Is it annoying if a car is driving at 60mph on the motorway?
Posted by Big_Tale9360@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 73 comments
If I'm not in a rush I'll trundle with the truckers in the slow lane to take advantage of slipstreaming and the better fuel economy of driving a bit slower
I am careful to keep a generous breaking distance with some change, I don't want to stare at the back end of a lorry for 100 miles or give it an impromptu close-up inspection with my knees crushed up against my chest. My instructor taught me to say the phrase "only a fool breaks the 2 second rule" as a rough guide
However, I worry I get in the way sometimes though like when a lorry has to overtake, some of them get very close as though they want me to move out the way
SituationMundane5452@reddit
I’m a Hgv driver. Just try to keep your distance (as you say you do) and you will be fine. Ideally you should be able to see the mirrors of the Hgv in front of you, then you know he can see you, and everybody’s happy.
If the wagon in front of you starts to slow down whilst climbing a hill the best thing to do is just pop your indicator on and pass it, don’t linger behind it as you would be in danger of another wagon running into the back of you. Try not to drop below 56mph is the best rule to go by as long as your in the left lane your not going to hold anybody up or piss anyone off.
You will always get the odd Hgv tailgating you or driving close, theres a lot of strange, lonely, angry and frustrated people sat in those wagons, always up against the clock and tiered.
I would personally just wait for a nice long downhill stretch of road, knock the truck into neutral and pass you at 65mph if I really needed to
Big_Tale9360@reddit (OP)
I was curious to hear from HGV drivers actually so thank you for your reply! I'm not sure if I can see the mirrors in front but that's because I've never checked but I will do next time
Thank you for your advice, if the "wagon" (I'm going to use that phrase now thank you aha) in front slows down too much I agree it's safer to overtake at 70, besides the poor driver is struggling enough as it is without me tailing him 😂
That's reassuring to hear it's just because someone is having a bad day, we all do. I match the speed of the wagon in front so I'm like an extra long lorry in a sense, they'd have to overtake at some point
Are trucks allowed to go to 65? I thought even on downhills the limit still applied, I see them braking on one of the downhill sections I drive
SituationMundane5452@reddit
Rule of thumb, if you can’t see the “wagons” mirrors that it cannot see you. That’s never a safe place to be. Hgv’s have so many blind spots you would be amazed at how much we cannot see. This is were a lot of misunderstanding happens and many car drivers think we are arseholes, thruth is we just didn’t know you were there, try this video it may help to understand
https://youtu.be/X9ua3a9vBy0?feature=shared
Trucks are not allowed to exceed 60mph on a motorway, that’s why we are restricted to 56mph. We are not supposed to knock the wagon into neutral and freewheel down hills with 44ton pushing us, but a lot of us do it. The wagons you see braking are fighting a massive amount of weight whilst trying to balance the trailer and wind. It’s not a nice feeling but many more experienced drivers will use neutral and coast down a hill to avoid overheating the brakes, and we gain a bit of extra momentum to get up the next hill.
There is nothing wrong with what you are doing by hanging behind a wagon on a motorway, but keep your wits about you, it can be a dangerous game to play, stay visible, keep your distance, and remember we can stop even nearly as quickly as you can.
ARobertNotABob@reddit
That video is certainly eye-opening.
I see many lorries with blind-spot warnings ... and many people ignoring them.
I'm surprised lorries aren't yet equipped with cameras and blind-spot alerts etc, as we have on many cars, EVs particularly, but obviously, it will be a decade or more before current lorries on the road are replaced.
SituationMundane5452@reddit
A lot of Hgvs do have cameras and audible warnings these days, it’s compulsory to have them if driving in major cities like London. In my experience at the moment maybe 50% have such luxuries. If that!
Im just thankful mine had a steering wheel
trmetroidmaniac@reddit
if you're in the left lane out of three, I don't really give a toss
Big_Tale9360@reddit (OP)
That's where I plonk myself, perfect haha
The_AJR@reddit
Only if you're sat in the outside lane overtaking something going 59mph in the middle lane! Other than that, stay left and drive at whatever speed you like.
Big_Tale9360@reddit (OP)
True haha, then it's a 2 lane A road and a 1 lane motorway. I do accelerate up to 70 to overtake because no-one needs me pretending to be a lorry clogging up the road for a couple of drops of petrol
Whatever speed you like within reason I suppose, when my friend moved to the UK he drove at 50 and got pulled over because they thought he was drunk lol
The_AJR@reddit
Well yes definitely within reason lol. I believe you can actually get points/fined by the police for driving unnecessarily slow on a motorway as it’s so dangerous, there’s a reason tractors are not allowed to drive on the motorway. Really there’s no excuse to be going any slower than 50mph on a motorway.
