Driving slow on a motorway

Thoie

We frequently see comments on this forum such as "of course blah happened - you were driving too slow on the motorway and there is/should be a law against that".

How do you reconcile that with the fact that it's sensible to drive at a safe speed for the conditions?

Example:
Last week, during a particularly bad squall, I was heading southbound on the M50 after junction 14. As it happened at that particular moment there was no-one visible behind me or in front of me (is this a record?).

That area is particularly prone to crosswinds, visibility was extremely poor due to heavy rain at the time, and the road wasn't draining very well, which meant I kept hitting puddles. In my opinion, at that time, a safe speed was in the region of 90kph (as opposed to the signed 120kph).

A car came up behind me doing somewhere in the region of 120 (I'd say possibly faster, but will give him the benefit of the doubt). He went out to overtake me in good time, but just as he passed me he got caught by a gust and literally got blown across my lane and in to the edge a bit. Because of the speed I was doing we avoided a collision, so all was well.

If there had been a crash, would I have been partly responsible (in your opinion, nothing to do with gardai or insurance companies) for "forcing" him to overtake me because I was driving slowly?

robtri

Thoie wrote: »

We frequently see comments on this forum such as "of course blah happened - you were driving too slow on the motorway and there is/should be a law against that".

How do you reconcile that with the fact that it's sensible to drive at a safe speed for the conditions?

Example:
Last week, during a particularly bad squall, I was heading southbound on the M50 after junction 14. As it happened at that particular moment there was no-one visible behind me or in front of me (is this a record?).

That area is particularly prone to crosswinds, visibility was extremely poor due to heavy rain at the time, and the road wasn't draining very well, which meant I kept hitting puddles. In my opinion, at that time, a safe speed was in the region of 90kph (as opposed to the signed 120kph).

A car came up behind me doing somewhere in the region of 120 (I'd say possibly faster, but will give him the benefit of the doubt). He went out to overtake me in good time, but just as he passed me he got caught by a gust and literally got blown across my lane and in to the edge a bit. Because of the speed I was doing we avoided a collision, so all was well.

If there had been a crash, would I have been partly responsible (in your opinion, nothing to do with gardai or insurance companies) for "forcing" him to overtake me because I was driving slowly?

I would say you where driving fast enough for the conditions and the other vehicle was driving to fast for the conditions of the roads.... I wouldn't say you where driving too slow... BIG BIG Difference

but would you be kind to point out the Numerous threads that all us people here are giving out about accidents being caused by people driving correctly for the conditons of the the road ...like you where?????

L1011

Seeing as you were doing 90, in poor conditions, shortly after a 60 works speed limit zone (and a permanent 100 zone) ended no, there'd not be anything about going too slowly. And I don't think theres any concept of "forcing" someone to overtake either, particularly not on a dual carriageway!

Matt Simis

betafrog wrote: »

There's a stretch of the M50 where it increases to 120KPH?

I thought the highest it went was a 100, is certainly the highest speed limit I've seen on the M50.

In response to your question OP, I would day it was entirely the other drivers fault, assuming you weren't in the "overtaking lane" then you were entitled to drive at a reasonable speed that you felt was safe for the conditions. The fact that he was blown across the road show he wasn't taking any consideration for the conditions.

Yes, drive further south on the M50 and it becomes 120kph.
I wouldnt say the other driver is "at fault" (nor the OP). Acts of nature are unpredictable and he may not be familiar with the area so stuck to the guideline limit.
Regardless of familiarity, I doubt getting hit by a sudden strong gust has much difference at 90 vs 120kph, its more dependant on the drivers reactions, ability and car performance.

_Kaiser_

Key point as raised by the OP is "the conditions"

IE: If it's a clear day and you can see for miles ahead (slight exaggeration for effect) and you're on a wide, well surfaced road.. then do the posted limit - or at the very least don't hold up those behind you! (although personally I'd be of the opinion that anyone who isn't capable of driving at a max of 120 km/h shouldn't be on the road in the first place!)

However, if it's raining/foggy/dark then of course you should slow down and leave a bigger cap to the car in front - oh and PUT YOUR LIGHTS ON.. they're there not just to see, but to be seen!

Mr. Presentable

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

Key point as raised by the OP is "the conditions"

IE: If it's a clear day and you can see for miles ahead (slight exaggeration for effect) and you're on a wide, well surfaced road.. then do the posted limit - or at the very least don't hold up those behind you! (although personally I'd be of the opinion that anyone who isn't capable of driving at a max of 120 km/h shouldn't be on the road in the first place!)

However, if it's raining/foggy/dark then of course you should slow down and leave a bigger cap to the car in front - oh and PUT YOUR LIGHTS ON.. they're there not just to see, but to be seen!

So, what you are saying is "OP, you did nothing wrong".

KamiKazi

OP did nothing wrong IMO, that area of M50 has some serious crosswinds (try being on a bike ) but to be fair you don't just get hit by a crosswind all of a sudden, the other driver should have realised that the crosswinds were getting stronger as well as the fact that there's nothing to block the wind along that stretch i.e. open flat fields on both sides of the motorway.

Alanstrainor

Thoie wrote: »

That area is particularly prone to crosswinds, visibility was extremely poor due to heavy rain at the time, and the road wasn't draining very well, which meant I kept hitting puddles.

Anyone who thinks the OP was driving too slow needs their head checked. And it's not like the OP was sitting in the overtaking lane or anything.

L1011

betafrog wrote: »

There's a stretch of the M50 where it increases to 120KPH?

I thought the highest it went was a 100, is certainly the highest speed limit I've seen on the M50.

South of J14 it goes to 120, it also used to be 120 everywhere except J12 to J14 and around the toll plaza.

NewDubliner

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

I'd be of the opinion that anyone who isn't capable of driving at a max of 120 km/h shouldn't be on the road in the first place!)

That would depend on what you're driving.

I'd be of the opinion that anyone who is not capable of driving at or below a clearly posted speed limit shouldn't be on the road in the first place.

L1011

NewDubliner wrote: »

That would depend on what you're driving.

I'd be of the opinion that anyone who is not capable of driving at or below a clearly posted speed limit shouldn't be on the road in the first place.

That'd be nobody, then. Everyone is capable of driving below the posted speed limits, some just don't. Many idiots who have somehow got driving licences (or learner permits and haven't been caught yet) are actually incapable of reaching the posted or otherwise applicable speed limit for their vehicle class and they should be removed from the road post-haste.

JHMEG

Nothing wrong with driving slow on a motorway, in the left lane, and safely.

Otoh, there is something wrong with doing 120km/h and rear ending someone.

NewDubliner

MYOB wrote: »

That'd be nobody, then. Everyone is capable of driving below the posted speed limits, some just don't. .

'Some' would be about 47%.

I was driving on the M1 in the northbound lane, a 60kph zone (due to missing road surface and lane markings) last weekend, I had lots of traffic passing me at 120 on the inside, heading for the M50 slip and on the outside.

stepbar

As long as you don't hog the right lane I couldn't give a fcuk if you drive fast or slow. I sware to god it's the one class of driver that I would go out of my way to p1ss off.