it's not busy and you're not disrupting the flow.
Any lower than that and you shouldn't be driving on the motorway.

I disagree - 50mph means lorries have to pull out into lane 2 which then causes hard braking further back. Drives me potty!

 

[HST Power]

Perhaps they can't afford to drive a long way at 70mph and are saving on fuel by driving at around 50mph?

I was told by my boss that around 55-60 mph is proven to be best for saving fuel. Even a HGV will cruise at around fifty five. If you go to slow, you're just as much of a road risk as are lunatics who shoot down the fast lane in their X registered Citroen's at 110mph. I used to drive to Newcastle a lot (now I take the train) and fifty seven is just right if you want to balance the cost at the pump. And it'll keep you past the trucks, so that's almost certainly quick enough.

 

[Madge Wildfire]

The problem with middle lane hoggers is that they seem to be both lazy and moronic, so fining them is unlikely to change the habit of a lifetime.

i have watched them join via a slip road and despite nothing in the slow lane they just automatically go straight to the middle lane and then they can relax. No signals necessary until they need to leave the motorway, no need to look in the mirrors because what is happening behind is of no interest to them.

There are variations in their characters as well, because some may do a contstant 60 mph which is frustrating, but the ones that really annoy me are the ones that speed up and slow down depending on the speed of the vehicle in front of them.

What usually happens is that I see a line of them (because they eventually catch each other up and then become like a convoy) and decide to overtake via the fast lane, but invariably I get just about past them when the lead vehicle decides that after 10 miles of having the same car behind that "maybe I will pull into the left lane", and all the others suddenly speed up to 80mph leaving muggins here stranded in the fast lane doing 75.

I bet the police never get that because when they are about, everyone drives at a constant 68 mph in all lanes.

 

[strange6]

Far too many people drive too slow in right hand lanes.

Yeah but right hand lanes should only be used for overtaking within the national speed limit. Quite often people think the right hand lane is there for doing in excess of a ton and god help you if you get in their way.

 

[90019]

I disagree - 50mph means lorries have to pull out into lane 2 which then causes hard braking further back. Drives me potty!

That's why I added the latter part.
I was more thinking of 3+ lane motorways as well - I think that 50 is only acceptable on a 2 lane motorway when it's almost empty.

 

[jon0844]

I bet the police never get that because when they are about, everyone drives at a constant 68 mph in all lanes.

I hate this (not as much as the middle lane hoggers, but almost). The police often patrol in lane one at less than 70mph, perhaps as they're just going along and intending to pull off at the next exit, or even following someone or whatever.

So, if they opt to drive at around 60-65, you suddenly see all the idiots slow down because they are too scared to overtake. I have no concern in overtaking a police car that isn't driving at the speed limit. Indeed, I don't have a problem keeping up with them when they ARE driving at 70mph. I've never been stopped yet*!

I really do wonder what these people think the police would do if they dared overtake! Of course, given how they do indeed pull on to the motorway and go straight for lane two before switching off, I guess I shouldn't wonder at all.

The silly thing is they think they're safer in lane two, when they now have vehicles on both sides of them. Surely they must wonder why they seem to encounter so much road rage, from people flashing and hooting, cutting in front having had to overtake by crossing TWO lanes to pass, or just undertaking and gesturing?

(* for doing that anyway!)

 

[90019]

The silly thing is they think they're safer in lane two, when they now have vehicles on both sides of them.

I think the belief is that if you're in the middle lane, you've got more options if you need to avoid something - I can almost see the logic, but I can't understand the thinking behind it.
Another one is people who see lane 1 as the 'slow lane', then think "I'm not slow", and so sit in lane 2 instead.

 

[HST Power]

I bet the police never get that because when they are about, everyone drives at a constant 68 mph in all lanes.

I have started to see an increase in the number of unmarked patrol cars. There also seem to be a lot of Police parking on the cross hatchings, awaiting their next victim!

 

[Nym]

I bet the police never get that because when they are about, everyone drives at a constant 68 mph in all lanes.

I don't I do 70...

Especially fun going eastbound on the M62 between 18 and 19 where they usually sit on the exit slip of birch services, watch them all slam the brakes on and I cruse back past the execs and idiots going over a ton past me on the M60...
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Another one is people who see lane 1 as the 'slow lane', then think "I'm not slow", and so sit in lane 2 instead.

That is irritating, perfectly clear M61 at 2am, nothing on it, doing *cough* mph to get home quick, in lane 1, and some (person) in lane 2 doing 65, bearing in mind how tired and anoyed I was at the time, I know it was 65 because I did a transit to make the lilttle ____ move!

