Driving well below the speed limit

[Bald Rick]

I’m really grumpy today so forgive this in advance if it touches a nerve.

Why do people drive well below the permitted speed limit, even in good conditions, with clear visibility, and no hazards? I’m talking sub 40mph on a 60mph road, or 20mph on a 30mph road.

I have mentioned before the A1081 from St Albans to Harpeneden, where at any time of day there is always someone trundling along at 40mph in the 60 area, much to the frustration of those behind, as overtaking opportunities are limited. I see similar elsewhere. Now I am routinely seeing people driving at 20 in 30 limits everywhere I go. I put it down to inattention and rank poor driving. It can also be dangerous, and I know of at least one person who failed their test because of it.

Does anyone on here do this? If so why? Genuinely interested.

 

[The exile]

The weirdest reason I’ve ever had myself for “under speeding “ (particularly going gingerly round bends / corners) was a huge saucepan that was too full of chilli con carne in the boot! I did my best to ensure Icwasnt holding people up, though.

 

[bramling]

I’m really grumpy today so forgive this in advance if it touches a nerve.

Why do people drive well below the permitted speed limit, even in good conditions, with clear visibility, and no hazards? I’m talking sub 40mph on a 60mph road, or 20mph on a 30mph road.

I have mentioned before the A1081 from St Albans to Harpeneden, where at any time of day there is always someone trundling along at 40mph in the 60 area, much to the frustration of those behind, as overtaking opportunities are limited. I see similar elsewhere. Now I am routinely seeing people driving at 20 in 30 limits everywhere I go. I put it down to inattention and rank poor driving. It can also be dangerous, and I know of at least one person who failed their test because of it.

Does anyone on here do this? If so why? Genuinely interested.

Guess the answer is simply that some people have appalling situational awareness. I’m sure there’s a few that do it to be deliberately annoying though.

I certainly share your frustration.

It seems to be more of a southern thing. Generally once well away from the south-east I find the standard of driving improves (with a few exceptions mainly the big cities). I find I can spend a week in somewhere like Wales, and after a few days it suddenly “clicks” that one is able to drive around fairly sensibly without there being someone annoying everywhere. Naturally there’s the occasional exception, but generally they’re fairly few and far between.

 

[RuddA]

And then you get the drivers who never change speed regardless of the limit. You get stuck behind them, and then get left behind when you enter a 30, before catching them up again later.

 

[Cowley]

When I was trying to string my driving test out (yikes, 34 years ago now!) so that I didn’t have to do more driving around the various housing estates near the old test centre in Exeter, I trundled along a national speed limit road near where I live now at 45mph.

When we got back to the test centre and he told me that I’d psssed, he also said that I drove too slowly along that section and that if anyone had come up behind me he would have failed me, because they may have got frustrated and decided to overtake.

Always stuck with me that one.

 

[AM9]

I’m really grumpy today so forgive this in advance if it touches a nerve.

Why do people drive well below the permitted speed limit, even in good conditions, with clear visibility, and no hazards? I’m talking sub 40mph on a 60mph road, or 20mph on a 30mph road.

I have mentioned before the A1081 from St Albans to Harpeneden, where at any time of day there is always someone trundling along at 40mph in the 60 area, much to the frustration of those behind, as overtaking opportunities are limited. I see similar elsewhere. Now I am routinely seeing people driving at 20 in 30 limits everywhere I go. I put it down to inattention and rank poor driving. It can also be dangerous, and I know of at least one person who failed their test because of it.

Does anyone on here do this? If so why? Genuinely interested.

Those travelling along the A1081 are sometimes the type that get up to 40mph at the Tesco service station and fail to see the NSL sign by the entrance to Hawkswick, so continue at 40 ish until the Bull Road roundabout on the common. That's typical cruising for some. Probably the worst place that I know for it is the A31 Between Alton and the Arelsford Road roundabout where dual carriageway starts. Why is it done, - probably because 40mph is enough for them, and so long as the law allows people to travel at a speed that the driver considers safe (less than the speed limit of course) there isn't much that other road users can do about it.
On the other side of the coin, when I moved to St Albans in 1993, the B4630 Watford Road from the Noke to just north of the M10 bridge was 40mph, but it's been 30 on that stretch since at least 2000, yet there are still drivers who do everything they can to pressure those adhering to the speed limit to push towards 40. I usually engage cruise control at 32mph which i my car is just about 30 in reality and ignore the bullying.

