View Full Version : rant time...
(First off sorry if anyone doesnt like, you think i am out of line give me a pm)
just finished for the day, commute on way home 40miles and i got stuck in a queue of traffic about 10 cars long 3rd in the queue was a police car we were sitting at 40mph then 50mph on the straights when nothing else was coming. Now let me get this clear the road is easy, no sharp bends or anything like that it is a normal A class road and you can sit easyily at 60mph in a scenic the entire way and never have to slow down if it wasnt for idiots like this.
This is the second police car that i have found in a queue sitting at 40-50mph. I overtook them all eventually, not the point. BUT why are the police not giving them a talking to? I thought the highway code said "Do not hold up a long queue of traffic.... check your mirrors frequently, and if necessary, pull in where it is safe and let traffic pass" and there was an abundance of places which they could have pulled in.
but furthermore if these people can only drive at 40mph in the daylight when it is dry are they even fit to drive? WHY are the police not doing something after all we pay them and one of their jobs is to maintain driving standards and unfortunately they are all we have to enforce driving standards!!! It seems to appear it is far too complicated/ much hassle to pull someone over address any other problem apart from speeding!
I thought about going in to complain, but first of all only me on my bike (need witness?), then you would have to give all your details, name, address, reg. no, blood group, mothers name, shoes size, etc,etc. All this would achieve in my opinion would make my self a target for getting pulled!
madness
27-11-08, 12:03 PM
I got a pulled up for not going fast enough at one point on my bike test yesterday. Examiner said that if I'd ridden like that all through the test he would have failed me.
It seems that it's okay to do it in normal driving circumstances though.
I got a pulled up for not going fast enough at one point on my bike test yesterday. Examiner said that if I'd ridden like that all through the test he would have failed me.
It seems that it's okay to do it in normal driving circumstances though.
exactly my point you WOULD fail your test for driving so slow so why are the police letting them get away with it???
It's a maximum speed limit, not a set speed limit. You don't have to drive too the limit.
As for checking your mirrors regularly and pulling over, yes, but we are talking about 'slow' moving vehicles here. Tractors, track vehicles, heavy slow vehicles.
If they only feel comfortable to be driving at 40 mph the so be it. You got round them eventually. 10 miles an hour slower than the speed limit is not classed as slow.
custard
27-11-08, 12:29 PM
i do agree, but you cant expect coppers to get out of their nice warm cars!
the other thing, is when you do get past the slow moving buggers you are pretty much guranteed a clear run for a few miles. playtime? i think so.
454697819
27-11-08, 12:34 PM
it is up to the driver to deem what is reasonable to them in terms of thier speed, within the limit set.
it is up to the driver to deem what is reasonable to them in terms of thier speed, within the limit set.
I'm with you, ad53. I don't agree with Alex numbers. It's damn irritating to be sat behind someone driving so slow, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if it really does cause accidents as people get so frustrated and try to overtake in places where perhaps they mighn't ordinarily.
I'd rather sit behind some 'idiot' doing 40-50 safely than some 'idiot' doing 60 past their own limited abilities and looking like they're going to end up in a hedgerow, or worse in the path of oncoming traffic.
I'm with you, ad53. I don't agree with Alex numbers. It's damn irritating to be sat behind someone driving so slow, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if it really does cause accidents as people get so frustrated and try to overtake in places where perhaps they mighn't ordinarily.
so who's at fault if that happens? mr and mrs slow and steady or dave impatient gotta get to my destiantion 3 minutes earlier...?
my money's on Dave being in the wrong...
muffles
27-11-08, 12:49 PM
I'm with you, ad53. I don't agree with Alex numbers. It's damn irritating to be sat behind someone driving so slow, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if it really does cause accidents as people get so frustrated and try to overtake in places where perhaps they mighn't ordinarily.
Though, that is the fault of the overtaker not the overtakee...
It's frustrating but do you really want to force someone to go faster than they are comfortable with? That's more dangerous in my eyes.
I don't think going 10mph below the speed limit in an NSL is necessarily a reason to say they shouldn't have a licence, either - along the same lines I wouldn't say going 10mph ABOVE the speed limit is necessarily a reason to say they shouldn't have a licence...you get what I mean.
muffles
27-11-08, 12:51 PM
p.s. I am not saying they they don't warrant some further education...generally if most traffic is able to travel at 60mph, they are "able" to as well.
That's assuming they are not comfortable at 60mph, as opposed to doing it for fuel saving reasons, etc (remember acceleration is the killer on MPG, and keeping a higher top speed is often worse too).
