Two things I've noticed - bit of a rant!

[Christine]

I don't often do 50mph and stay in lane 1, but good on those that do. As long as they're not holding HGVs up then there isn't a problem that I can see, quite the reverse. They're surely keeping lanes 2 and 3 clearer and as Gareth said you can avoid the lane 3 dickheads.

That's on a push bike?

[garethj]

I dunno, it can make a considerable difference, I got back on and drove at 130 mph* for a few junctions.

Lightweight.  If you can average 140mph then it's amazing how quickly you get places.  However the difference between lane 1 and lane 3 during commuter times dahn sarf just isn't worth it IMHO

[overrun]

Lightweight.  If you can average 140mph then it's amazing how quickly you get places.  However the difference between lane 1 and lane 3 during commuter times dahn sarf just isn't worth it IMHO

 

The car in question will pull 160+ but I don't want to be seen as dangerous, mate.

[Pillock]

I just drive at a speed in sympathy with what everyone else is doing.

On a Sunday afternoon, on my way to the supermarket, I'll sometimes notice I'm doing 80-85. On a Monday morning going to work I'll sit at 60, 50, whatever and not get stressed. No point.

 

It isn't 50mph, technically it isn't anything unless there is a blue sign stating one but I have only seen those on tunnels.

Amusingly, the Moto chain of service stations had a 10mph limit through their car parks but they "branded" the signs in company colours. White and blue, aka the Minimum Speed sign. Technically you needed to do a minimum of 10mph at all times on site.

[laser wheels]

I can help with why people drive at 55mph in lane 1, it's because lane 2 and 3 are full of cretins.  Every day I'm on the M1 commuting to work, I used to commute into London and even my first job was 30 miles away down the M4, I've done a lot of motorway driving.

 

Here's how I see it:

Lane 3 has all the people who are in a massive hurry.  If they've got the intelligence to hold down a well paid job I've no idea why they don't just get up 10 minutes earlier, but there we are.  The driving is 90mph until there's a queue of traffic then it's hard on the brakes down to 45mph because they follow really close.

 

Lane 2 has the people who are too asleep to see when there's a gap to move back to lane 1.  I've noticed recently that this lane can also be used for those lane 3 people undertaking the queue of traffic, just to spice things up a bit.

 

Lane 1 does between 50 and 55mph and you can hold this speed for ages.  I don't want to be accelerating then braking hard, I don't want to have some twat 2 feet from my bumper and I don't want to maintain a 1 second gap (2 seconds - I wish) between me and the car in front and have it filled by some idiot who accelerates into it then brakes hard, making me brake hard.

 

That's why I'm in lane 1, the fact that I get better fuel economy at 55mph is a bonus but mostly it's about making my journey as easy as possible.

 

For the years that I used to ride a motorbike along the motorway it was easier because it's a doddle to avoid the idiots, but in a car in lane 3 it's like they're swarming all over the place.

 

I agree 100%. I'm quite happy these days to hang back at 55 in the slow* lane and just cruise. The maneuvers you can see up ahead boggle the mind. Best option, though, is just avoid the DC an M roads entirely and hit the B-roads whenever possible. The reduction in stress and increase in fun more than make up for the little bit more time at the pumps.

[Tetleysmooth]

As a HGV driver the most annoying thing for me lately is the increase in the amount of cars doing 50-54 mph. Being limited to 55mph you slowly creep up on them, pull out to overtake, get level with their front bumper and then they creep up and match your speed! Wether its an subconscious thing or not I don't know, but its maddening. Then you eventually get past them only for them to re-overtake you, then in a few miles slow down so the whole thing starts over again. My other pet hate is managed motorways where the hard shoulder opens, and no one bothers to use it making it pointless, but does provide a nice clear run for the trucks down the inside!

 

Bloody well hear hear to that one.

The worst place for this, in my opinion, is the A406 North Circular Road. Happens all the time there.

If they do it to me, I just put my left indicator on and move over just slightly. It soon makes them drop back a bit.

As for speeding, I once had a twat phone in about me. Apparently I was doing 70 mph in my truck. All our vehicles are limited to 50 mph!! And I wasn't going downhill.

Fed up with know nothing car drivers knocking HGV drivers.

Come out and do the job, then criticise.

Prats.