 

[Harpo]

Under-speeders cars seem to automatically apply the brakes whenever the steering wheel gets moved.

 

[Sun Chariot]

The two most frequent causes I see / I hear of, in this part of the south coast:
1) Nervous or elderly driver.
2) Driver incapacitated through drugs.
Alarmingly frequent.

 

[bramling]

And then you get the drivers who never change speed regardless of the limit. You get stuck behind them, and then get left behind when you enter a 30, before catching them up again later.

There’s an even more annoying version of that, which is that they’re aggressively right up your backside in the 30, and then once you leave the 30 they disappear into the distance. Never understood the logic behind that one at all.

Theyre probably the same ones that go way too fast on country lanes with poor sight lines, but on a decent A-road will be doing 40.

 

[Jmonty24]

And then you get the drivers who never change speed regardless of the limit. You get stuck behind them, and then get left behind when you enter a 30, before catching them up again later.

Then when you find a gap to overtake them, they speed up! And treat you like you've driven dangerously.

 

[bramling]

Under-speeders cars seem to automatically apply the brakes whenever the steering wheel gets moved.

Panic braking really gets my back up. Just don’t understand why some people seem to dab their brakes all the time.

Then there’s the most ignorant of all, seen on motorways, which is brake lights come on, then a couple of seconds later the right indicator comes on, followed by a botched ill-judged move into the adjacent lane.

Again, never underestimate how thick a proportion of the population is. I’d love to put these people in a single rowing boat and see how long they’d last - perhaps this is why a lot of people seem to walk away within the first couple of weeks.

 

[Peter Sarf]

I’m really grumpy today so forgive this in advance if it touches a nerve.

Why do people drive well below the permitted speed limit, even in good conditions, with clear visibility, and no hazards? I’m talking sub 40mph on a 60mph road, or 20mph on a 30mph road.

I have mentioned before the A1081 from St Albans to Harpeneden, where at any time of day there is always someone trundling along at 40mph in the 60 area, much to the frustration of those behind, as overtaking opportunities are limited. I see similar elsewhere. Now I am routinely seeing people driving at 20 in 30 limits everywhere I go. I put it down to inattention and rank poor driving. It can also be dangerous, and I know of at least one person who failed their test because of it.

Does anyone on here do this? If so why? Genuinely interested.

I can remember in about 1997 recognising the posts for speed cameras going in on the A23. I had seen them in North London but they were new to Croydon to/from Hooley. It was mostly a thirty and I realised I was doing 40+ along with everyone else. So I immediately did my best to practice doing 30. I had to NOT go into 4th gear. However I could sense the wrath of the person behind me every day morning and evening. That experience ceased within months of the cameras working !.

A road leading close to my house is now 20mph. Guess what - people even overtake me on the wrong side of islands !. It is surrounded by 30mph roads and even I find it really hard to stick to 20mph.

Only today as a pedestrian I lost an opportunity to cross a very busy road because I thought someone would speed up and fill the gap I fancied, they did not speed up, as they passed I could see they were very interested in something below the steering wheel - I assume a mobile.

Yes there are some people who stick to one speed. That is especially out in the countryside. I think some of it is eyesight or just being old and slow. But if they are on a mobile then the driving is usually obviously erratic.

Oh gosh - you better check your familiar route btw. Maybe the 60mph has been reduced to 40mph - sometimes only obvious if the 60mph signs have been removed. A friend got points on the A2 like that (I think it was 60 down to 40). My mother nearly got banned on a road near home she used every day where the 40mph signs were removed and it became 30mph (houses and lamp posts) by default.

The weirdest reason I’ve ever had myself for “under speeding “ (particularly going gingerly round bends / corners) was a huge saucepan that was too full of chilli con carne in the boot! I did my best to ensure Icwasnt holding people up, though.

Guilty. Happened to me a few times. The missus asks me to take a large amount of food somewhere. As I begin to smell it (usually curry) more and more I start driving slower to save my carpets or seats. It will be in a large saucepan with lid held on by gravity. Obviously she maintains it is totally safe - but it isn't. I would drive rather carefully on bends or where I feared I might have to suddenly lose speed. I now have a rather large plastic box in the rear of the estate for standing dangerous cargo in and thus containing any spillages.