Luckypants
27-11-08, 12:51 PM
A5 in North Wales, weekends, huge tail backs caused by these numpties and everyone travelling in a train with brains in neutral. You cannot safely overtake because the numpties leave no gap for you to pull into, but make no effort to move on themselves. It makes my blood boil, but there is no choice but to sit there, the alternative is dangerous. On my bike I can pick them off, but in the car it is a real pain.
Perhaps Wilf and Gladys should pull over and let faster traffic past. I've had this before - Mr and Mrs Slow in a T registered Ford Fiesta doing 35 on the Corvedale road, out for their Sunday bimble to a tea shop. Very twisty and rises and falls, but that it the fun of it all. Would they pull over - er no. And then flash lights at me as I go past as if to say I'm the menace on the road.
Ah well, perhaps I am:p
muffles
27-11-08, 12:56 PM
Perhaps Wilf and Gladys should pull over and let faster traffic past. I've had this before - Mr and Mrs Slow in a T registered Ford Fiesta doing 35 on the Corvedale road, out for their Sunday bimble to a tea shop. Very twisty and rises and falls, but that it the fun of it all. Would they pull over - er no. And then flash lights at me as I go past as if to say I'm the menace on the road.
Ah well, perhaps I am:p
Yes, common courtesy would say to let someone past who clearly wishes to travel much faster than you - the bit I disagree with is whose fault it would be if someone attempted (and failed) an overtake... ;)
Luckypants
27-11-08, 01:00 PM
Yes, common courtesy would say to let someone past who clearly wishes to travel much faster than you - the bit I disagree with is whose fault it would be if someone attempted (and failed) an overtake... ;)
It's not common courtesy, it is the Highway Code. Agreed that the person at fault would be whoever was overtaking, but I sympathise with the frustrations. I try to not get sucked in to that.
I'd rather sit behind some 'idiot' doing 40-50 safely than some 'idiot' doing 60 past their own limited abilities and looking like they're going to end up in a hedgerow, or worse in the path of oncoming traffic.
Yes but another point is YOU FAIL YOUR TEST FOR GOING TOO SLOW and my opinion 40 in a 60 is too slow lorries do that road at 55 easy and more if they are naughty! Why are these sunday bimblers not been picked up on about there driving skills. If they arent caple of 60mph why aren't they made to re-do there test which they would fail for not getting up to speed??
Answer- government loose tax revenue/ police cant be arsed with complex things like that. Really gets me when the response is because they are not capable of 60 thats a fail on a driving test!
It's not common courtesy, it is the Highway Code. Agreed that the person at fault would be whoever was overtaking, but I sympathise with the frustrations. I try to not get sucked in to that.
It is highway code i quoted the rule in my first post i think, are the police not meant to enforce this? oh i dont know bump your gums until the cows come home but not much else you can do:smt115
DanAbnormal
27-11-08, 01:31 PM
It is highway code i quoted the rule in my first post i think, are the police not meant to enforce this? oh i dont know bump your gums until the cows come home but not much else you can do:smt115
Highway code is not always the law though, correct me if I'm mistaken here. It is annoying getting stuck behind some old wrinkly doing 20mph less than the limit but 10 less, meh. Not too bad. Just wheelie past them (and the rozzer) and let the race commence! :rolleyes:
Highway code is not always the law though, correct me if I'm mistaken here. It is annoying getting stuck behind some old wrinkly doing 20mph less than the limit but 10 less, meh. Not too bad. Just wheelie past them (and the rozzer) and let the race commence! :rolleyes:
agreed 50mph cant do/say anything really. But these people were sitting at 40 basically with the odd burst of speed to 50 when i think they must have fallen asleep and there foot went down on the accelerator! :)
ArtyLady
27-11-08, 01:36 PM
It's a maximum speed limit, not a set speed limit. You don't have to drive too the limit.
Im not so sure BigApe, I was taught on my DAS that if it is safe to do so then you should be driving up to that limit and I failed my first test because I was places 10 mph under the limit.
I think the trouble is that as people get older, or they dont drive very often, their reactions are slower and and as a result they are less confident.
This is situation that regularly bugs me too - I get sick of having to continually overtake cars doing 45 in a 60 in good conditions.
Im not so sure BigApe, I was taught on my DAS that if it is safe to do so then you should be driving up to that limit and I failed my first test because I was places 10 mph under the limit.
exactly fail test if driving too slow!
