Safe Speed Forums

I am 56, courteous, cautious and mostly law abiding on the road. However I am coming to the opinion that this approach to driving makes me a hazard for other drivers, and that I should seriously consider giving up driving.
For instance, at 01.00 on Saturday morning I had to drive 40 miles on a two-lane motorway. Non-existent roadworks for 5 miles with a mandatory 40 limit saw me being a hazard for everyone else in cars and HGVs who were completely ignoring the limit. Driving in 30 mph limits causes frustration for those drivers behind who wish to go faster and I am frequently overtaken in this situation. On the "open road" with a 60 limit I generally don't go faster then 50-55. If a "tail" develops then I pull over at the nearest safe place and let them all pass.
I usually don't pull out at junctions in front of other drivers if this would cause them to to slow down or deviate from their intended course, though of course I am on the receiving end all the time. This morning when I pulled out at a busy, fast roundabout in front of a "press-on" driver he or she started hooting and I had to stop part-way round roundabout to give precedence, holding everyone else up in the process.
I haven't had an accident in the car in 35 years apart from someone running into the rear whilst stationary at a junction and I don't have "near-misses" all the time. For everyone else's sake should I pack in driving or go back to a driving school for some lessons?

Is this some weird troll attempt intended to entrap us into advising you to break the law?

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Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

The OP could always consider taking the IAM course which will teach him how to drive confidently and assertively within the law.

And surveys show that a large majority of drivers travel below the speed limit on single-carriageway NSLs, so doing that isn't anything unusual.

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"Show me someone who says that they have never exceeded a speed limit, and I'll show you a liar, or a menace." (Austin Williams - Director, Transport Research Group)

Any views expressed in this post are personal opinions and may not represent the views of Safe Speed

"If Carlsberg made trolls..."

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[quote="SafeSpeed"]Is this some weird troll attempt intended to entrap us into advising you to break the law?[/quote]
Paul - please don't assume everyone lives under bridges in Scandinavia waiting to devour unsuspecting passers-by. :lol:

That wasn't an assumption. That was a question.

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Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

Hmm, in another thread I suggested that multiple groups of motorists with differing mindsets appears to have developed - the old vs the new if you like (although to demark in such a basic manner would be wrong).
It seems quite clear to me that, at times, 'the steady as she goes, stick within the law' group gets in the way of others who want to press-on, expedite their progress, keep up with flow or whatever they want to call it.

I wonder whether "A Cyclist" has considered that his username may lead people to think he is trolling on this forum, even if in fact he isn't.

I'm sure someone posting on Cycling+ as "A Petrolhead" would be dismissed by many there as a troll, regardless of what they actually wrote.

You can change your username within your profile.

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"Show me someone who says that they have never exceeded a speed limit, and I'll show you a liar, or a menace." (Austin Williams - Director, Transport Research Group)

Any views expressed in this post are personal opinions and may not represent the views of Safe Speed

Actually, only admins can do that...

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Carl Prescott

I don't think you can actually...

_________________
CSCP Latin for beginners...
Ticketo ergo sum : I scam therefore I am!

I think there has always been a disparity between people of different driving styles. From memory (although I wasn't old enough to drive then) in the 1960s there were proportionately more really slow drivers of dubious competence than there are now - many of whom would never have had to pass a test.

There is a significant difference between driving confidently within the speed limit and giving the impression you don't know what you're doing.

The point about doing the IAM course was a serious one - if you feel you are being intimidated for driving within the speed limit, then that would be very helpful.

This article by Paul Ripley is also relevant to this issue.

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"Show me someone who says that they have never exceeded a speed limit, and I'll show you a liar, or a menace." (Austin Williams - Director, Transport Research Group)

Any views expressed in this post are personal opinions and may not represent the views of Safe Speed

Ah no, it depends how the board's set up. I've used other phpBB boards where it's permitted

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"Show me someone who says that they have never exceeded a speed limit, and I'll show you a liar, or a menace." (Austin Williams - Director, Transport Research Group)

Any views expressed in this post are personal opinions and may not represent the views of Safe Speed

I think most safespeed posters realise that courtesy, empathy and patience are pre-requisites for driving. For that reason I don't think anyone here is going to say 'Yup, hand in your licence Mr Magoo.' I have an alternative point of view to the 'speed kills' brigade but I would never seek to pressurise another driver to break the speed limit for my own benefit. We all misjudge the speed of cars entering a roundabout on our right from time to time. We all cause queues in temporary speed limits when other drivers know where the cameras are. The fact that travelling over the speed limit in certain settings can be relatively risk free doesn't mean that people observing speed limits should be demonised.

