Driving well below the speed limit

[Egg Centric]

Did you have time on Sunday to do this? Just out of interest

No. Maybe next weekend...

 

[Peter Sarf]

Had one today.
Nothing behind me, I was doing an indicated 29-30mph (so usually 28 or less) in a 30mh area. Out pulls this car in front of me forcing me down to about 5mph. They accelerated up to approximately 20mph. Dithered in a few places where there were parked cars (but nothing coming the other way). Then during their last dither I was considering overtaking but I hesitated and they turned right into a driveway - it was obvious that their expensive car did not have indicators fitted.

 

[Mat17]

I'd love a small display screen mounted to the roof of my car (like a taxi sign would be) that you could press a button and it flashes, so when they look in their mirror they can see it saying "It's 30mph" or whatever the speed for the road is.

 

[bramling]

I'd love a small display screen mounted to the roof of my car (like a taxi sign would be) that you could press a button and it flashes, so when they look in their mirror they can see it saying "It's 30mph" or whatever the speed for the road is.

The problem with that is the “when they look”! One of the reasons these muppets drive so badly is because they don’t seem to look around them.

 

[AM9]

The problem with that is the “when they look”! One of the reasons these muppets drive so badly is because they don’t seem to look around them.

Besides the fact that any illuminated sign on a vehicle's exterior, (beyond what is required) is illegal unless it falls into certain legitimate categories, e.g a bus desitnation blind. There's no problem displaying a passive sign (e.g. LCD).

 

[Peter Sarf]

Besides the fact that any illuminated sign on a vehicle's exterior, (beyond what is required) is illegal unless it falls into certain legitimate categories, e.g a bus desitnation blind. There's no problem displaying a passive sign (e.g. LCD).

How about a high powered laser.........

 

[AM9]

How about a high powered laser.........

In accordance with the new standard EN 50689 for laser pointers, the maximum permissible power is limited to 1 mW. Not high power but still illegal unconstrained in a public place.

 

[Mat17]

Besides the fact that any illuminated sign on a vehicle's exterior, (beyond what is required) is illegal unless it falls into certain legitimate categories, e.g a bus desitnation blind. There's no problem displaying a passive sign (e.g. LCD).

I'll have to buy a bus.

 

[AM9]

I'll have to buy a bus.

Still not legal, displying distracting information. Why not concentrate on your driving rather than trying to influence others.

 

[Mat17]

Still not legal, displying distracting information. Why not concentrate on your driving rather than trying to influence others.

It was a joke!

 

[FrontSideBus]

How about mounting a horn from a Class 37 or other loco under the bonnet with a compressor in the boot. A quick high-low-high might encourage those slow moving cars to make some progress.

 

[Mat17]

How about mounting a horn from a Class 37 or other loco under the bonnet with a compressor in the boot. A quick high-low-high might encourage those slow moving cars to make some progress.

Hahaha!

 

[Sun Chariot]

How about mounting a horn from a Class 37 or other loco under the bonnet with a compressor in the boot. A quick high-low-high might encourage those slow moving cars to make some progress.

Many years ago (the late 1980s), I read of a UK trucker who installed class 31 horns.
I wonder if he ever drove to Railway property and confused the heck out of people when sounding his horn...

 

[Peter Sarf]

How about mounting a horn from a Class 37 or other loco under the bonnet with a compressor in the boot. A quick high-low-high might encourage those slow moving cars to make some progress.

I would hope for some damn good sound insulation between me and the horn(s). Not sure I would ever notice anything again .

To ADD.
On my way back home from my previous journey up thread.

I encountered someone coming the opposite way trying to turn right into ALDI. The car park was log jammed and the entourage trying to turn right was starting from the far left of their side of the road rather than the centre. So those wanting to go straight on were stuck behind them. POSITIONING !. The leader was far enough across my direction that we too could stop and wonder at humanities abilities.

A growing crescendo of angry button use ensued. Eventually the person in the car park entrance managed to reverse back far enough to get round the non-moving car and enter through the exit straight into a space. The rest followed into the dead end. It then became apparent that the car stopped was faffing around in the car park entrance loading trolleys of shopping. They had stuffed the whole of the area.

I nearly got out to go over to them and explain their selfish folly. But it looked like a more angry driver trying to get into the car park was beating me to it. A gap appeared in the nose to tail queue and I pressed on towards home.

A prime example of selfish and stupid behaviour from fellow humans.
But I will not let it get to me
(will I ?).

 

[AM9]

It was a joke!

OK, - bit too childish for me to appreciate.

 

[Mat17]

OK, - bit too childish for me to appreciate.

The joys of working in primary education I suppose, their sense of humour has been passed onto me.

 

[FrontSideBus]

People who accelerate slowly are just as bad. Makes my blood boil when I'm doing the speed limit on a main road ect, and I see, well up in the distance, somebody pull out from a junction or something. As I get a bit nearer I can see they are pulling away very slowly, so I roll off the throttle... then after a bit more I can see they are STILL not getting up to speed and now I'm getting close and I'm having to brake and change down the gears! Now I'm right on their bumper and they are still only doing like 30mph on a 50 or 60!
Really?

I've also had it when pulling out of a junction onto a main road behind somebody, they pull out, I edge up to the line, check to see nothing is coming and then pull out and immediately have to brake as they are still there barely any further away from the junction itself doing walking pace!

 

[PeterC]

People who accelerate slowly are just as bad. Makes my blood boil when I'm doing the speed limit on a main road ect, and I see, well up in the distance, somebody pull out from a junction or something. As I get a bit nearer I can see they are pulling away very slowly, so I roll off the throttle... then after a bit more I can see they are STILL not getting up to speed and now I'm getting close and I'm having to brake and change down the gears! Now I'm right on their bumper and they are still only doing like 30mph on a 50 or 60!
Really?