 

[jon0844]

The M25 at night often has someone driving all the way down in lane 3 (or 4) as they really do believe that is their lane no matter what.

Almost as bad as middle lane hoggers, except they're usually making serious progress so don't hold you up.

Now in Germany, where you can drive as quick as you want on many stretches of autobahn, the lane discipline is excellent. Okay, so much of the network is just two lanes, but imagine trying to mix traffic doing 50mph with traffic doing 150mph here! For one thing, the vehicles driving at 100+ mph are more alert and tolerate other motorists. Likewise, those who want to go slower don't block those who want to go faster.

Over the years, I've come to accept we could never have no limits again in the UK. Not without major driver re-education!

 

[devon_metro]

I hate this (not as much as the middle lane hoggers, but almost). The police often patrol in lane one at less than 70mph, perhaps as they're just going along and intending to pull off at the next exit, or even following someone or whatever.

So, if they opt to drive at around 60-65, you suddenly see all the idiots slow down because they are too scared to overtake. I have no concern in overtaking a police car that isn't driving at the speed limit. Indeed, I don't have a problem keeping up with them when they ARE driving at 70mph. I've never been stopped yet*!

I really do wonder what these people think the police would do if they dared overtake! Of course, given how they do indeed pull on to the motorway and go straight for lane two before switching off, I guess I shouldn't wonder at all.

The silly thing is they think they're safer in lane two, when they now have vehicles on both sides of them. Surely they must wonder why they seem to encounter so much road rage, from people flashing and hooting, cutting in front having had to overtake by crossing TWO lanes to pass, or just undertaking and gesturing?

(* for doing that anyway!)

The police won't pull you unless you are doing silly speeds, I think anything up to 85 you would probably get away with.

 

[AlexS]

Anyone driving slowly enough in a car to cause a HGV to overtake on a motorway without a very good reason (being a twitchy mess does not qualify, give up your licence if this applies) should be pulled over arbitrarily and shot. There's no need for it. If you want to sit at 60 mph, fine, you won't cause too much of a problem, but sit at 53 and I will wish you all the bad luck in the world because you are causing very large lorries to jump into the fast lane in front of my little Polo, not a nice experience!

My driving instructor back when I was learning had a pupil who had a licence but asked for extra motorway tuition as she was feeling nervous and scared on them. On the first trip out it became apparent why, she was maxing 55 on open stretches dropping to 45 on junctions and consequently was being boxed in by massive artics on all sides.

After about 10 lessons with her she still wouldn't change her practice so he refused to continue and recommended she simply didn't use motorways as she was causing a hazard.

That said, there's a 50 mph slack on the M42 at junction 10 heading for Birmingham. People go howling through there at times - I might cruise at 80 otherwise but I drop to 50 on the nose for this and get flashed and beeped at. The reason I drop strictly is I was the first one to stop for the car that went through doing around 70 (new road, **** drainage) before the slack was put on, aquaplaned and ended up on it's roof in the entry slip road.

It just goes to show that not all 50 mph slacks on motorways are being overcautious.

 

[jon0844]

If you do any form of advanced learning, you'll be told that unless you've got a good reason (and that is usually safety) then you do the limit. The people who say 'ah, it's a limit not a target' are idiots!

They are also the people who decide on what speed THEY want to do and then do it all the time, never slowing down for poor road conditions, poor visibility or because of something happening up ahead. They think that if the needle is below the limit, they're invincible.

You don't decide that because you're early for that meeting, killing time or taking the scenic route, that you drive slow. If you want to kill time, park up and have a coffee - and if you're sightseeing, take a coach or a train!!

If you're in any way scared about what's going on around you, get more tuition or get off the road!

 

[table38]

Some space saver spare tyres can only be used up to 50mph max. In my experience, it's best to get off the motorway ASAP as those HGV's appear up behind you very quickly!

My pet peve is people who sit in lane 3 doing 70mph because they are going to overtake another car in about twenty minutes and won't move over as they are "going quite fast enough and no-one else should be going any faster than 70" so have decided unilaterally to impose their uncalibrated speedo reading on everyone else.

Usually, according to my GPS, they are usually doing about 65mph.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

no-one else should be going any faster than 70

No one should be going faster than 70.

 

[jon0844]

There's a neighbour (well, sort of, it's down the next street) that had an emergency space saver tyre on his car for months!

 

[HST Power]

Anyone driving slowly enough in a car to cause a HGV to overtake on a motorway without a very good reason (being a twitchy mess does not qualify, give up your licence if this applies) should be pulled over arbitrarily and shot.