ArtyLady
27-11-08, 01:39 PM
A5 in North Wales, weekends, huge tail backs caused by these numpties and everyone travelling in a train with brains in neutral. You cannot safely overtake because the numpties leave no gap for you to pull into, but make no effort to move on themselves. It makes my blood boil, but there is no choice but to sit there, the alternative is dangerous. On my bike I can pick them off, but in the car it is a real pain.
Ah yes another big gripe of mine - they all bunch up and you cant see a spot back in so have to wait for a huge long stretch of road to get past a whole load of cars :mad:
Yes but another point is YOU FAIL YOUR TEST FOR GOING TOO SLOW and my opinion 40 in a 60 is too slow
you fail for being too hesitant and putting your foot down not doing lifesavers leaving your indicators on etc etc etc - so you never do any of that now you have passed???
In your opinion its too slow in the drivers it ain't - so what do you do hassle them till you get past and get frustrated. It may have been a new driver without P plates - Someone who has got back behind the wheel after being away or after a crash. you can rant all you like about the police 'not doing their job' but there will always be circumstances when this will happen and YOU are the one that has to accept it. Sorry sunshine they have a much right to be on the road as all the neds cruising and dare i say the idiot on two wheels doing well over a ton on the A9 and giving the rest of us a bad name!
Im not so sure BigApe, I was taught on my DAS that if it is safe to do so then you should be driving up to that limit and I failed my first test because I was places 10 mph under the limit.
all we had to do was demonstrate that we could get up to the speed limit not necessarily stay there.
I think the trouble is that as people get older, or they dont drive very often, their reactions are slower and and as a result they are less confident.
Less confident - newbies on all forms of transport whatever the age and with no compulsary P plate - who knows. One of our residents has just passed the driving test at 64
This is situation that regularly bugs me too - I get sick of having to continually overtake cars doing 45 in a 60 in good conditions.
hate it too but its something we have to live with not everybody else on the road is a good or as experienced as we are.
ArtyLady
27-11-08, 01:46 PM
A relative of mine years ago got pulled up by the police for pulling left out of a turning onto a NSL road and because they didnt pull sharply away and get up to speed very quickly, (although they didnt pull out in front of anyone) coppers spotted this - followed, pulled them up and advised them.
ArtyLady
27-11-08, 01:52 PM
all we had to do was demonstrate that we could get up to the speed limit not necessarily stay there.
Ah yes but if it was safe to do so we are supposed to drive up to the limit consistently unless something causes us to divert from that, ie hazzard of any sort or weather/road condtion changing. Well thats what I was taught - unless it's changed again or I just misunderstood it! ;)
Less confident - newbies on all forms of transport whatever the age and with no compulsary P plate - who knows. One of our residents has just passed the driving test at 64
I was generalising :)
hate it too but its something we have to live with not everybody else on the road is a good or as experienced as we are.
I dont get worked up about it I just grumble into my lid and then nail it past when safe to do so ;)
I dont get worked up about it I just grumble into my lid and then nail it past when safe to do so ;)
didn't think you would -
but its great to get past them though:twisted:
i treat it as a challenge if i'm on the bike
(and challenge it normally is according the ecosse posse - i don't overtake when i should but wait till i can nail about 3 on a corner than go for it and leave everyone speechless!):takeabow:
Kilted Ginger
27-11-08, 01:56 PM
speed limit not speed target. Chillax, just makes it easier to overtake without breaking the limit ;)
ArtyLady
27-11-08, 01:57 PM
didn't think you would -
but its great to get past them though:twisted:
i treat it as a challenge if i'm on the bike
(and challenge it normally is according the ecosse posse - i don't overtake when i should but wait till i can nail about 3 on a corner than go for it and leave everyone speechless!):takeabow:
Isn't a great feeling! leave em all standing - worth the wait at 40 mph for that :lol:
MiniMatt
27-11-08, 01:59 PM
Worth pointing out that the speed limit for lorries (artics at any rate, not sure at which weight this starts) on NSL roads is 40mph. Many of them go faster sure, but can't criticise them for sticking to the limit when they do especially as their licence is more valuable to them, and easier to lose.
But anyway, we're talking about the Sunday drivers here. And I agree, it is infuriating and the thing I hate about driving a car - on a bike it's your choice if you want to bimble along, make good progress, or have a blat; in a car your choice is taken away from you most of the time, it's bimble mode only. I figure if there's a queue of 20 cars behind you then that's a pretty good indicator that there are 20 other people out there who would ordinarily be going faster than you and you should really consider pulling in.
