Driving well below the speed limit

[Brent Goose]

When I was (a lot) younger I used to gets to and from work from a colleague who when going straight on at a roundabout would signal right then left at the exit. I’d forgotten about this until I was behind somdone doing the same thing last week.

Another roundabout annoyance on dual carriageways is people who always come out of the roundabout in the fast lane despite the near side being clear and then displaying glacial rates of acceleration

 

[Meerkat]

I remember being reminded by my instructor that a bit of road on my test route was 40mph and I would be advised to distinctly accelerate from 30mph to 40mph.

This isn't clear cut. We remorselessly wound up our boss after he admitted he had failed a driving test for driving too slow, but at least part of the reason is that he was judged to have not seen the change in speed limit because he didn't react to it, and therefore wasn't paying enough attention to signs.

 

[PeterC]

When I was (a lot) younger I used to gets to and from work from a colleague who when going straight on at a roundabout would signal right then left at the exit. I’d forgotten about this until I was behind somdone doing the same thing last week.

Another roundabout annoyance on dual carriageways is people who always come out of the roundabout in the fast lane despite the near side being clear and then displaying glacial rates of acceleration

I have a vague memory of signalling right actually being advice given to drivers. I have no idea now if it was a short lived aberration of the Highway Code or another source. It wasn't what I learned in the late 60s and always seemed counter intuitive and dangerous to me.

A agree about the slow accelerators in Lane 2 They seem common on the northbound A41 at the M25 junction, seemingly incapable of understanding that they need a bit of extra pressure to accelerate uphill

 

[Chuffing Heck]

I have a vague memory of signalling right actually being advice given to drivers. I have no idea now if it was a short lived aberration of the Highway Code or another source. It wasn't what I learned in the late 60s and always seemed counter intuitive and dangerous to me.

A agree about the slow accelerators in Lane 2 They seem common on the northbound A41 at the M25 junction, seemingly incapable of understanding that they need a bit of extra pressure to accelerate uphill

Noticed new drivers are using cruise control/speed limiters especially with cars with automatic gearboxes so the car will speed up in the most efficient way, and keep to speed limit.
Not sure if this being taught by instructors or something that is the latest trend.

 

[MotCO]

I have a vague memory of signalling right actually being advice given to drivers. I have no idea now if it was a short lived aberration of the Highway Code or another source. It wasn't what I learned in the late 60s and always seemed counter intuitive and dangerous to me.

My parents learnt to drive in the early sixties, and they were taught to signal right, then left, when going straight ahead at roundabouts.

 

[Peter Sarf]

My parents learnt to drive in the early sixties, and they were taught to signal right, then left, when going straight ahead at roundabouts.

I can guess that on a roundabout with two or more lanes on it and also two+ lanes for the exits the following might be appropriate - If in the left most lane indicating right might help the person in lane two realise you are not turning off, even if they wanted to. But that seems a rather complicated/cumbersome set of rules.

The problem I have seen on big roundabouts is the poor soul who cannot keep in one lane. They effectively follow a straighter route - sort of the racing line, cutting up other road users in the process. OK of course if you are going faster than everyone else but if slow and dithering you have to be careful about what is behind you. Actually that might sum up middle lane cruisers, not such a problem if they are going faster !.

On roundabouts I have learnt to be very wary of peoples left indicator if I am waiting to join. Some indicate left as soon as they see their exit - even if there are one or two more entrances to get past !. So I often look at where their wheels are pointing. That seems to me to be the worst behaviour on roundabouts - not inconvenient but accident producing.

 

[jon0844]

Shortcutting on roundabouts is a real pain, as is people going right from the left lane. We have a roundabout with three lanes going on, becoming four lanes on the roundabout itself, and it's not uncommon to see someone who thinks they have the fastest car to go into lane one (which should exit immediately) and cut across all four lanes to go right. They get away with it until they don't (i.e. they meet another car that decides to go fast also).

The line markings are terrible and there's an adverse camber to make things worse, but given the regular collisions (almost daily) aren't life threatening, there seems to be no desire to fix it.

 

[bramling]

Shortcutting on roundabouts is a real pain, as is people going right from the left lane. We have a roundabout with three lanes going on, becoming four lanes on the roundabout itself, and it's not uncommon to see someone who thinks they have the fastest car to go into lane one (which should exit immediately) and cut across all four lanes to go right. They get away with it until they don't (i.e. they meet another car that decides to go fast also).

The line markings are terrible and there's an adverse camber to make things worse, but given the regular collisions (almost daily) aren't life threatening, there seems to be no desire to fix it.

