Pulled for going too slow on the motorway

Marmaduke said:

I hate the way truck drivers get right up yer arse before pulling out.

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The way I heard it you prefer it if they don't pull out......

It's not unreasonable for patrol cars to drive at 50 though, when they're bored and want to examine the traffic as it goes past.

Maybe they were checking you out as a legit driver too - last time I was on the M1 at night a cop car came right up behind, sat there for a bit (hardly any other vehicles on road), then overtook me and sat in front for a few minutes, then bu55ered orf. I think they must have been doing a PNC check and looking at the driver and passenger. I don't mind - they might be clamping down on Landy thefts.

I try to stay at 56 in ny RR on the motorway.

Seems to give me optimum fuel consumption dont feel like its too slow either

Anthony Butler said:

I try to stay at 56 in ny RR on the motorway.

Seems to give me optimum fuel consumption dont feel like its too slow either

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My torque converter locked up at That speed and I achieved a solid 21mpg. I was well chuffed. 45-50 isn't fast enough and if slow enough to get plods attention it's clearly too slow.

landowner said:

I don't consider 50 to be driving slowly, trucks only do 50 to 55 so they will just have to keep their eyes open and pass me

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Well, TBH you are lucky to be able to get up to 50 on most of the M25 at peak hours so its all about appropriateness for the prevailing conditions I guess.

Got this off the web....
Q.
I regularly tow a trailer with a race car on it and only travel at a maximum of 50 mph on motorways (as I feel comfortable doing this speed). A friend follows us with all of the tools etc. in his car.
My question - is there a minimum speed limit on motorways for me towing and for my friend following. He is concerned that he could be prosecuted for travelling too slowly even though he is our 'support vehicle'.
(A.B, 24 March 2009)




A.
At present in the UK, there is no legislation for minimum speeds on UK motorways. Although there has been calls for years to set a minimum speed limit, the practicalities of doing so means that at present there is still no specific minimum speed. In general, road works, variable speed control and flow of traffic can all affect the minimum speed on a motorway so setting a minimum speed can be problematic. In some countries they do set a minimum speed however and it seems to work effectively. The Republic of Ireland has a minimum speed of 30 mph on motorways, but generally in the UK, minimum speeds are temporary and are usually highlighted by circular road signs.
In some cases, there have been individuals who have received fines for driving too slow on the motorway, although these are extremely rare. Generally, to be fined for driving too slowly on the motorway, you need to be causing some kind of an issue for other drivers around you. In the case that you've outlined, where your friend is the support vehicle for you, it's unlikely that you would be fined for driving at around 50 mph.

Sorry but we are not talking about ideals here but the real world & your speed is causing a hazard on a motorway. I used to travel to / from shows in 50 year old trucks & avoided m/ways like the plague out of consideration for modern traffic, plus I found the journey so bloody boring. I've had to drive buses governed to 50 on these roads & found myself losing concentration on several occasions, but before someone accuses me of being obsessed with speed let me state that I do stick to the limits (54 years on a clean licence) but believe drivers should keep up with the flow of traffic wherever practical.

norseman said:

Sorry but we are not talking about ideals here but the real world & your speed is causing a hazard on a motorway. I used to travel to / from shows in 50 year old trucks & avoided m/ways like the plague out of consideration for modern traffic, plus I found the journey so bloody boring. I've had to drive buses governed to 50 on these roads & found myself losing concentration on several occasions.

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I wouldn't say driving at 50 was a hazard otherwise there would be a minimum speed limit above 50. Its the trucks on cruise control and people driving at 80 plus that are the hazard

If you’re going to travel at 50, just go up and down in the roadwork sections, “ there’s a good chap”..

I sit at about 55 on the motorway in the Defender....it's quite happy at that speed and if anything wants to go faster, feel free to pass....

From what I understand on a divided highway with two or more lanes, Right is the SLOW lane and, Left is for passing, or for those driving faster. If truckers complain about having to pass surely they are capable of passing a slower moving vehicle. In no way can this speed be considered a hazard. Those that want to travel faster are free to do so. Sounds to me like a bored Police Officer.

Whilst I usually avoid motorways, very occasionally I to use them. 50mph - 55mph is about the fastest I'm ever going to be downhill / flat roads and up hills I can be down to 30mph. It's not a pleasant experience and I find the worst offenders are lorry drivers who many seem to intentionally get far too close before pulling out. Maybe they disapprove of me being there but I'm going as fast as I can, or maybe they just misjudge my slower speed - poor judgement in their part as so called professional drivers. I also disapprove of other slow vehicles doing 20mph on A/B roads up inclines when I'm in my usual car and find them potentially dangerous too. Such is life.
Just a little more patience and tolerance for each other would be a great thing

If you drove at 50-55mph on a 70mph dual carriageway on your driving test you would fail for 'failing to make good progress'. Driving on a motorway in a slow moving Land Rover is irresponsible, use the A roads.