I actually have seen the feds pull someone over for (I *think*) going too slow; A40 into east Chelt, long old stretch of 60mph NSL and guy in front doing 39mph the whole way; feds pulled him when he hit the outskirts of Chelt. Course, they might have been pulling him for something else but you could feel the combined rage of a queue of traffic stuck behind this guy (and of course nobody wanted to overtake even when they could because of the fear of overtaking a police car).
Best thing I think they can do, won't solve all the problems but some of them, is scrap NSL signs all together and replace them with 60mph/70mph signs. I'm convinced, with the upsurge in 50mph zones, that too many people don't know what the NSL sign means any more and just decide to "play it safe".
ArtyLady
27-11-08, 01:59 PM
speed limit not speed target. Chillax, just makes it easier to overtake without breaking the limit ;)
Good point, unless you're on a road which is 6 - 7 miles of no overtaking whatsoever allowed (like one near me) drives me nuts everytime! Many bikes do just whizz past on the double whites and get us all a bad name though :rolleyes:
speed limit not speed target. Chillax, just makes it easier to overtake without breaking the limit ;)
agreed as well, on the bike not too much problem but if i take the car for some reason it is really frustrating, struggle to overtake in an underpowered automatic scenic! 40 mins of my life get wasted by these people each day......Oh well would waste them anyway!:rolleyes:
yorkie_chris
27-11-08, 02:13 PM
Chill Winston. Straight empty road is boring, a rolling chicane in the way livens things up.
What really does annoy me is white lines for no sodding reason. A65 has a few places where you can see for half a mile but it's all double whites.
Kilted Ginger
27-11-08, 02:17 PM
then don't sit behind them, pull in for a cup of tea, stretch the legs, take a different route, if your car can't overtake them then I hope you leave room between you to let those that can and want to get past you and then the slowcoach, otherwise you become part of the problem. Folk who can't or don't overtake a smv but leave no oportunity for others are worse than the driver who has exercised his right to proceed at a speed they feel safe and comfortable with. :-D
madness
27-11-08, 02:17 PM
My DAS instruction and as told by my examiner yesterday. If it's safe to ride at the speed limit, ride at the speed limit. I've got to admit though that it's very much a personal opininion as to whether it is safe.
Luckypants
27-11-08, 02:18 PM
then don't sit behind them, pull in for a cup of tea, stretch the legs, take a different route, if your car can't overtake them then I hope you leave room between you to let those that can and want to get past you and then the slowcoach, otherwise you become part of the problem. Folk who can't or don't overtake a smv but leave no oportunity for others are worse than the driver who has exercised his right to proceed at a speed they feel safe and comfortable with. :-D
Amen to that! Might have that made into a sign and put up along the A5!!
punyXpress
27-11-08, 02:42 PM
Amen to that! Might have that made into a sign and put up along the A5!!
Had no problems last time I was on the top end of the A5 ( Thanks, LP )
A couple of points:
Number 2 forms the queue
People whose only reasonable rate of acceleration is when they pull out in front of you on NSL roads, then creep up to 45 and then continue doing 45 through 30's - what's that all about??
Peeps who crawl at 15 - 20 below the limit & are so self-satisfied that they are " saving the planet " by their actions.
There's a certain pleasure in being overtaken by a well ridden/driven machine in the right circumstances. ( Particularly on a couple of the .org runs I've done this year - hope I didn't hold you up too much!! )
yorkie_chris
27-11-08, 02:46 PM
People whose only reasonable rate of acceleration is when they pull out in front of you on NSL roads, then creep up to 45 and then continue doing 45 through 30's - what's that all about??
All about being an utter bellend with no idea of either reasonable or safe progress, and generally no conception of any world past the end of the bonnet.
I'll give another example of driving slower than the speed limit for a reason.
After my accident and I was eventually allowed to leave the hospital. Jo came and took me home in the car. I had a broken pelvis,11 broken ribs and an assortment of other external and internal injuries. I was so in so much pain I thought I was going to pass out. Every little bump and dip sent waves of nausea through me from the pain. The journey was around 20 miles. In places, Jo drove a considerable speed less than the posted limit. One certain time a very irate and annoyed person behind driving virtually on the bumper of our car. Flashing his lights etc...
We pulled up to a set of traffic lights and he pulled up alongside. Started giving Jo serious verbal. She wound the window down told him to shut the f'k up and explained the situation. He apologised and wound his window back up.