You sound just like Jeremy Clarkson!

Whilst I think that being shot is just a tiny bit too extreme, I certainly agree that people who are overtaken by a truck should be pulled over. Nobody should be going that slow. It's not necessary, whether you are new to the road or saving on fuel, it's unacceptable. Going that slowly is just as dangerous as clowning around at 95mph in the fast lane.

 

[90019]

I certainly agree that people who are overtaken by a truck should be pulled over.

I've been overtaken by a truck doing 70, should I be pulled over?

 

[HST Power]

I've been overtaken by a truck doing 70, should I be pulled over?

A HGV? Are you sure? Could it have been an LGV?

Surely no truck should be doing seventy. I've seen them at sixty, but a HGV at seventy, surely not.

 

[90019]

A HGV? Are you sure? Could it have been an LGV?

Surely no truck should be doing seventy. I've seen them at sixty, but a HGV at seventy, surely not.

HGVs and LGVs are the same thing, it's just a different term for it.
It will have had the limiter disabled to be doing 70.

When you see them at 60, that's just because of the overreading on your speedo.

 

[jon0844]

Whilst I think that being shot is just a tiny bit too extreme

Why?

Oh, it's because not everyone would have a gun. Got it!

 

[Tomnick]

A HGV? Are you sure? Could it have been an LGV?

Surely no truck should be doing seventy. I've seen them at sixty, but a HGV at seventy, surely not.

I've been overtaken by an articulated lorry - I was doing an indicated speed in excess of 70mph (actual speed around or slightly over 70mph, I'd guess), and this chap was going considerably faster. I thought I'd fallen asleep when I saw him rapidly bearing down on me - some sort of bizarre dream. He was driving very erratically, making good use of lane 3 (on the M1 around J29) and I thought it wise to remain well clear .

Followed one middle-aged woman along the three-lane section of the A50 between Derby and Kegworth at the weekend - indicated speed slightly below 70mph in lane 3. The chap in front passed her on the inside; I stayed put and ensured that she was aware of my presence by the sensible long flash of the headlights. Despite nothing in lane 2 and very little in lane 1, she still didn't shift over, and after a mile or so sped up rapidly and zoomed off into the distance. I soon caught her up at the J24 roundabout, where she was getting into a bit of a tangle, drifting across lanes and generally giving the impression of being confused - coincidence or just a complete lack of driving ability and situational awareness?

Incidentally, I don't buy the "no-one should be going faster than 70" argument. Let's face it, many motorists choose to exceed the motorway and dual-carriageway speed limit (I'm sure we've all done it...) - and it's not my job to stop them by being unnecessarily obstructive. On top of that, it's already been pointed out that many speedos overread slightly, so your 70mph could be my 67mph. I'd much rather be overtaken by someone doing in excess of 100mph (but who's aware of everything that's going on and is showing due consideration for other traffic) than be stuck behind someone at 55mph in the middle lane, oblivious to everything else around them.

 

[GearJammer]

If a trucks doing over 60mph then it should be due to the amount of weight pushing them along on a down hill grade, once you've reached the bottom of the grade the momentum can still take you along for quite some time.

No Truck should be out in the third lane under normal circumstances.

 

[Dreadnought]

I soon caught her up at the J24 roundabout, where she was getting into a bit of a tangle, drifting across lanes and generally giving the impression of being confused - coincidence or just a complete lack of driving ability and situational awareness?

More likely using a sat-nav and following it religiously to the letter!

 

[Tomnick]

If a trucks doing over 60mph then it should be due to the amount of weight pushing them along on a down hill grade, once you've reached the bottom of the grade the momentum can still take you along for quite some time.

No Truck should be out in the third lane under normal circumstances.

I suspect this was rather more than that - I'd say (without exaggeration) that the speed was easily in excess of 80mph, remembering that I was doing more than 70mph when I was overtaken. I got the impression that this was something more than a professional driver going about his day's work, which is why I kept well clear!

 

[GearJammer]

Well thats been over 70mph <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

 

[Tomnick]

On a long falling gradient? This wasn't particularly so!

 

[90019]

If a trucks doing over 60mph then it should be due to the amount of weight pushing them along on a down hill grade

The truck I got passed by recently doing at least 70 was on a stretch with a slight uphill slope, it was quite an impressive sight. I reckon the limiter had been disabled

 

[imagination]

edit. (edited as i was responding to the wrong page by mistake)

 

[9K43]

If they sack all the Police, who will enforce these new penalties?