Big_Tale9360@reddit (OP)
Sorry 😂 I think you can get fined or points yh, I wouldn't ever want to risk that, then you're definitely not saving money 😭 good god that would be a nightmare if they did, it's bad enough when you see people moving house on the back of a lorry
I think they let me friend off because he was new to the country.... although he should really have known the speed limit aha
NedGGGG@reddit
If you're in the correct lane and maintaining a consistent speed your fine. The problematic slow drivers are the ones who sit in the middle lane and vary between 50 and 70.
ManageThoseFootballs@reddit
Even worse, when you see three abreast because they're all perfectly happy at 70 and not paying attention to the world around them.
Freedom-For-Ever@reddit
Surely it's fine if all are doing 70... Only a problem if they are all doing 60...
ManageThoseFootballs@reddit
Yes, you're right - although preferably not in a rolling blockade.
ManageThoseFootballs@reddit
Not sure why I'm being downvoted for that. You're only supposed to move into the next lane to overtake. Obviously three cars side rolling at the same speed is poor for congestion.
HenshinDictionary@reddit
If those cars are going at the speed limit, how were you planning to overtake them without breaking the law?
ManageThoseFootballs@reddit
Well that's why I corrected myself by saying the replier was correct and that it would be fine at 60 as long as they're not all going at the same speed blocking the road.
Each vehicle should only be moving one lane over to overtake.
Evening-Tomatillo-47@reddit
Nothing wrong with it, I do it all the time. Just make sure to speed up or slow down to get out of the way when needed
Big_Tale9360@reddit (OP)
Agreed, it's a loose 60 mph, overtaking I'll give it all she's got and push her up to 70 aha
Asleep_Conference_57@reddit
No issue, I also do the same when fuel prices are high. You don't really get much slipstreaming benefit unless you're stupidly close to lorries though. But going 60 instead of 70 does raise fuel economy noticeable especially in low-power petrol cars.
Big_Tale9360@reddit (OP)
Yeay, fellow trundler! I agree I think by the time you've reached the stopping distance (which still feels too close for comfort for my liking) the effect is almost gone, psychologically my car is flying though haha. Mines a 1.4 so it's not the worst but for a relaxing drive with my tunes it's nice to cruise at 60 too
NoEnthusiasm2@reddit
My first time on a motorway was 90% "plugging in" behind a lorry and following it for most of the way of a 200 mile journey. I didn't get beeped by anyone and I survived so I'm counting it as a win.
Big_Tale9360@reddit (OP)
First time on a motorway is terrifying, I can't imagine a 200 mile journey, well done! I don't think I've ever heard anyone beep on the motorway...it's usually too late by that point or I suppose people would just flash you
Squadrone_Rosso@reddit
Lane one or land two overtaking slower traffic? Carry on. Dawdling in lanes two or three? Absolutely an issue.
Widebody_lover@reddit
What if you are doing 60 in L2 to pass someone doing 55 in L1? Is that acceptable
Squadrone_Rosso@reddit
Isn’t that clear from the first part of my post? Yes, it is, if it isn’t.
Widebody_lover@reddit
Its not clear. If you are doing 60 past someone doing 55, that’s a dawdle, holding up traffic behind
Get your overtake done at 70
Squadrone_Rosso@reddit
I don’t disagree but certain vehicles are limited to a speed which is higher than a lorry but slower than the max limit for a car. But still, get it done & move over👍🏻
sossigsandwich@reddit
I have a big (tall) campervan. I always sit between 50-60 in the left hand lane! It’s absolutely fine to do that. Just match traffic speed if you overtake.
Big_Tale9360@reddit (OP)
That sounds sensible, I think I'd be terrified of driving something that big any faster than that anyway! That's a good point I do accelerate if I overtake, otherwise you do become an obstacle to the traffic
Lost-in-Limbo@reddit
As an ex hgv driver myself, if you have a truck overtaking you, then you are moving too slowly. Most UK based trucks are limited to 55 and will probably be on cruise control on the motorway. It is incredibly annoying when you move over to overtake a car, only to get half way past and then they speed up a little, causing you to have to go back behind them, they then ease off again and the cycle continues.