[Jimmycrackcorn]

In the car I'll hit the cruise control at 60 and spend my time in the first and second lane, that is unless you have some dozy fuck in the 3rd on a 4 lane doing 50. I'm always wary of undertaking so I end up going around them.

In the van I try and sit at 55 but if I hit any incline that'll drop to 45-50 and on some stretches of the A1 or M1 35-40 which can be bloody scary. Hopefully when I swap the engine out I'll be able to cruise at 60 easily enough.

[garethj]

The car in question will pull 160+ but I don't want to be seen as dangerous, mate.

I agree, and if I've had a few pints I try and stick under a hundred.  Can't be too careful.

[flat4alfa]

I used to think the 50mph folks were just being annoying

 

But after owning a Renault, I now realise the truth is they are quite likely in limp mode most of the time.

[EssDeeWon]

I had some silly bird following me in a modern land rover using her phone this morning, and she went through a couple of busy junctions whilst on the phone, I really wanted a copper to pull out and catch her because it infuriates me, she passed a few safe places to pull over too. As HH-R mentions, they should have their contracts suspended for a few months, fuckin idiots.

 

As for motorways I no longer enjoy using them, I do 70ish but the last time I used the M25 was on a Sunday going to a shiters meet up, the journey there was like something out of the wacky races, big germans hammering it in all 3 lanes and swapping lanes willy nilly. I stayed on the inside lane and tend to steer clear of the big arctics so I a) Dont piss them off and B. Not comfortable with a multiple ton object moving so close to me.

 

Years ago you used to get the odd maniac, but now their everywhere because all moderns quite easily do 100mph.

[rantingYoof]

I have a fucking massive enormous respect for lorries on the motorway. Well, actually, my general rule of thumb is "if it's significantly larger than you, it gets as much space as it needs". Most lorries get an extra lane of space between me and them when overtaking where possible. Mostly forrin lorries, I have to say.

 

I get frustrated by people who don't maintain their speed, as well. You pull out to overtake, and they speed up. WARRRRRFLARRBBLLLE. Fuck that in a lorry, though.

 

My stupendously unhelpful advice? DO EVERYTHING REALLY EARLY ON A SUNDAY! Over Christmas I managed to do 127 miles in two hours EXACTLY, by leaving home at 7.30am. Average speed 69mph. This journey went A43, M40, A34, M3, M27, until I fell off at Havant.

 

Roads were deserted. Absolute bliss.

 

One of my greatest achievements* was driving from Junction 21 to 15 of the M1, at 5pm on a Monday, on cruise control at 70mph. Busy as fuck. I had to deactivate cruise just twice. The rest of it was done purely through using anticipation/foresight, to avoid having to brake or change speed in any way.

 

My regular commute takes me on a 70mph dual-carriageway past a decommissioned speed camera. I always make a point of driving past this camera at 70mph exactly (indicated 77mph in the Volvo).

 

At least, I try to make a point. Out of a five day week, I am lucky to go past it at 70mph once, because I'm always following someone who goes BELLLMMMMMMMBLRRUUUUUDUUUUHHH MUST SLOW DOOOOOOWN DUHHHHHHHMMMMHERRRPPPDERRRP STAMP ON THE BRAKES *vague dribbling noises*.

 

My feelings are strong on this issue. I apologise.

 

 

 

*I've not achieved much ever.

[Sealtainn]

Agree with people not "reading the road ahead" as it was called when I was taught to drive. As a kid I used to travel with my Mom in an articulated lorry and I'd watch how she drove and how other road users treated her. From doing that, when I am on the motorway I am always looking ahead and may see a wagon in lane 1 who will need to pull out in the next 1/4 mile or so and I'll flash the headlights and move over to let them out. Likewise, if a wagon has overtaken me I will flash my headlights when it's safe for them to move back into my lane. This seems to be a dying art. I remember an instance where I had moved out into lane 3 to make room for a wagon that was going to be overtaking. The moron in front of me in lane 3 then moved back into lane 2 as the wagon pulled out - idiot damn nearly soiled himself and swerved back out in front of me - penis !!!

I am eternally grateful to be up here where we have no motorways, nor dual carriageway

[LC Torana]

I slow down for speed cameras, and if that's annoying, I'm sorry, but I don't care.

 

I simply do not trust them to be at all accurate, and prefer to be 10% under.

 

I slow down for roadwork speed limits, too.

[rantingYoof]

Do you stand the car on its nose from 65 down to 50? Or ease off at 70ish down to 66ish?