BTW, the examples you give which lead to your concern seem unusual. I usually stick to 30 mph limts and have not been overtaken in my memory. With regard to roundabouts, I do try to limit anyone needing to brake on my behalf but haven't been beeped in years. Do you really think that the driving public is that aggressive and that different to your own driving style? Is there anything else that has led you to this conclusion that you haven't told us?

No way – you are right and the cops are failing by not getting the numbskulls out of their cars and onto the bus.

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I stole this .sig

I know, that's why I'm starting in May But not everyone can do this unfortunately.




You are absolutely right.
I just wonder if this is a generation gap thing. Older folks used to a steady pace of life, watching in dismay as younger more assertive and impatient generations rush, jostle, push and shove their way towards life's goals - metaphorically speaking of course.

Probably most people would get something out of extra driving training, but giving up driving sounds a bit extreme. Yes, tailgaters and other idiots are a pain, but the hazard is not of your making. Still worth knowing how best to deal with 'em IMO, since knowing that someone else is causing the hazard is only halfway to getting yourself out of it. Personally I used to get rid of tailgaters by finding a roundabout and doing a 360, or by deliberately taking another route and rejoining the faster road further down which almost always brings me out behind the tailgater. Since then I've read SafeSpeed's page on tailgating so I've got a few other tricks to deal with the problem. One of the ones I like to use is to find an overtaking spot for the tailgater, slow down even more and encourage the tailgater to overtake by waving him through. Basically, whatever gets him out of my hair (such as it is ) quickly and safely. At worst he has his accident somewhere else and at best it prevents him getting wound up. Eejits on roundabouts are another kettle of fish. One like that hit me when I was a new driver, and a few have "tried it" since. The first one taught me an expensive lesson (only had 3rd party at the time) and ever since I don't take it for granted that I've been seen by someone approaching a roundabout that I'm already on.

Can I ask what "mostly law abiding" means? People who say they're mostly law abiding often mean that they speed from time to time, so I'm wondering if that's what you mean. If so, and bearing in mind that you also try to be courteous and cautious, it makes you sound like a pretty safe driver who only gets lead in the boot when you judge it to be safe. Certainly 35 years with only someone running into the back of you is a pretty good track record, so you must be doing something right. And I'd rather share the road with a courteous driver who I might occasionally have to overtake than a headcase who drives like their car is on nandrolone.

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Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler - Einstein

A Mandatory limit? Speed limit signs or matrix signals? Matrix signals are only advisory, unless in a variable speed limit area, and the only one I know is the Western section of the M25.



Why not the latter? Although a thorough understanding of current Highway Code probably wouldn't go amiss.
How many people realize that Rule 242 allows for overtaking on the left And that it is permissible to cross double white lines, where the one nearest is unbroken, to pass certain road users. Oh, and that when turning right at a roundabout, the signal is given on the approach, not halfway round.

...and that you can enter and stop in a box junction if you are turning right and it is oncoming traffic that is impeding you....

Thanks for your comments. Perhaps I should point out that I live in County Durham where there are no fixed speed cameras, maybe that has some relevance.
The main problems seem to occur in the morning rush-hour when I am taking my daughter to the local station. Everyone seems to be in a tearing hurry. This morning for instance a driver in a Renault Megane waited behind (very close behind) until we were out of a 30 limit, didn't overtake immediately although he/ she could have done but instead overtook through a right-turn hatched area as a minibus started to turn right. As I was watching everything very closely I was able to brake almost to a stand so that said Megane driver didn't crash into either the minibus or my car or both.
I know the Highway Code very well - for instance that when following a cycle, horse or road maintenance vehicle where double solid white lines are present one can only overtake where they are travelling at 10 mph or less. In the real world however one is extremely unlikely to be prosecuted for infringing (rather than flouting) this law.
Gatsobait - I mean by mostly law-abiding that in the car I don't intentionally speed, but on my motorbike I used to take the national 60 limit with a pinch of salt where I judged it safe to do so and where I judged I was unlikely to be prosecuted. My licence has remained clean throughout but some of this is of course good fortune.
Another issue might be the car I am driving at the time. I get far more intimidation driving the Toyota Yaris than the Skoda Octavia - it's obviously a size thing. It's not as bad when I had a Fiat Panda and when I had a Citroen 2CV when I would get drivers forcing their way past and then going slower than I was going.
And to Grumps - the speed limit on the A1(M) was of the sign type with the white disc with the black diagonal stripe at the end of the so-called roadworks. Obviously the workmen should have removed the signs but I don't suppose it would cut much ice with a traffic policeman if one used this as an excuse.

In the scam cities this may be the case - but we actually cop 'em red handed around here.

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