Same round here. Both the South Mimms A1/M25 roundabouts, and A1(M) junctions 7, 8 and 9 all have variations of these issues. In particular where people continue round the roundabout from the left-hand lane (in most cases through ignorance rather than deliberate I think), or don’t follow the markings correctly.

It does seem that a lot of people just don’t seem capable of devoting any actual thought to what they are doing.

 

[Meerkat]

The problem I have seen on big roundabouts is the poor soul who cannot keep in one lane. They effectively follow a straighter route - sort of the racing line, cutting up other road users in the process.

When I can sense this is about to happen I get ready to brake but deliberately leave it late then hoot, wanting them to feel they almost crashed. Probably a bit unwise but how else will they learn?

 

[AM9]

On roundabouts I have learnt to be very wary of peoples left indicator if I am waiting to join. Some indicate left as soon as they see their exit - even if there are one or two more entrances to get past !. So I often look at where their wheels are pointing. That seems to me to be the worst behaviour on roundabouts - not inconvenient but accident producing.

There's the opposite of that on a roundabout in St Albans, a three road junction where there are gaps of 90/90/180 degrees. Most of the traffic takes a 90 degree turn (both ways to/from the same roads) which means that the long way round many drivers put their RH indicators on and just turn off 270 degrees later without cancelling the signal, (let alone indicating a LH exit). So a queue builds up with traffic unable to enter the roundabout because so many cars indicate staying on the roundablout then swing off not leaving any time for entering before the next car comes round. Local know this to be at the A4147 at the western end of King Harry Lane, - part of an unofficial ring road.

 

[bramling]

When I can sense this is about to happen I get ready to brake but deliberately leave it late then hoot, wanting them to feel they almost crashed. Probably a bit unwise but how else will they learn?

Unfortunately you’re making the (reasonable) assumption that they will even notice. Many won’t notice a thing, others fall into the even worse box of making a mistake, failing to be aware they’ve made a mistake, and then take the biscuit by haranguing others as well.

Really a good proportion of people simply shouldn’t be in charge of a motor vehicle, but unfortunately for some reason society seems to take the view that “their lifeline” is more important than the trouble they cause to others.

 

[AM9]

Unfortunately you’re making the (reasonable) assumption that they will even notice. Many won’t notice a thing, others fall into the even worse box of making a mistake, failing to be aware they’ve made a mistake, and then take the biscuit by haranguing others as well.

Really a good proportion of people simply shouldn’t be in charge of a motor vehicle, but unfortunately for some reason society seems to take the view that “their lifeline” is more important than the trouble they cause to others.

"Their lifeline" could well be more important than irritation of others, especially if they are such good drivers that they avoid anything serious happening.

 

[bramling]

"Their lifeline" could well be more important than irritation of others, especially if they are such good drivers that they avoid anything serious happening.

That’s all well and good if we’re talking about just irritation. However if their poor driving causes a more serious accident, then it’s a bit more than irritation of others.

As for lifelines, a lot of people could do with more exercise. There’s an interesting correlation between the people I see parking in dumb places around my town and the rather unflattering shape of their belly.

 

[Brent Goose]

On roundabouts I have learnt to be very wary of peoples left indicator if I am waiting to join. Some indicate left as soon as they see their exit - even if there are one or two more entrances to get past !. So I often look at where their wheels are pointing. That seems to me to be the worst behaviour on roundabouts - not inconvenient but accident producing.

The absence of reliable indication is a pain, either where I could have pulled out had they divulged their intention to leave the roundabout or (worse) keep turning right without indicating such.

On the subject of indicating, when people are intending to turn right I’d rather they indicate first and then brake rather than come to a halt and then share the reason for doing so

 

[Bald Rick]

There's the opposite of that on a roundabout in St Albans, a three road junction where there are gaps of 90/90/180 degrees. Most of the traffic takes a 90 degree turn (both ways to/from the same roads) which means that the long way round many drivers put their RH indicators on and just turn off 270 degrees later without cancelling the signal, (let alone indicating a LH exit). So a queue builds up with traffic unable to enter the roundabout because so many cars indicate staying on the roundablout then swing off not leaving any time for entering before the next car comes round. Local know this to be at the A4147 at the western end of King Harry Lane, - part of an unofficial ring road.

I‘ve never really noticed that. Although when coming up the hill I do observe where the cars heading towards me have come from, and olan accordingly.

