motorway driving

[Dollie]

Is there a minimum speed at which you should drive on a motorway? I'm not very comfortable on motorways, but believe myself a careful and safe driver. I usually stick in the first lane and do between 50 - 60mph. Last night a huge lorry came right up behind me in this lane, flashing lights and nearly touching my bumper (or at least it seemed that close) and was tooting his horn as if to tell me to get a move on. He had every opportunity to overtake me but obviously couldn't be bothered. I was following another big lorry. Was I doing something wrong?

[ianess]

150 miles on a motorway at 56 mph takes 161 minutes.
At 50 mph it takes 180 minutes.
What the hell is so important about 19 minutes over that sort of distance?

Maintain a decent average speed, lighten up, and avoid serious health problems from about age 45 upwards.

Let's be careful out there.

[madein1978]

The time it takes is not the issue here, its people going slow on motorways getting in the way of large vehicles which are governed to a set speed and in most cases can't overtake someone doing the same speed as them and so will end up tailgating them. Don't get me wrong, tailgating gets me really angry, but this type is sometimes unavoidable. If someone insists on doing 55 MPH and you are in a truck limited to 56 MPH, theres not a lot you can do about it, thats why its advisable to do minimum 65 MPH, it keeps you out of the way of the trucks and buses. But to be perfectly honest, if you find motorways scary, I would question your competance to drive a motor vehicle at all.

[Dollie]

Well well well - I've caused quite a stir ( wasn't intentional) So I did get up off my backside today and try to find out this information for myself as was suggested by espookid - it took quite a lot of finding I can tell you, and its not in the highway code! It seems however, that I'm well within my rights and have done nothing wrong. Cruising at around 55 average, is no bad thing apparantly, providing your not in a crawler lane (which I wasn't.) Perhaps I'm doing something right tho - 28 years of safe driving - no accidents and no convictions, never been pulled by the police despite driving over 14000 miles average every year for my job. I guess that those of you who felt it necessary to answer me with rudeness (I guess you're HGV drivers) have only served to make me sure as hell continue driving in this way and if I hold you up then so be it. Don't like being spiteful but if it winds you all up so much then long may I be a pain in your backside while I sit in the first lane and make you continually exasperated. Apolgies to the two or three gentlemen HGV drivers who have responded with their views but have been polite, and thanks to you all who have supported me against the rudeness of some of the people who are on this site.

To all the w......s who chose to respond so negatively to my question remember this - beware the old biddie in the white clio if you're up north on the M62 - if I can p...you off I surely will do.

[madein1978]

Well, don't be surprised then if you wind someone up to such a pitch that you are a victim of severe road rage! Ever seen 'Duel'??? Sleep Tight!!

[madein1978]

Also remember, speed limiters can be disabled, and there are a few unscrupulous members of society out there that would do something like that, myself not included! Oh and modern trucks have anything up to 550 BHP!

[ianess]

As far as LGV or PCV driving goes, I can speak from over 25 years experience that in most cases the time taken is exactly the issue. The craving for speed stems from a desire to have an extra 5 minutes for a cigarette or cup of coffee, and all it does is lead to high blood pressure, angina, heart attacks and early death.
Personally, I'm sick to death of attending funerals of workmates who pegged out around the age of 45. Look around you.......just how many "professional" drivers are over that age?

I say again, lighten up and for God's sake be careful out there.
You're no good to anyone in a coffin or on Incapacity Benefit after your license has been revoked because of ill health.

[PhilBy]

Dollie, unlike a car once you have to slow in a HGV it can take miles to get back up to speed. Remember a long distance driver will have nearly double you weekly milage to cover in that one day and try to understand how frustrated he must feel at being held up by a car of all things!

Incidently, whilst you may be correct (?) in saying you are doing nothing wrong by driving slow I recently read some where that some police forces are now pulling over slower drivers, they are then recommending that if they do not feel safe keeping up with the flow of traffic they should they should consider driving lessons and even think about re-sitting their driving test ......... I think it falls under 'Due care & consideration to other road users'

[marcus577]

I would recomend in doing a speed that you are comfortable in. Dont be urged in going faster because someone is getting to close. Keep your distance.

May be a sign in the back window saying ENGINE RUNNING IN Max speed 50 or 60mph

[bob57]

ok dollie you answered my question on my first thankfully I'm not on that motorway very often but next I am and I see you I will give you a nice kindly wave and pull out at safe comfortable speed

and as for the numpty who was sooooo ruuude to you I will give him a T.O.G's salute

[Gef]

Totally agree with your last answer Dollie and good luck to you. madein just does not have a clue. If you are travelling at 50mph then any reasonable HGB driver doing 56mph will pull out in plenty of time and pass you easily.

[bob57]

no offence have you driven a hgv vehicle lately

sometimes if you are on stretch of motorway you come upon a slow moving vehicle all be it a car or hgv the you are unable to get in the middle lane for another vehicle again all be it a car or hgv without having to slow once again this does not happen all the time though but it does happen

and as philby says it takes a bit of time for a hgv to pick it's speed again and may I point out that is when the cork in a bottle starts to take place but that is possibly another thread

and dollie happy driving

[madein1978]

I don't have a clue do I not, I drive the bluddy things, what about you gef? What do you drive, or have driven?

[Gef]

Thanks madein for confirming what I new all along. There are good HGV drivers and, unfortunately, some bad ones.

[madein1978]

Sod off you ignorant pri*k!

[bob57]

come on gef you havan't answered madein1978's question yet what do you drive

no matter what sort of profession you or anyone else are in you will always get good and bad

[Gef]

Sorry bob, to answer madein's question I drive a very ordinary car - a Megane. For years I towed boats all around the country and was often overtaken by HGVs when I was doing 56mph.

Anyway I think I have made my point within being rude.

[bob57]

it's ok gef no harm done I was just wanting to know as lot of drivers seem to critisize hgv & psv drivers but have no idea what the job entails a lot of people also seem to think that we sit on our backsides all day and do nothing at all I only wish it was that easy

but as you say there is good and bad hgv drivers I hope I'm in the class of good hgv drivers and I hope yourself and other ABer's are classed as good drivers and understand that hgvs cannot do things in an instance like some of the drivers I have come across