I've also noticed that everybody waves a lot too

Well a lack of interdigital skin flaps is quite something to be proud of around those country backwaters.

Well a lack of interdigital skin flaps is quite something to be proud of around those country backwaters.

Nick, this really made me laugh...

I've only lived in the West country for 9 months and I see this all the time.

I'm an ex London bus driver and I often wonder if these idiots even have the

faintest inkling that what they are doing contravenes the Highway Code.

I bet they sit there wondering why the bloke behind is getting in such a

state.

Can you actually cite cite a rule that says something like "you shall not let people out of side turnings"? I'm seriously interested because I can't think of one as such, and was actively encouraged to do so by my ADI, when doing so did not require me to slow.

However, if:-

1) You have to slow down.

2) You are being followed by 1 or more other vehicles, I would suggest that this is potential for a "driving without due consideration..." charge.

I agree with your point, but honestly can't think of the HC cite.

Can you actually cite cite a rule that says something like "you shall not let people out of side turnings"? I'm seriously interested because I can't think of one as such, and was actively encouraged to do so by my ADI, when doing so did not require me to slow.

However, if:-

1) You have to slow down.

2) You are being followed by 1 or more other vehicles, I would suggest that this is potential for a "driving without due consideration..." charge.

I agree with your point, but honestly can't think of the HC cite.

They are pointing out about slowing down - this really annoys me too. It is driving without due care, causing an obstruction, not keeping up with flow of traffic to name but a few.

I failed my test for 'causing an obstruction' on a reverse round a corner as someone flashed me to carry on through the corner and examiner stated i should have pulled back forward.....Similar situation here in slowing or even stopping on a highway to let someone out sitting at a give way......Clue is in the Give Way!

Got stuck behind one of the nearly dead the other day driving at a speed randomly set between 25 and 50mph tapping out Morse with the brakes.

Found he lives about 200m from me. I did consider killing him and throwing the body in the nearby river. As a community service of course.

Can you actually cite cite a rule that says something like "you shall not let people out of side turnings"? I'm seriously interested because I can't think of one as such, and was actively encouraged to do so by my ADI, when doing so did not require me to slow.

However, if:-

1) You have to slow down.

2) You are being followed by 1 or more other vehicles, I would suggest that this is potential for a "driving without due consideration..." charge.

I agree with your point, but honestly can't think of the HC cite.

Bit of a presumption on my part.

To the best of my knowledge the road traffic system in this country has never taken unto its bossom a left hand equivalent of the French system, a sort of "Priorite a gauche". From recollection, tentative support for this premise is found in the Highway Code rule that traffic emerging from a side road shouldn't cause on coming traffic to slow down or stop - even if its a voluntary act on the part of the traffic on the main road. To allow this concept to develop and prosper would undoubted impair the efficiency of main arterial roads and ultimately lead to the downfall of western civilisation - I'm excluding the French of course

Nick

As pointed out above, it is inconsiderate/DWDCA if you force other traffic to alter their course/speed - it is obviously illogical to be courteous to someone without right of way, but discourteous to someone behind you and established on the road, especially when it would often be quicker to maintain your speed and allow the person to pull into the next available gap anyway. It sometimes results in confusion all round, the person in the side road fails to emerge and everybody grinds to a complete halt. OK there may be some very very busy roads with incessant traffic where easing off and letting someone out might just be for the greater good, but rarely.

Yes perhaps of the raise in the cost of the fuel. Gradually people just want to cut down the speed.

Doesn't save fuel though!

Had a right one at the weekend. Stuck at 17-22mph, line of traffic behind him for 5 miles, nothing in front, get to a 2 lane traffic light, he takes left turn lane, all the people desperate to get past take outside. Yep, lights change, engine roars, undertakes anyone that got ahead and resumes 17mph! Finally got to 2 lane road, he pulls straight into right lane, now doing 20 in a 40! I selected the faster moving queue (cough) and left the numpty to it. After 2 minutes there was no traffic behind me in sight. It is not fuel saving, it is some sort of mental disorder.

So I averaged 28mpg instead of 45!

Doesn't save fuel though!

Yes it does, if I reduce my speed from 70 to 60mph my mpg goes up by an average of 10mpg

You instance above has NOTHING at all to do with driving economically, just VERY poor driving standards.

Yes it does, if I reduce my speed from 70 to 60mph my mpg goes up by an average of 10mpg

You instance above has NOTHING at all to do with driving economically, just VERY poor driving standards.

I'm talking about town driving, people chopping 10mph of motorway speeds obviously saves a bit, and doesn't block traffic, that is completely different and causes no issue.