This also happens with other trucks, as your speed will always depend on what you are carrying (even with the limiter) so you could be catching up with another truck as you go down a slight hill (with a heavy load) get half way past only for the road to slightly rise again and cause you to now slow down to match the speed or less etc etc.
ClacksInTheSky@reddit
There's no such thing as a slow lane.
60MPH is often the limit for many vehicles on the motorway. This is why you see a lot of vans that state they're hard limited to 56MPH on the back.
Also, they're speed limits not goals.
So, no, 60MPH is a perfectly reasonable speed to drive on the motorway. 50MPH is fine as well.
What's important is proper lane discipline and the lack thereof being very annoying.
AnOwlWithKnees69@reddit
Disagree on the 50mph motorway speed. Borderline dangerous especially if the car is going by a speedo reading of 50 that is out by up to 10%
ClacksInTheSky@reddit
Is it fuck borderline dangerous 😂
A lot of motorways have variable speed limits anyway and will limit to 50MPH for long stretches.
50MPH+ is perfectly reasonable and not going to fall under driving without due consideration.
AnOwlWithKnees69@reddit
Clearly when there are 50mph limits in place it’s fine, I’m arguing that on a clear motorway with no restrictions, going 6-10mph slower than lorries & 20-25mph below speed limit is dangerous.
ClacksInTheSky@reddit
50MPH on a motorway isn't dangerous at all and it's well within reason for cars driving on the motorway.
Most cars are most efficient at around 55MPH
AnOwlWithKnees69@reddit
Ok we will just have to agree to disagree then. All the best
ClacksInTheSky@reddit
You should be able to safely overtake a car plodding along between 50-60 in the first lane, surely?
AnOwlWithKnees69@reddit
In most instances yes absolutely, but factor in lorries with gps speedos set at 56mph needing to overtake a car going ~46mph & regular traffic flowing around 65-70mph, the speed variance across the 3 parties is surely going to bring a higher degree of risk.
As mentioned elsewhere, keeping up with lorries at 56mph is perfectly acceptable & something I do from time to time, I just wouldn’t be comfortable sitting about 10mph below that.
AnOwlWithKnees69@reddit
In most instances yes absolutely, but factor in lorries with gps speedos set at 56mph needing to overtake a car going ~46mph & regular traffic flowing around 65-70mph, the speed variance across the 3 parties is surely going to bring a higher degree of risk.
As mentioned elsewhere, keeping up with lorries at 56mph is perfectly acceptable & something I do from time to time, I just wouldn’t be comfortable sitting about 10mph below that.
ferocious_bandana@reddit
If a lorry is overtaking you, you're driving below 60mph
Unhappy_Clue701@reddit
If lorries are overtaking you, then yes it’s annoying. They are speed-limited themselves so when a lorry has to overtake you, it becomes two vehicles blocking two lanes, which causes bunching of traffic. Not everyone else is able to move into lane 3 at the same time, so you can some people having to suddenly brake and the whole motorway slows right down.
Mysterious-Sock39@reddit
Yep this be more aware
theegrimrobe@reddit
yes its called elephant racing and is generally though to be against the rules ... its never enforced as how would you
PolarLocalCallingSvc@reddit
60mph is a perfectly acceptable motorway speed.
Lorries will be limited to 56mph so you won't be the slowest thing on the road anyway.
As long as you keep left unless overtaking then there shouldn't be any issues.
And your instructor is right that only a fool breaks the two seconds rule. This doubles in the wet and can be up to 10x in icy conditions.
Widebody_lover@reddit
That depends if it’s an indicated 60 or an actual 60
PolarLocalCallingSvc@reddit
Maybe but frankly while car speedos can overestimate speed by 10%+6.25mph by law, most cars don't overestimate anywhere near that, and modern cars are very accurate. It's not like OP is going to be doing under 40mph, which is the usual threshold at which police might pull someone over for careless driving. If they're in fact doing 56mph true speed for example then they're basically doing the same as the lorries.
Widebody_lover@reddit
Most car speedos reading 60 will be a real 56-58.
At the lower end of that range you are doing the same as the trucks and potentially less than a truck, which causes very slow overtake and a lot of time in the trucks blind spot
PolarLocalCallingSvc@reddit
About right, but I won't squibble over 1-2mph!
All you've illustrated is why 56mph would be safe - the lorries are doing it. Lorries won't overtake you at 56mph because they're limited to 56mph. Unless you're going downhill and their limiter doesn't cut the speed, you're not going to be in anybody's blind spot.