The point is, you have no idea why that person is driving slower than the posted speed. There could be a multitude of reasons. Don't be so ready to chastise and complain.
So long as you get home safe and sound, is it really that much of an issue if you get held up for a short while? If it is, maybe you should consider different methods of transport for your commute.
I hate taking the car because of the traffic so always ride the bike. If I do have to take the car, I have already accepted I will be slower so take a chill pill, listen to some music and just go with the flow.
Good point, unless you're on a road which is 6 - 7 miles of no overtaking whatsoever allowed (like one near me) drives me nuts everytime! Many bikes do just whizz past on the double whites and get us all a bad name though :rolleyes:
I over take on double whites. I don't go over the white lines and will wait to see if the vehicle in front moves to the left to allow me the room. I've even had a police car move to the left for me, I gave a wave of thanks as I passed.
agreed as well, on the bike not too much problem but if i take the car for some reason it is really frustrating, struggle to overtake in an underpowered automatic scenic! 40 mins of my life get wasted by these people each day......Oh well would waste them anyway!:rolleyes:
The slow moving traffic ADDS 40 minutes to your commute or your journey takes 40 minutes?
On the bike it takes me 30 minutes, in the car it can take up to an hour and half. I only live 22 miles from work.
yorkie_chris
27-11-08, 02:55 PM
If I had a car it would be about the same to get to uni, at 9am it's 35-40 minutes on the bike or up to 2 hours in a car.
The point I was trying to make is it is only 40 minutes. I expect this slow moving vehicle probably added a couple of minutes to the journey. Seems a bit over kill to be so frustrated at such a little amount of time to be wasted. I would have expected far more time would have been wasted during the course of the day doing 'nothing'.
Hee. At AR09 Ape's going to trundle along at 40 cos it doesn't matter if you take a few mins more to get somewhere.
OK OK I know that's not what he said:cool:
then don't sit behind them, pull in for a cup of tea, stretch the legs, take a different route, if your car can't overtake them then I hope you leave room between you to let those that can and want to get past you and then the slowcoach, otherwise you become part of the problem. Folk who can't or don't overtake a smv but leave no oportunity for others are worse than the driver who has exercised his right to proceed at a speed they feel safe and comfortable with. :-D
completely agree!
I'm going to fess up.
Not so long ago I was so irritated by a SMV on the A49 - I couldn't overtake cos of so much oncoming - that I undertook using a lay-by. Another bike followed so I shared the guilt:smt083
STRAMASHER
27-11-08, 03:23 PM
I thought it was going to be a "got collar felt for overtaking a cop motor" rant.
Ah well, is slow moving traffic not a car problem? Is that not one of the reasons for buying a bike...... easy overtaking/filtering in traffic?
Drop a gear and get on with it;):)
muffles
27-11-08, 05:58 PM
It's not common courtesy, it is the Highway Code. Agreed that the person at fault would be whoever was overtaking, but I sympathise with the frustrations. I try to not get sucked in to that.
That's my view too, but just to clarify the Highway Code thing, here's a couple of excerpts:
Many of the rules in the Code are legal requirements, and if you disobey these rules you are committing a criminal offence. You may be fined, given penalty points on your licence or be disqualified from driving. In the most serious cases you may be sent to prison. Such rules are identified by the use of the words ‘MUST/MUST NOT’. In addition, the rule includes an abbreviated reference to the legislation which creates the offence. An explanation of the abbreviations can be found in 'The road user and the law'.
Although failure to comply with the other rules of the Code will not, in itself, cause a person to be prosecuted, The Highway Code may be used in evidence in any court proceedings under the Traffic Acts (see 'The road user and the law') to establish liability. This includes rules which use advisory wording such as ‘should/should not’ or ‘do/do not’.
Do not hold up a long queue of traffic, especially if you are driving a large or slow-moving vehicle. Check your mirrors frequently, and if necessary, pull in where it is safe and let traffic pass.
Online, it doesn't even have the 'do not' in bold capitals like some other sections, but worst case it is advisory. I'd also interpret that as being a fairly vague rule, it depends on your definition of holding up and I note it also makes no comment on speed (which is good, because it has no relevance, but I'm surprised).
punyXpress
27-11-08, 09:13 PM
All about being an utter bellend with no idea of either reasonable or safe progress, and generally no conception of any world past the end of the bonnet.
You've met them as well - didn't think they would ever get as far as Halifax!!
You've met them as well - didn't think they would ever get as far as Halifax!!
:cheers::winner:
vBulletin® , Copyright ©2000-2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.