Edited 6 September, 201114 yr by Kandy

Philje, i hate prius's too, i find they always seem to be the drivers that drive fast and aggressively and wish they could afford an Audi.

Martyn, i may be 22yrs old and 5% of the time i drive like a man on the way to his own funeral but 95% of the time i am one of those annoying people that do never anymore thatn 45mph on NSL's and Dual carriageways. on the motorway i normally stick to 50mph unless there are lots of lorries in which case i might speed up to 56mph.

HOWEVER i drive slowly for economy reason, so yes i coast up to roundabout abouts often... but also if the road if dry and relatively clear i often zip straight over the roundabout at 45mph so i don't have to get back up to speed again, just an economy thing.

i know it makes me look a bit sparradict on the roads, but i may do 45mph on a dual carriageway, but down a twisty country lane i will do the same and i always keep my speed up in the corners.

I often find myself overtaking cars that do 50mph on the straight but slow down to 30mph for the corners as they are affecting my economy by braking too much. normally it irritates them when after i pass them i slow down to 45mph, hehe.

Edited 6 September, 201114 yr by Sonner

I'm 22 but drive almost the opposite to you. I don't drive at 10/10ths anymore, those days are long gone but I will always do speed limits and will never impede anyone elses progress. I get up to speed as quickly as possible then watch the road ahead to anticipate others. I'll ease off well in advance of roundabouts and try to stay off the throttle as much as possible and use as little as possible when I need too. I do this while sticking to limits. However, if someone is in front for example doing 40 or 50 in a NSL, where safe I overtake them as quickly as I can, get back up to speed and settle back down. One thing I have noticed is that I've always been taught to overtake as quickly and as safely as possible. One thing I've noticed is people overtaking and using just enough power. Seen quite a few close calls with people overtaking and nearly having a head on collision and all because they didn't overtake quick enough or drop it that one gear more.

yes i think i have overtaken thousands of cars over the years. and too fequently do i see amg merc and v8 jaguars not overtake quick enough and get themselves into potentially dangerous situations.

And i've not lost my need for speed, i do still enjoy driving a car to the absolute limit but i disagree with the idea of accelerating up to speed quickly is more econmical than building up speed slower. i can drive to work(a 32miles 1hr commute)pulling out of side roads onto busy main roads and never go over 2000rpm once... it helps that my little 1.6 it very torquey compared to the petrol fabia's and i can take almost any hill in 5th staying under 45mph..

I'm off home, gonna overtake some cars on the way.

Godspeed

Edited 6 September, 201114 yr by Sonner

I'm 22 but drive almost the opposite to you. I don't drive at 10/10ths anymore, those days are long gone but I will always do speed limits and will never impede anyone elses progress. I get up to speed as quickly as possible then watch the road ahead to anticipate others. I'll ease off well in advance of roundabouts and try to stay off the throttle as much as possible and use as little as possible when I need too. I do this while sticking to limits. However, if someone is in front for example doing 40 or 50 in a NSL, where safe I overtake them as quickly as I can, get back up to speed and settle back down. One thing I have noticed is that I've always been taught to overtake as quickly and as safely as possible. One thing I've noticed is people overtaking and using just enough power. Seen quite a few close calls with people overtaking and nearly having a head on collision and all because they didn't overtake quick enough or drop it that one gear more.

This is pretty much how I drive, except it looks like I do a better job of it than Martyn, as my fuelly log is higher I rarely go over about 2.5k rpm when driving economically, with the exception being overtaking, of course! I get up to speed at a reasonable rate, not as quickly as possible as this implies redlining in 1st and 2nd for 50-60 mph: not economical! Always try to maintain as much speed as is safe to do so around corners as well to save having to get back up to speed.

If you ask me, the main reason people have slowed down is the cost of fuel. I know this applies to me. I guess I haven't slowed down too much, just learnt to drive more economically, but you do see some dismal standards of driving on the road!

Haha the reason my fuelly is so low is because of the 10 mile stretch of country road to my cousins house who I see about once a week. So that's 20 miles of brisk driving. Plus it's been a while since I updated it and doesn't help I don't drive half as much as I used to and it's only short trips. I never redline the car but being a diesel I use almost full throttle and shift at about 2 -2.5k when driving economically to get up to speed and gentle as I can on the throttle, off it more than on it, etc.

I was told "the speed limit isn't a target".

Yeah right. I'm on it all the time and why do people stop at roundabouts when it's totally clear ?

Driving very slowly makes me drowsy but when up to speed it makes you very alert of your surroundings. No wonder there are so many rear end shunts these days when people drift off to sleep at 20 mph!!