Widebody_lover@reddit
You see I disagree with you there
My friend has a modern ish car. He loves to do 60 on the speedo and occasionally we have had a HGV creep past us.
Waze said we are doing 56…. HGV probably doing 56.5 or 57
So I’ve always maintained that 60 on the Speedo isn’t great… better to do 62
PolarLocalCallingSvc@reddit
I'm not sure where the disagreement is!
Yes a car saying 60 can be doing 56, I've said that.
HGVs are speed limited to 56mph, by law they actually need to have such speed limiters fitted.
That's all congruent with what I've said further up I believe?
Widebody_lover@reddit
Some HGv exceed 56, not by much but it happens. See my post above, they can do 56.5 or 57 anecdotally
PolarLocalCallingSvc@reddit
By law they just be speed limited by technological devices to 56mph. In practice because of the strict liability offence the legislation their 'true speed' as the legislation calls it will be 55mph or less while the restrictor is active.
There is an issue whereby, like any other speed limiter, when going downhill they can exceed the limit. But I honestly think this is splitting hairs when OP is talking about consistently doing 60mph.
PerLin107@reddit
Not if yiu are in the left hand lane, no.
Civil-Fan-3586@reddit
Not a problem if you go ~60 mph. Frustrating thing is when cars doing 50-60 inconsistently. Most Lorrie are flat out ~56 on cruise control. When they have to slow down and accelerate constantly because someone in front can't keep steady speed, that's when they start swearing😂.
pmmeyourpeacesign@reddit
70 is the limit.
TSC-99@reddit
Yes it’s annoying
spinningdice@reddit
If you're in the left lane, that I can't see who's going to care, that's the speed limit for lorries anyway and some vehicles have limiters in to that speed.
It is annoying when you're doing a comfortable 60 in the left lane and still passing some plonker in the middle lane.
V8boyo@reddit
I don't really care what other people do, just what I do.
Strange_Dog@reddit
If lorries are overtaking you you are dangerously slow. No car should be forcing a lorry into the overtaking lanes, we should be keeping those rolling buildings out of them as much as possible.
redandbluebadness@reddit
I would say if you're getting overtaken by lorries, you're going too slow and basically encumbering the motorway by forcing slow-moving lorries into the middle lane, which has knock-on impacts fro traffic behind you. Don't have a problem with you going at your own pace within sensible limits, in the inside lane but that limit is fast enough not to slow down haulage. They shouldn't be and often cannot go faster than 60 mph but note that their speedos will be accurate and yours will be roughly 5% over (they always are) - so if you make your limit 63/64 per the speedo you'll be actually travelling at 60mph and will be keeping ahead of the trucks.
First_Folly@reddit
Unless you're making progress or the road is about to split you keep left.
wilof@reddit
I really don't understand why people sit in the middle lane. I used to drive motorways daily for work and luckily I don't have to these days but when I do the level of driving has declined massively. People seem to love sitting in the middle lane or even worse the fast lane find it so frustrating driving on the motorways now.
NooOfTheNah@reddit
Don't sit in the middle lane and you are good. The world seems to be full of folks who stay in the middle lane regardless of what is around them
davenuk@reddit
I saw 60mpg from the fun bus doing this the other day, couldn't believe it.
Randomn355@reddit
If you're just behind a lorry anyway it's not really any different.
Just an fyi though - lorries are often a few mph below 60.
Ok-Middle8656@reddit
Doing this does force other drivers to move out into the middle lane to pass you, which isn’t often immediately possible, therefore causing them to slow down too - that can be very annoying, yes.
You are expected to make “good progress” on any road - you can’t just bimble along because you feel like it. 60 is probably acceptable, but much less could be construed as dangerous driving. But you should be able to just slot in with the HGVs on a motorway.
Drwynyllo@reddit
Not if it stays in the left-most lane, unless it needs to overtake something going less than 60.
If a truck wants to overtake, it can overtake.
notonetochitchat@reddit
Fascinating.
Obvious-Water569@reddit
If you stay in lane 1, there's no issue.
Real-Apricot-7889@reddit
Fine if you stay in the left hand lane but if nobody ever wants to overtake I find it can get slower than 60mph quite easily
AutoModerator@reddit
Please help keep AskUK welcoming!
When replying to submission/post please make genuine efforts to answer the question given. Please no jokes, judgements, etc. If a post is marked 'Serious Answers Only' you may receive a ban for violating this rule.
Don't be a dick to each other. If getting heated, just block and move on.
This is a strictly no-politics subreddit!
Please help us by reporting comments that break these rules.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.