Do they not realise that the speed limit is a safe speed to drive at on the road concerned? If you are on a wide, straight road with nothing in front of you, you should drive at least somewhere near the speed limit - definitely not 50% below it!
These people are soooo frustrating. They make perfectly safe drivers late for work when there is no good reason for it! If they do not have the confidence in themselves that they can control their car at 60mph then they should not be on the road! This is a major contributing factor to road congestion.
I am not ageist but I have to say most of these people are old. Shouldnt they take a test at 65 or something to check they are still capable of driving sensibly?
Failing that, pull over and let us people who have lives to lead past ... please!!!
2006-12-20 01:47:32 · 26 answers · asked by Michelle H 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Safety
Thanks for all the sensible answers! To the rest of you, I do not tailgate, I am not a young inexperienced 'boy racer' type and I am well aware that speeds need to be adjusted to driving conditions. I am talking about the people who drive WELL below the speed limit when there is simply no need. If it is so acceptable then why is the national speed limit not 30mph on all roads? The reason is that people need to make progress and as someone rightfully said, you can fail your driving test for failing to maintain progress.
Also, I do get up in plenty of time to get to work thanks but you cannot make too many allowances for these people who make your journey twice as long as you would get to work far too early some days and who wants to be at work longer than necessary???
2006-12-20 02:38:50 · update #1
I agree totally with your sentiments.
I drive about 50,000 miles a year and get constantly frustrated by drivers like this.
Be aware though, that any speed limit is simply that, a limit. It is not a target speed. Road conditions can make any limit worthless.
I will also add the fact that lorry drivers who persist is breaking their 40MPH limit on single carriageway roads are actually holding cars up as we often then find it difficult to overtake.
Failing to maintain progress as it is called on the driving test is a reason for failing, just as much is speeding.
Us young ones (i'm now not so young) must show some consideration for our elders though, we will join them at some point in the future for we are not young always
2006-12-20 02:01:54 · answer #1 · answered by Martin14th 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes nervous, learning drivers of any age drive quite slowly, also people once traumatized by accidents learning to drive again are scared and slow, also people who are in an unfamiliar area and searching for something are slow. Keeping right and letting others pass is a good idea, yes. But if you "keep off the road" because you're not confident, I wonder if you have any suggestions that will make inexperienced people more confident OTHER than the practice of being on the road??
Very elderly people probably should receive some vision and reflex testing for continued driving, sure. If it weren't for the labor involved I'd suggest EVERYONE get retested along the way thru life at any age, say every 12 years or so. There are lots of drivers with bad habits out there, of all kinds, that could use some checkups and correctives. That--the bad habit drivers--is part of what scares inexperienced people enough to make some of them super cautious and slow while learning to drive.
2006-12-20 10:02:01 · answer #2 · answered by Do Tell 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I strongly agree with what you say and feel for you, as I have been there all too often.
I would tend to disagree about speed limits. They are the MAXIMUM allowable speed so legally those knitwits can drive slower.
Try driving down the German Autobahn at 160+ mph and have to slow for some fool in the left lane doing 70 mph and won't move right. btw passing on the right on the autobahn, if caught, will cost you your drivers license for upto 12 months. Or forever if an accident occurs because of your passing on the right.
Best bet, just pull over, get out and stretch or take a break and hope that when you get going again you don't fall in behind their twin.
Try to humor them, as hard as that is, because some day in the distant future that may be you putting along with purple hair.
Happy Holidays
2006-12-20 09:54:03 · answer #3 · answered by shovelkicker 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
this habit is as irritating as those who speed. both are actually dangerous as going so slow in a 60 can also lead to an accident. there are roads that are impossible to drive at the speed limit, oh some do but normally a one off cos they dont live to do it a again.i live in the highlands of scotland and most roads i drive on are 60 but single track roads. around ,through hills. not always possible to do 60.u need to drive according to the road and weather conditions
2006-12-22 07:24:01 · answer #4 · answered by horrified 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you believe what you said that, quote "the speed limit is a safe speed to drive at on the road concerned", then you clearly haven't got a clue. Try that on a certain "national speed limit" road near here if you wish, but fill in your donor card first.
2006-12-20 12:47:35 · answer #5 · answered by champer 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The answer is simple the speed limit is 60 so that doesn't mean you have to drive at 60 it means up to 60. If I am doing 55 would you say the same. or are you one of those drivers who drive an inch from the back bumper in the hope of intimidating. So your late for work who cares being a bit late wont kill you. Get up early. I would say you are an armature driver doing a couple of hours per week. Try driving 40 hours carrying 40 tons I see you every day.
2006-12-20 10:17:45 · answer #6 · answered by ALAN W 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
There are NO 60 mph, or 30 mph or 70 mph roads That is the maximum permitted speed. People talk about "Killer"
roads. It is "Idiots" who can't wait or are trying to prove something that are the killers. I totally agree though Some people do drive too slow, But IF it is safe to pass then pass, but ONLY if it is safe.
1, Do you want to pass??
2. Do you NEED to pass??
3. Is it safe to pass??
2006-12-20 17:29:08 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because they are nervous and anxious, have poor depth perception or are not paying attention to their speed (or all of the above)
I agree it's frustrating and sometimes dangerous. I don't get mad at anyone as long as they are driving at least the speed limit. It is WAY to easy to get a drivers license, they need a much harder road test to weed some of these morons out.
2006-12-20 09:50:25 · answer #8 · answered by Ryan 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
are you saying you dont want to drive when you are older,and that you have to go at 60 mph.now that would be scary old people( who go slow because simply they are old and reactions are slower)going fast.when i see people like you flying up behind me i obligingly get out the way fast and let them go.
maybe they should have lanes made for older drivers!
me defending the old caus i am being nice today and i might be old one day.also everybody has different circumstances.maybe they are on the way to a petrol station?
2006-12-22 11:58:53 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
simply because they can.
what they dont know is that at 60mph you cover 88 feet per second..ands if it takes 3 seconds to stop, thats 264 feet.
and as an oldie, who also drives a Volvo estate, i know you cant stop in time if you insist on tailgating at around 20 feet...
prehaps mum and dad ought to get thrash happy johnny a donor card.. then the loss of life wont have been a total waste...
2006-12-20 09:59:49 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