Panic braking really gets my back up. Just don’t understand why some people seem to dab their brakes all the time.

Then there’s the most ignorant of all, seen on motorways, which is brake lights come on, then a couple of seconds later the right indicator comes on, followed by a botched ill-judged move into the adjacent lane.

Again, never underestimate how thick a proportion of the population is. I’d love to put these people in a single rowing boat and see how long they’d last - perhaps this is why a lot of people seem to walk away within the first couple of weeks.

Brother in law will suddenly brake - nervousness I reckon. So 70mph to about 40mph - out of the blue. Scares the crap out of me - makes me jump and then I visualise the car behind me getting fooled !. On a long journey it exhausts me so I always volunteer to drive or I just do not go.

Brother in law will also middle lane cruise - it is so embarrassing.

On a motorway I will anticipate if someone needs to get out of lane one to overtake. I will slow down BUT it does my head in when they brake first then look/indicate. That means I have to slow down even more to let them out - or give up. The sort of person that cannot cope with changing lanes on a motorway is the sort of person that feels more comfortable staying put in the middle lane.

 

[gabrielhj07]

I have mentioned before the A1081 from St Albans to Harpeneden, where at any time of day there is always someone trundling along at 40mph in the 60 area, much to the frustration of those behind, as overtaking opportunities are limited. I see similar elsewhere. Now I am routinely seeing people driving at 20 in 30 limits everywhere I go. I put it down to inattention and rank poor driving. It can also be dangerous, and I know of at least one person who failed their test because of it.

Although I only drive that road at night, I often find myself pulling into a lay-by to let traffic past - my Land Rover won't do 60 on that road. But I do know what you mean; whenever I'm driving something quicker, I'm forever catching up with somebody doing about 35, and usually wandering in their lane too.

 

[Bishopstone]

With the prevalence of lower speed limits - 20mph in urban areas, and 40 or 50 on many A-roads that used to be 60mph - then for some less confident drivers 60mph now feels fast, or too fast, away from the motorway network.

At night time I drive more cautiously on A-roads than I did 20 years ago due to the twin menace of potholes, and oncoming traffic with malfunctioning ‘automatic’ high beams.

With longer life expectancy and pensioner wealth, plus Motability, there are simply more elderly, nervous drivers on the road than ever before.

Or perhaps the crawlers have electric cars, and need to make the trade-off between speed, and having the heater and radio on

 

[AlterEgo]

Worse than the underspeeder is the continuous-pressure driver where they keep their foot in the same place on the accelerator regeardless. Downhill they’ll do 60 and uphill they’ll do 30. Breezing through 30 zones at 40mph without a care.

 

[birchesgreen]

Could be a car problem and they are in limp home mode. Mostly likely not though.

The worst are those who go well under the limit, and then speed up when you overtake them.

 

[Cowley]

I do think where it comes to driving that some people are either incredibly nervous and that can be understandable for a great number of reasons - don’t know the road perhaps, maybe don’t have much driving experience, possibly elderly with slightly slower reactions, mind on other things, poor headlights at night etc. So there’s all of that stuff.

Then there’s another thing, which is that probably all of us that are posting on this thread have some kind of interest in the act of driving itself. Many people just don’t think about it though and pootle along thinking about other things and glancing at the satnav from time to time.

I wouldn’t say that I’m particularly a driving enthusiast but I do enjoy it at times and I enjoy how a car feels and drives etc. I’m also fascinated by geography, transport, even roads and motorway junctions.
Hmm, actually maybe I am a driving enthusiast then!

 

[Bald Rick]

Thanks for the replies everyone. With the exception of a couple of ‘dangerous cargo’ carriers no-one is saying they do this, and I can’t believe that all the examples at all hours of the day and night are driving curry around. On Monday I followed (2 vehicles removed) someone doing 20 in a 30 for 4 miles. Eventually they were overtaken by the vehicle behind - a loaded bin lorry. I’m going to put it all down to poor driving. And I’m sorry, if you are a nervous driver then you shouldn‘t be on the road. You wouldn’t want to fly in a plane with a nervous pilot, or see a nervous dentist.

Oh gosh - you better check your familiar route btw. Maybe the 60mph has been reduced to 40mph - sometimes only obvious if the 60mph signs have been removed.

It’s definitely 60.

Although I only drive that road at night, I often find myself pulling into a lay-by to let traffic past - my Land Rover won't do 60 on that road.