I've also had it when pulling out of a junction onto a main road behind somebody, they pull out, I edge up to the line, check to see nothing is coming and then pull out and immediately have to brake as they are still there barely any further away from the junction itself doing walking pace!

Then they deliberately stay slow because you are "bullying" them.

 

[FrontSideBus]

I don't think so since I'm probably a half a mile away when I see them and come off the throttle...

 

[birchesgreen]

To be honest i was taught to accelerate gradually up to the desired road speed, which of course might be below the legal limit due to conditions.

 

[Lewisham2221]

To be honest i was taught to accelerate gradually up to the desired road speed, which of course might be below the legal limit due to conditions.

If you're doing that, you need to be making sure that the gap you are pulling into is sufficient that you can pull out and accelerate gradually, without affecting other traffic. If you pulled out of a junction and forced someone else to brake whilst on your driving test, you would fail.

 

[Bletchleyite]

To be honest i was taught to accelerate gradually up to the desired road speed, which of course might be below the legal limit due to conditions.

If you're doing that, you need to be making sure that the gap you are pulling into is sufficient that you can pull out and accelerate gradually, without affecting other traffic. If you pulled out of a junction and forced someone else to brake whilst on your driving test, you would fail.

Indeed. One of the core principles is that you should not take an action that would cause another road user to have to change speed or direction to avoid a collision.

 

[Bald Rick]

People who accelerate slowly are just as bad. Makes my blood boil when I'm doing the speed limit on a main road ect, and I see, well up in the distance, somebody pull out from a junction or something. As I get a bit nearer I can see they are pulling away very slowly, so I roll off the throttle... then after a bit more I can see they are STILL not getting up to speed and now I'm getting close and I'm having to brake and change down the gears! Now I'm right on their bumper and they are still only doing like 30mph on a 50 or 60!
Really?

Happened to me tonight. A woman pulled out of a side road a good 200metres in front of me, and right behind a car heading passing in the direction she was going. The offender was in an Ioniq 5, which has superb acceleration. Less than 30 seconds later I’m behind her, having to brake. (I was on my bike, doing about 25mph).

Even worse happened in this situation - and it happens a lot in queues approaching traffic lights - is people who for whatever reason don’t keep up with the vehicle in front. The SCOOT loops then detect a gap, and turn the lights red in front of the dawdler, delaying everyone behind unnecessarily.

Then they deliberately stay slow because you are "bullying" them.

In my case tonight I doubt that someone in a car weighing over 2 tonnes could possibly be bullied by a middle aged bloke on a bike from 200 metres away.

 

[bramling]

To be honest i was taught to accelerate gradually up to the desired road speed, which of course might be below the legal limit due to conditions.

Nothing massively wrong with that, I don’t really like to floor my cars, I prefer to reach a higher speed and stick to it and if possible avoid having to drop speed unnecessarily (especially if it involves having to use the brake).

But if you’re pulling out into a gap then it should be done in such a way as to avoid forcing someone else to have to slow down.

As ever, it’s often the ones who make a botched pulling out move that then drive slowly. Which is quite maddening when you think they they clearly aren’t in any hurry, but yet despite this can’t be bothered to wait for a proper gap to emerge.

Just the same as the “middle lane, brake lights, indicator on, must change lanes to the right *now*” idiots on the motorway. Given they’re clearly not under time pressure, why the urgency to change lanes?

 

[birchesgreen]

Oh yes you shouldn't slow people down but just saying not everyone should race up to the limit.

 

[gswindale]

Oh yes you shouldn't slow people down but just saying not everyone should race up to the limit.

Reminds me of the time that I was sat at the front of a set of traffic lights with a "boy racer" alongside me rocking back & forth in his souped up Golf (I think it was).

Lights changed, I released the handbrake and gently accelerated across the junction. I think the car behind me also made it through before him!

 

[DerekC]

One thing that really annoys me is a car joining a 70mph dual carriageway, indicating right and coming out straight into the traffic doing 60-65 mph in lane 1 at a steady 45mph bumble, making no attempt to accelerate. It's a safety problem too, if there's steady 70mph traffic in lane 2. (Motorways have longer entry slips so seem less of a problem). Conversely I get irritated by people who expect you to move over into lane 2 for them as they join and then try to overtake on the inside when you are doing 70mph (but that's OT).

 

[gabrielhj07]

One thing that really annoys me is a car joining a 70mph dual carriageway, indicating right and coming out straight into the traffic doing 60-65 mph in lane 1 at a steady 45mph bumble, making no attempt to accelerate. It's a safety problem too, if there's steady 70mph traffic in lane 2. (Motorways have longer entry slips so seem less of a problem). Conversely I get irritated by people who expect you to move over into lane 2 for them as they join and then try to overtake on the inside when you are doing 70mph (but that's OT).

Anybody who joins the A41 southbound at Berkhamsted will appreciate this problem. The sight lines at that junction are so poor that I often have to floor the accelerator to join at a decent speed.

 

[AM9]

Anybody who joins the A41 southbound at Berkhamsted will appreciate this problem. The sight lines at that junction are so poor that I often have to floor the accelerator to join at a decent speed.

Joining the M1 southbound at J6 isn't too clever having negotiated the bends in Mount Pleasant Lane, but the slip is at least longer than the A41 Chesham Road one.

 

[PeterC]

Anybody who joins the A41 southbound at Berkhamsted will appreciate this problem. The sight lines at that junction are so poor that I often have to floor the accelerator to join at a decent speed.

The token acceleration and deceleration lanes at that junction are that junction are "interesting". When leaving northbound I always worry about being rear ended as I need to start braking while still on the main line.