 

The former is what gets me the most, although there's no reason for any camera to flash you if you are hitting the speed limit.

[Pillock]

I slow down for speed cameras, and if that's annoying, I'm sorry, but I don't care.

 

I simply do not trust them to be at all accurate, and prefer to be 10% under.

 

I slow down for roadwork speed limits, too.

They are accurate as they're calibrated frequently, and if it hasn't been calibrated then your fine is void. Also, you can tell from the lines on the road if you were actually speeding so no reason to create the ripple effect by slowing down for each one.

[Pillock]

 

 

Over Christmas I managed to do 127 miles in two hours EXACTLY, by leaving home at 7.30am. Average speed 69mph.

That's an average of 63.5mph

[captain_70s]

I slow down for speed cameras, and if that's annoying, I'm sorry, but I don't care.

 

I simply do not trust them to be at all accurate, and prefer to be 10% under.

 

I slow down for roadwork speed limits, too.

I used to slow down for speed cameras in the Dolomite 1850 because once you get over 60mph the speedo tend to read anything between 60-80 depending on how it's feeling...

[Lacquer Peel]

The punishment for being caught on your phone should be the phone contract suspended for three months. Can just imagine the person that has been caught spinning round the floor and melting from the withdrawals of not being able to IM Candice and Kayden or missing out on Justin Bieber's latest tweet of his tea.

 

It's easy to stereotype people who use phones and drive as dopey youngsters, but by far the worst offenders are professional* drivers from what I've seen - middle-aged men driving lorries, tractors and vans.

[chodweaver]

As was noted earlier, lane 1 is where the debris seems to accumulate, and I'm obviously being a bit thick here, but why are single shoes such a regular sight? Are they somehow related to the unlabelled plastic bottles with flat lager* and brake fluid* in them that populate the verge?

 

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[vulgalour]

No matter how fast you drive on the motorway it's always too slow/fast for someone else.  I'm less concerned with my speed and more concerned with being aware and keeping good stopping distances, at 55mph or 70mph+ just being aware of the space around me has kept me from having unpleasant and sudden meetings with other road users.

 

Motorways are great for getting places quickly, particularly over long distances, but a lot of the driving standards used on them leaves a lot to be desired.  Not just the human error stuff - we're all guilty of that - but all the clichéd dangerous and daft overtaking, exiting and joining people perform.  It's quite shocking just how badly you can drive on the motorway and not have an accident.

[AlabamaShrimp]

Really this thread doesn't seem to be about the motorway but some people just being shit drivers in general.

 

This should be expected. Even though everyone thinks it we aren't great at everything and driving no different. Might start a thread on how crap everyone is at maths but how I actually know my two times table

[Lacquer Peel]

Not being good at maths doesn't cause the accidents, injuries and deaths of not being good at driving.

[AlabamaShrimp]

Think you're missing the point

[sierraman]

People should be careful on the motorway to give trucks room, I'm not bothered how big your MPV SUV is, if you cut up a artic and he can't stop quick enough it's going to make mincemeat of the car, the lorry would barely know it had hit you.

 

I've every sympathy for those doing 50mph in a K11 Micra though, I once had the displeasure of taking one on the M62, I can genuinely say 50mph is the realistic maximum cruising speed for one of these, I saw 70 with a tail wind on a downhill stretch but that was with my foot WELDED to the floor. It was great round town but god forbid you ventured further than that.

 

I tend to stick to 70-80, save the fuel, keep in the left hand lane to avoid the idiots in the Audis hanging off your arse.

[Jim Bell]

Try watching this and without wincing.

 

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gf2teNGD_j8

[sierraman]

How to cause a death on the motorway...

[Lacquer Peel]

Brake-testing lorries is proper 'Darwin Awards' territory. Great job.

[Pillock]

At least he didn't have all the contact details of his employer in full HD quality

 

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[Bobthebeard]

Lost the plot a little.

I do occasionally drive below the speed limit and so far have never harmed anyone. Nor knowingly caused an obstruction or disaster. I do also exceed the speed limit occasionally...

Ditto.

Suspect that it is not what you do, but how and when you do it.

[rantingYoof]

<pedantic>

That's an average of 63.5mph

</pedantic>

 

You're not being pedantic, you're just being mathematically accurate and highlighting the misguidedly blind trust I place on my on-board computer.

 

That's all.