 

[LickeyIncliner]

One explanation for driving to the wrong speed limit that I haven't seen mentioned here (apologies if I've missed it) is a satnav giving wrong information. It shouldn't happen, but it does: I regularly use one road near Edinburgh where for at least a couple of miles TomTom maintains (despite regular updating) that the limit is 30 when it is clearly signposted as 50. Clearly drivers should read and act on the limits on the road signs, but if for example I'm on an unfamiliar rural road where the limit might be 60 but satnav is saying it's 40, it seems like responsible driving to assume that I've missed the 40 signs and to reduce speed accordingly - at least until I've driven far enough to be sure (from the absence of repeat signs) that it is 60.

That said, I doubt whether such errors are common with satnav systems, and obviously the opposite - signposted legal limit lower than satnav info - is possible and probably more common. Any long journey in Scotland is likely to go through at least one village where satnav shows 60 but rather new signs say 20.

 

[AM9]

One explanation for driving to the wrong speed limit that I haven't seen mentioned here (apologies if I've missed it) is a satnav giving wrong information. It shouldn't happen, but it does: I regularly use one road near Edinburgh where for at least a couple of miles TomTom maintains (despite regular updating) that the limit is 30 when it is clearly signposted as 50. Clearly drivers should read and act on the limits on the road signs, but if for example I'm on an unfamiliar rural road where the limit might be 60 but satnav is saying it's 40, it seems like responsible driving to assume that I've missed the 40 signs and to reduce speed accordingly - at least until I've driven far enough to be sure (from the absence of repeat signs) that it is 60.

Unfortunately, the situation with 40 & 50mph repeaters is far from reliable. In theory they should be every 200 yds, but they often aren't, or they are crowded out by hedgerow leaves or even so dirty that they are not visible. Of course, 20mph repeaters aren't always provided in built-up areas, - I wonder if a person picked a (hire) car up at a hotel within a 20 zone but there were no visible signs of the speed limit, would they be prosecuted fopr driving at 30mph?

 

[bspahh]

One explanation for driving to the wrong speed limit that I haven't seen mentioned here (apologies if I've missed it) is a satnav giving wrong information. It shouldn't happen, but it does: I regularly use one road near Edinburgh where for at least a couple of miles TomTom maintains (despite regular updating) that the limit is 30 when it is clearly signposted as 50. Clearly drivers should read and act on the limits on the road signs, but if for example I'm on an unfamiliar rural road where the limit might be 60 but satnav is saying it's 40, it seems like responsible driving to assume that I've missed the 40 signs and to reduce speed accordingly - at least until I've driven far enough to be sure (from the absence of repeat signs) that it is 60.

That said, I doubt whether such errors are common with satnav systems, and obviously the opposite - signposted legal limit lower than satnav info - is possible and probably more common. Any long journey in Scotland is likely to go through at least one village where satnav shows 60 but rather new signs say 20.

I find the speed limit display in Waze is pretty accurate. Where there are errors its usually from changes to the speed limits for roadworks.

 

[bramling]

Unfortunately, the situation with 40 & 50mph repeaters is far from reliable. In theory they should be every 200 yds, but they often aren't, or they are crowded out by hedgerow leaves or even so dirty that they are not visible. Of course, 20mph repeaters aren't always provided in built-up areas, - I wonder if a person picked a (hire) car up at a hotel within a 20 zone but there were no visible signs of the speed limit, would they be prosecuted fopr driving at 30mph?

I have heard that the local police like doing speed monitoring on the road outside Blenheim Palace around the time the palace closes. In this case the road is 30 mph, but it’s one of those roads which you probably wouldn’t outwardly expect to be 30 mph. Guess this is an example of the reasons why the police is another institution which the population increasingly views as rancid.

 

[Ashley Hill]

The trouble is everybody knows the roads in their area. I will happily drive around the roads I use regularly at a few miles below the speed limit (speed awareness course ) because I know where the sharp corners,hazards etc are. However,put me on a road I’ve never driven on ,especially single track,and I drive with caution as I literally do not know what’s around the next corner. Having a bigger car now doesn’t help either.

 

[Krokodil]

Of course, 20mph repeaters aren't always provided in built-up areas

Shouldn't be any at all in Wales where 20 is the default in built-up areas. 30 should have repeaters here.

 

[AM9]

Shouldn't be any at all in Wales where 20 is the default in built-up areas. 30 should have repeaters here.

Fair enough, but the default in most of the UK is 30mph.

 

[PeterC]

I have heard that the local police like doing speed monitoring on the road outside Blenheim Palace around the time the palace closes. In this case the road is 30 mph, but it’s one of those roads which you probably wouldn’t outwardly expect to be 30 mph. Guess this is an example of the reasons why the police is another institution which the population increasingly views as rancid.

I have never visited Blenheim but I assume that traffic enters from the A41 and exits onto the A4095

Looking on StreetView there are some street lights fixed to electricity distribution poles but these aren't obvious among the trees if you turn towards Oxford.