Good on you!

Could be a car problem and they are in limp home mode. Mostly likely not though.

If it is, there are a LOT of cars running about in limp mode.

 

[Mawkie]

Could it be that more cars have the automatic speed recognition warning system now and drivers don't want to turn it off, or don't know how to, so drive well under the limit to avoid the annoying beep and bongs?

 

[Cowley]

Although I only drive that road at night, I often find myself pulling into a lay-by to let traffic past - my Land Rover won't do 60 on that road.

Just to add that I do this as well. It’s much more relaxing not having someone frustrated in your mirror if they want to get past. Most people appreciate it too.

 

[DarloRich]

it is generally elderlies or those who, erm, didn't learn to drive in the UK. We see it a lot in Milton Keynes, that and brainless speeding in silly cars.

(Christ - I saw the Daily Mail this morning and I have gone Farage!)

Just to add that I do this as well. It’s much more relaxing not having someone frustrated in your mirror if they want to get past. Most people appreciate it too.

If I get an audi or whopper wagon behind me I go full on highway code. 47 mph, very deliberate movements, letting people out at junctions, anything just to upset them. Childish but I like it!

 

[Bald Rick]

it is generally elderlies or those who, erm, didn't learn to drive in the UK.

In my experience, about 20% of them are elderly, but the rest seem to be of all ages other than ‘elderly’. Most seem to be driving Nissans, Toyotas or Mercs though.

 

[DarloRich]

In my experience, about 20% of them are elderly, but the rest seem to be of all ages other than ‘elderly’. Most seem to be driving Nissans, Toyotas or Mercs though.

international driving contingent - we see it in MK also.

( nurse, get me the anti Farage spray!)

 

[GusB]

There's plenty of below speed limit driving around here but it's likely to be a tractor as much as anything else, so it's a case of sitting back and waiting for an opportunity to pass.

My biggest bugbear is people (usually with oversized campervans) who pootle along single track roads, completely oblivious to traffic behind them and seemingly unaware what passing places are for. I'm not in a hurry when I drive on such roads, but if there is someone behind that wants to make swifter progress them me, I'm more then happy to let them by. It's basic manners, really.

That and the steady 40 everywhere crowd (including 30mph zones); there's a special place in hell for them.

 

[Doctor Fegg]

I tend to blame the game, not the player - the car-centric society that forces people to drive for their everyday amenities, rather than the people driving to the best of their confidence level.

 

[zwk500]

Now I am routinely seeing people driving at 20 in 30 limits everywhere I go. I put it down to inattention and rank poor driving.

I put this one down to people being frightened about limits changing and being 'caught out' by the evil speed cameras, so it's safer to stay at 20mph all the time. It's a similar thing with people on motorways avoiding Lane 1 because they're concerned about it suddenly peeling off at the next junction and rather than actually look at signs or the road markings it's easier to be on autopilot so long as there's a lane to your right for anybody who needs to overtake.

 

[Bald Rick]

I put this one down to people being frightened about limits changing and being 'caught out' by the evil speed cameras, so it's safer to stay at 20mph all the time.

Again, rank poor driving. Observe the speed limits - ‘observe‘ means ‘notice and recognise’.

 

[Peter Sarf]

I do think where it comes to driving that some people are either incredibly nervous and that can be understandable for a great number of reasons - don’t know the road perhaps, maybe don’t have much driving experience, possibly elderly with slightly slower reactions, mind on other things, poor headlights at night etc. So there’s all of that stuff.

Then there’s another thing, which is that probably all of us that are posting on this thread have some kind of interest in the act of driving itself. Many people just don’t think about it though and pootle along thinking about other things and glancing at the satnav from time to time.

I wouldn’t say that I’m particularly a driving enthusiast but I do enjoy it at times and I enjoy how a car feels and drives etc. I’m also fascinated by geography, transport, even roads and motorway junctions.
Hmm, actually maybe I am a driving enthusiast then!

I also think people will drive slowly on a fast road if they have just been on a really slow road. So if driver A has been doing 60mph for miles they are going to catch up with driver B who has just pulled out of a 30mph side road. But change that side road to 20mph and driver B will take even longer to build up speed capability mentally.