@dstainton In the UK there is no such thing as a SLOW lane or a FAST lane. There is lane 1/2/3/4 etc. All drivers should use lane 1 unless overtaking, then move back to lane 1, as soon as safe to do so. Yes i know there are often Richards stopping sensible drivers doing this but that is the aim.
@landowner It is not about 'minimum speed limits' . If you are causing other 'slow moving' traffic (lorries) to move out to pass you, two lanes will then be causing an effect on the flow of traffic.This is classed as a moving obstruction, which then leads to causing a danger to other road users. Many people get too focussed on the RTA1988 (et updates) or the good old Highway Code. There are other little bits n bobs that all sorts of goodies can be pulled out of.. I think you'll find this one in Wilkinson's or the Highways Act or Construction and Use ,or some other thing the Rats have. But wherever it's hiding, the code would be the same= CD20.
So in short ,the offence is there, you committed it, got told off and let off,so yaaayyy.

p.s I would tug a veh going that slow to check why. Is the driver ill, are they fit to drive, is the veh roadworthy, has the driver been drinking,etc, etc,etc.

You all sound like your landrovers have problems, I have a 200tdi, sits at 65 on the motorway easily, and doesn’t slow down at hills. I still have plenty left to pull out for overtaking aswell.

Big hills need forethought and an appropriate gear change down to maintain momentum.

Even my 2.5na wasn’t that ****e, it dropped to maybe 40 on really big hills

dstainton said:

From what I understand on a divided highway with two or more lanes, Right is the SLOW lane and, Left is for passing, or for those driving faster. If truckers complain about having to pass surely they are capable of passing a slower moving vehicle. In no way can this speed be considered a hazard. Those that want to travel faster are free to do so. Sounds to me like a bored Police Officer.

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In Canada maybe. Here in the UK (uk website we are on here) we dont have a slow lane, and everyone should drive as far left as they can only using the other lanes to overtake.

That doesn’t happen in real life of course!

Slow and older vehicles should stay off the motorway. Slow speed is both dangerous and inconsiderate. I never drive my S3 on a motorway; it's terrifying and stressful cos the trucks bear down and traffic backs up. Pootering along to suit yourself is totally not what motorways are for.

A few weeks back I got on the A34 near Didcot going north on my way home and, as always, I hit a load of traffic. The A34 is notorious around Oxford anyway and this was particularly bad for some reason. Anyway, up ahead I could see lorries pulling into the second lane and overtaking something, and this was what I thought was causing the holdup. I eventually reached the front to see it was a modern Fiesta in lane one holding up traffic. And when I got along side it I noticed it was a bloke from work! Anyway, I got by and carried on home.
The next day he was in the office and I said to him about him holding up the traffic and asked if there was a problem with his car. He replied 'oh no, I just don't like driving that fast any more. It doesn't feel safe driving at 70 so I drive at 50, sometimes slower'. To be honest I like the bloke so I held back a bit but I just thought that was completely inconsiderate of him to do this. It was making it very dangerous behind him because people wanted to get on and get home. With lorries having to pull around him and causing congestion I said perhaps you should start taking the smaller roads home instead, but I don't think he understood the issue he was causing.
It's a tough one because there is no minimum limit, but you have to consider all the other drivers. Of course I couldn't care less about the 90mph driver having to slow down to 70 as I'm overtaking, but forcing lorries to overtake and therefore causing congestion because you don't feel comfortable driving at a speed nearer to everyone else just seems wrong.

Edit - I don't mean you personally, it's just a figure of speech.

I think the keyword here is 'appropriate' & it can be applied to any speed. 40mph can be too fast for a country road even though the limit is 60 or too slow for a motorway & it's all very well pointing out that the national limit is 70 but here in the real world most m-way car & van traffic is travelling at 80. Competent driver's reactions are usually proportional to speed, hence my previous comments re. driving buses on motorways.

John S said:

Slow and older vehicles should stay off the motorway. Slow speed is both dangerous and inconsiderate. I never drive my S3 on a motorway; it's terrifying and stressful cos the trucks bear down and traffic backs up. Pootering along to suit yourself is totally not what motorways are for.

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+1
Driving slow ont motorway creates a bubble around yer of vehicles queueing to overtake. Forces more trucks int second lane anorl. It's a hazard to you and others but especially you as your always invloved.

My hippo happily does 70 ont motorway.