 

[canary fan]

There's an NSL road near me. Mostly straight, but with a fair few changes in vertical deviation.

The speed people take it, they may as well just put 30 signs along it... People will invariably do 30 along there, until they hit the 30 limit at either end, then they'll aim for 40.


A funny anecdote on lessons and speed and stuff...
I was doing an advanced driving course... Over ten years ago? I feel old now... and we were in a 30 limit. Instructor asks me what the speed limit is "30" "So why are you doing 28?!" I then aim for 30. "31?! Are you trying to kill us all?!"


On lane hoggers... Again many years ago, I was travelling along the M4 at night. I was doing "a speed suitable for the journey I was making and the conditions". I was in the rightmost lane as that felt the most appropriate place to be. End up meeting a pastel blue Fiat 500 sat in Lane 3 doing spot on 70. Lanes 1 and 2 were clear. No response to any polite requests to move over, so I end up passing on the inside in lane 1 - giving wiggle room if she decided to move over as I was passing. As I look when I'm going back to Lane 3, I get the dirtiest look from her.
Ok, did I *need* to be in Lane 3? Maybe not, but with the nature of the journey it seemed appropriate to get out and stay out as I was expecting to be overtaking everything else.

Though I've had it the other way, and been in Lane 3 on the M1 doing... "appropriate speeds for the journey" and having cars up my backside and moving over to let them pass. Did have one decide that actually if I'm doing my speed and moving over to let them go that perhaps they should ease off a bit. And had someone undertake me while I was doing my maximum permitted speed.



I guess the takeaway here is that you'll always find someone doing something unhelpful on the road.

Come on... It's a team sport. It's better if we work together.

This is nonsense. Firstly the third lane is an overtaking lane. If lanes 1 and 2 were clear, there was no reason for you to be in it. Secondly the national speed limit is the law. It is not for you to decide a suitable speed for the conditions, if that is in excess of the legal speed limit.

 

[jfollows]

This is nonsense. Firstly the third lane is an overtaking lane. If lanes 1 and 2 were clear, there was no reason for you to be in it. Secondly the national speed limit is the law. It is not for you to decide a suitable speed for the conditions, if that is in excess of the legal speed limit.

I agree.
Anyone who drives in lane three because they decide they're driving "fast enough" when the other lanes are clear is wrong, whether they're driving at 60mph or 110mph.
Also it's not for me to decide on a legal speed either, appropriate if under the speed limit maybe but no justification for exceeding the legal limit. The fact that I do so frequently is on me, and I don't try to justify it.

 

[jon0844]

Shortcutting on roundabouts is a real pain, as is people going right from the left lane. We have a roundabout with three lanes going on, becoming four lanes on the roundabout itself, and it's not uncommon to see someone who thinks they have the fastest car to go into lane one (which should exit immediately) and cut across all four lanes to go right. They get away with it until they don't (i.e. they meet another car that decides to go fast also).

The line markings are terrible and there's an adverse camber to make things worse, but given the regular collisions (almost daily) aren't life threatening, there seems to be no desire to fix it.

Just this morning and another post on Facebook from someone who was hit on this roundabout (Oldings Corner) a few hours ago by a car left of them cutting over to go right. Again, no major injuries so nothing for the county council or police to worry about, but a request for any witnesses.

To make things worse, they've recently changed the traffic lights and to speed things up they've cut the time from one set going red to the other set going green. Before there was an assumption that loads of cars will jump (they do) but now you have it so cars jumping are just a matter of metres away from being in a collision if the cars entering the roundabout aren't properly looking. These side-on collisions could be a lot more dangerous in terms of causing injury too. So if anything, the roundabout is now even less safe than it was before the upgrade.

 

[MotCO]

On the subject of indicating, when people are intending to turn right I’d rather they indicate first and then brake rather than come to a halt and then share the reason for doing so

I was taught ( in the late 70's) not to brake for a turning without using your indicators first.

 

[Krokodil]

I was taught ( in the late 70's) not to brake for a turning without using your indicators first.

Same when I learned around 10 years ago. "Mirror, signal, position, speed, look"

 

[Harpo]

Same when I learned around 10 years ago. "Mirror, signal, position, speed, look"

And do it specially early if there’s a motorbike in rear.

 

[jfollows]

I’m old school, but mirror-signal-manouevre still works for me. I wouldn’t dream of braking before indicating to turn, for example. It’s almost never necessary to brake when driving on a motorway, but I often come across the compulsive brakers, red lights for no reason, quite often in lane three.