An extreme example. After a weeks family holiday in charge of a canal boat - so less than 5mph I suppose. I gave the boat back at Hillmorton (Rugby). I really had to encourage myself to do any kind of speed as we approached the M6. I think I was back to normal before the M1 appeared but I had to force myself. It really was so obvious I was unused to such breakneck speed !.

Could it be that more cars have the automatic speed recognition warning system now and drivers don't want to turn it off, or don't know how to, so drive well under the limit to avoid the annoying beep and bongs?

I wonder, it could be all the cautious features of newer cars. Plus there is a lot more enforcement around. Maybe these are people who have already collected 3, 6 or so points already so need to be "careful" not to make any more mistakes.

I feel 20mph is so incredibly slow, it is easy to exceed that just pulling away from the lights !. If I come out of a 30mph zone into a 20mph zone I really have to watch my speed - to the point where I worry it is a distraction. I can imagine some just prefer to keep the practice at 20mph and are then not going to make a mistake. That is in London but similar could be 40mph vs 60mph outside London.

In my experience, about 20% of them are elderly, but the rest seem to be of all ages other than ‘elderly’. Most seem to be driving Nissans, Toyotas or Mercs though.

As we get older we should notice the elderly less, but it seems not to be so. Maybe being elderly makes us slow OR impatient (not sure on that).

I do notice in London some people that seem to be just driving around for the sake of it - no were to go, no hurry.

There are also the younger drivers with a black box fitted in their car that records how smoothly they drive (need one of my stepsons to be forced to have one of those). It will be particular types of car that young drivers choose and/or that scare insurance companies.

There's plenty of below speed limit driving around here but it's likely to be a tractor as much as anything else, so it's a case of sitting back and waiting for an opportunity to pass.

My biggest bugbear is people (usually with oversized campervans) who pootle along single track roads, completely oblivious to traffic behind them and seemingly unaware what passing places are for. I'm not in a hurry when I drive on such roads, but if there is someone behind that wants to make swifter progress them me, I'm more then happy to let them by. It's basic manners, really.

That and the steady 40 everywhere crowd (including 30mph zones); there's a special place in hell for them.

The steady 40 everywhere will share the same genetic traits as the middle lane cruisers.

I once had a very long sheet of metal on my car roof (diy project). I had no idea how it would behave at speed so I was on the look out for every possible passing place. That was coming back to Croydon from deepest Surrey. More worried about losing the flags on the ends really (to ward off people getting too close).

I put this one down to people being frightened about limits changing and being 'caught out' by the evil speed cameras, so it's safer to stay at 20mph all the time. It's a similar thing with people on motorways avoiding Lane 1 because they're concerned about it suddenly peeling off at the next junction and rather than actually look at signs or the road markings it's easier to be on autopilot so long as there's a lane to your right for anybody who needs to overtake.

Exactly this regarding the 20mph.

Again, rank poor driving. Observe the speed limits - ‘observe‘ means ‘notice and recognise’.

Oh I know where the 20mph is that will catch me out (it is the one where people overtake the wrong side of islands). It is a real struggle to keep to 20mph after doing 30mph before it. I am really concerned I will slip up as I often drift over 20mph in it. There is a real temptation to just get used to 20mph rather than having to keep checking my speedometer - especially as the 20mph zones are spreading.

 

[MikeFromLFE]

Another observation.
My car (Toyota) has the usual speed limiter function - and I use it a lot. But the displayed speed, and hence the limited speed, is about 10% below the actual speed (as seen on GPS or roadside displays) - now that's not well below the limit but sufficient in my view to become an irritation to following drivers. I'm currently looking at new cars and wondering if those with automatic speed limiters based on road signs will be afflicted with the 10% error.
Are some of these very slow drivers misusing the speed limiters?

 

[zwk500]

Again, rank poor driving. Observe the speed limits - ‘observe‘ means ‘notice and recognise’.

I heartily agree, but you asked why people do it.
I have spent, or do spend, an awful lot of time driving on the motorway network between London, Brighton, Bristol and Sheffiled/Leeds/York depending on where I am family have been living. It has convinced me that at a minimum, the theory tests should be mandatory to re-take every 5 years. Ideally practical tests as well but there's a limit to instructors and slots, whereas the theory is comparatively easier to administer. I'd also make the theory test specific to the classes of vehicles driven. The same test for a hatchback shouldn't allow you to drive a vehicle (like a large van) that has different speed limits from the NSL, IMO.