Keep up with the flow and don't cause obstructions that's how I was taught.

Martyn, i may be 22yrs old and 5% of the time i drive like a man on the way to his own funeral but 95% of the time i am one of those annoying people that do never anymore thatn 45mph on NSL's and Dual carriageways. on the motorway i normally stick to 50mph unless there are lots of lorries in which case i might speed up to 56mph.

Very poor practice of driving. That speed isn't keeping up with the flow of traffic and especially on Dual Carriageways all you are doing is making lorries overtake you causing a blockage in the overtaking lane.

Also 45mph on a NSL is similar as you get people backing up behind you twitching to overtake. Do yourself a favour and the patience of other road users and do the speed limit.

You won't notice much difference in lost MPG as usually around 60mph is the most economical speed for most cars.

I was told "the speed limit isn't a target".

Yeah right. I'm on it all the time and why do people stop at roundabouts when it's totally clear ?

Driving very slowly makes me drowsy but when up to speed it makes you very alert of your surroundings. No wonder there are so many rear end shunts these days when people drift off to sleep at 20 mph!!

Keep up with the flow and don't cause obstructions that's how I was taught.

The speed limit is not a target, and if you can't cope with people who drive below it or it makes you drowsy, then you need to rethink about your driving and perhaps consider taking some further training.

Constantly having this argument with swmbo. On a long drive I like to do 60 (65 tops) with cruise on. She's always banging on about "but it'll take us longer to get there" to which I reply "and the time you've saved by speeding up you'll spend at the pumps refilling. So now you've made the same journey take the same amount of time but cost more."

Followed by ten minutes of stony silence.

The speed limit is not a target, and if you can't cope with people who drive below it or it makes you drowsy, then you need to rethink about your driving and perhaps consider taking some further training.

OTOH 45mph on an NSL dual carriageway will cause you to fail your driving test (any vehicle class).

OTOH 45mph on an NSL dual carriageway will cause you to fail your driving test (any vehicle class).

Agreed, BUT, the OP hasn't stated the types of road, and in your case, 55 wouldn't.

I can drive from here to work (48 miles) "like I stole it" at or above the speed limits, or I can potter along at 30 in the built up areas and 55 the rest of the way. The latter takes me about 5 minutes long, uses a load less fuel, and I'm more chilled.

Oh, and I am still "making progress" as I have been taught!!

Agreed, BUT, the OP hasn't stated the types of road, and in your case, 55 wouldn't.

I can drive from here to work (48 miles) "like I stole it" at or above the speed limits, or I can potter along at 30 in the built up areas and 55 the rest of the way. The latter takes me about 5 minutes long, uses a load less fuel, and I'm more chilled.

Oh, and I am still "making progress" as I have been taught!!

no but sonner did. I did actually fail my test for doing 55-60mph on a dual carriageway.

Interesting thread

Lately I have been driving a bit slower, I can see about a 5mpg improvement by not always overtaking the car in front on country roads and doing 60-65 on motorways and dual carriageways. I seem to arrive at my destination more relaxed this way too.

I was told "the speed limit isn't a target".

Yeah right. I'm on it all the time and why do people stop at roundabouts when it's totally clear ?

Driving very slowly makes me drowsy but when up to speed it makes you very alert of your surroundings. No wonder there are so many rear end shunts these days when people drift off to sleep at 20 mph!!

Keep up with the flow and don't cause obstructions that's how I was taught.

Indeed.

I'm 22 but drive almost the opposite to you. I don't drive at 10/10ths anymore, those days are long gone but I will always do speed limits and will never impede anyone elses progress. I get up to speed as quickly as possible then watch the road ahead to anticipate others. I'll ease off well in advance of roundabouts and try to stay off the throttle as much as possible and use as little as possible when I need too. I do this while sticking to limits. However, if someone is in front for example doing 40 or 50 in a NSL, where safe I overtake them as quickly as I can, get back up to speed and settle back down. One thing I have noticed is that I've always been taught to overtake as quickly and as safely as possible. One thing I've noticed is people overtaking and using just enough power. Seen quite a few close calls with people overtaking and nearly having a head on collision and all because they didn't overtake quick enough or drop it that one gear more.

I'd rather be behind you than;

Martyn, i may be 22yrs old and 5% of the time i drive like a man on the way to his own funeral but 95% of the time i am one of those annoying people that do never anymore thatn 45mph on NSL's and Dual carriageways. on the motorway i normally stick to 50mph unless there are lots of lorries in which case i might speed up to 56mph.