Old people driving slowly - rage is building

West said:
This.

You drive to the coniditions, not the sign.
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What if the conditions are fine to do 60 and they are doing 30? We've all been there, I know it's only a small annoyance and we should sit back and relax, but the reason they are doing 30 in a 60 is there not capable of reacting normally to a normal situation, and hence the OP's post. Old people going too slow means that they are incapable of normal driving and they shouldn't be on the road.

Would you let someone do 30 down a motorway??
 
From top 10 motoring myths

You can't get in trouble for driving too slowly Not true. A number of people have been stopped and charged for driving too slowly.

If a police officer thinks your driving is putting others at risk - by encouraging risky overtaking, say - you can be booked.
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And it seems there is now a section in the test : 20 Making Progress - Appropriate Speed

Driving well below the speed limit can be as dangerous as driving above it. Particularly if this causes frustration amongst other road users who may feel the need to overtake you when it is unsafe to do so.

Similarly being hesitant at junctions or when approaching hazards or when other road users are clearly giving way can result in dangers as you unexpectedly stop or unnecessarily slow down.

The examiner is expecting you to

Drive up to the speed limit if road, weather and traffic conditions permit or at a realistic speed if not
Approach hazards at a safe controlled speed without being over cautious or interfering with the progress of other traffic
Emerge from junctions without stopping at give way lines if it is safe to do so or emerge at the first safe opportunity to proceed.

Driving faults recorded

20 Progress

Appropriate speed:

Crawls along at slow speeds on clear roads.
Makes no attempt to achieve maximum speeds for the road when safe to do so.
Reduces speed excessively when the conditions do not merit doing so.
Makes slow progress through the gears in normal driving.
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Last edited:
Freakbro said:
From top 10 motoring myths



And it seems there is now a section in the test : 20 Making Progress - Appropriate Speed
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Unfortunately these people did their test 50 years ago and they've long forgotten what they've learnt. Without compulsory retests over 65-70 year olds then how will they know?

Robbie G said:
All I can say is, buy a faster car.
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This.
 
There was one on Tuesday on the way back from Nottingham pulled out in front of the artic in front of me with about 50 yards between them.

He literally go to the junction, looked both ways, saw the artic coming, pulled out in front I him causing the lorry to lock up at the back and start weaving as he tried to squeeze betweenf the fogey and on coming traffic, he didn't gun his car or pull to the side, he pulled into the middle of the lane, slowly accelerated up to 30 on a NSL and stayed there, completely oblivious to what he'd done.
 
I don't think the old drivers turn like this over night. I'd say they have always been useless at driving and age only has a small part to play. Slower dithery people seem to live longer so you notice them on the roads more.

I know some old people, above 70, who are very good drivers and others between 50 and 60 who are terrible. One of my clients is 72, still flys a helicopter, and has just purchased a Porsche 911 Turbo S.

I think everyone should have 2 hours of instructed driving every 5 years regardless of age. A test you can't fail but must continue with instruction, if 2 hours is not enough, until a standard is met. A normal driving instructor could be used to do this and then they sign a piece of paper stating you're fit to drive.
 
I see more poor drivers from young to middle age than older drivers day in day out.

Most younger drivers, pay too little attention, drive too close or far to close to the car in front, show little patience and little care for other road users. They think they are driving gods, they may have average to above car handling skills but the rest of their driving sux big time, they confuse cra handling ability with driving skill.

On the other hand the one thing, and normally the only thing you can complain about old agers is that they deem the roads to be a less safe place than you and hance drive slower. I know which I would prefer to have about.

Simple rule is to not assume you will drive everywhere at the speed limit, knock 10mph off the speed limit for the roads and assume that speed, you will find your far less stressed and get there on time anyway.
 
Pick a car that is suitable for the sort of driving you do - if most of your driving is on A roads where you are frequently stuck behind people travelling under the speed limit, choose a car that offers a level of performance such that you can safely overtake them when required.
 
Over the last few years with a family cars fuel tank costing £80 to fill up the strive for MPGzzzz , the purchase of Pacific Rim disposable rot boxes and the constant changing of speed limits down and the general confusion, the general public just drive at 30 everywhere, I don't blame them but for most people actually driving, when driving is a few down on the priority list.
 
Living where I do I see this a lot due to the higher than average numbers of older drivers so I feel your pain. I also see the 1 speed (usually 40) unless there is the slightest deviation in the road or a car comes the other way and they slam on the anchors to 20.

Additionally, blue badge holders and their belief they can park anywhere they like, in any fashion. Double yellows etc are there for a reason so you'd think they'd exercise some caution when parking on them but usually I find they park on blind bends or somewhere else dangerous and rarely ever tuck into the kerb their car pretty much in the middle of the road, or worse still they just pretty much stop and get out and cross roads in the face of incoming traffic without even looking.

I appreciate it's not everyone as I come across others too, but I find most are elderly (but not all elderly people are like it).

It's not just drivers. On Tuesday I saw what could have been a very nasty accident. 30mph road, quite wide and open so you can see both ways for a good 1/4 mile and then no more then 20 yards from a crossing a guy decided to push another guy in a wheelchair across the road. There was a car coming and he had to pull a fast swerve and brake (no way he'd have stopped in time) to avoid him. The guy in the car got out to a tirade of abuse from the guy in the wheelchair (not the guy pushing) along the lines of "I'm a wheelchair you ******* idiot you have to stop for me". The driver looked kinda stunned and didn't reply at first but then simply commented that the crossing is there and points 20yds away at which point point the guy pushing points to a blue wheelchair sticker on the side on the wheelchair and says "he's got a blue badge, he can do what he wants" and pushes the guy away. I was flabbergasted.

I'm really tempted to get CCTV in my car as what I see day to do would make plenty chuckle on YouTube
 
[TW]Fox;22804735 said:
Pick a car that is suitable for the sort of driving you do - if most of your driving is on A roads where you are frequently stuck behind people travelling under the speed limit, choose a car that offers a level of performance such that you can safely overtake them when required.
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This.

with 150-200bhp+under your right foot, an old person doing 40 in a 60 in their jazz is soon just a distant memory.
 
To be honest, it's not just old people. Driving home from the gf's, I find plenty of people who drive at 40 in a 60. Very rarely is there a legitimate reason for this.

That said, there are always a good few accidents on the road, due to idiots overtaking in dangerous places. If it's not safe, don't overtake. Simple.

Having known the road for some time, I know the places where I can and can't overtake, so just wait until it's possible. Yes, it's frustrating some time, but I'd rather be late than dead.

kd
 
To be fair I get just as frustrated by the opposite, the bloke up your backside swinging in and out desperate to overtake when you are already doing the speed limit or just over.
 
If I went the speed limit on my roads I'd be dead by now. Going 60 on the twisty narrow roads with blind corners and the like... not a wise choice. 55 is where it's at.
 
People serious about going "fast" and sticking to the limits blindly on roads should go on a fast road driving coursethey are available, sometimes called something like a progression driving course.

Often run by ex police instructors etc, they will teach you a few things that may save your life if you find your someone who overtakes a lot. They will also teach you some stuff that will balance out the fact that your driving fast.
E.g speed to take a corner at should be dictated by :
range of vision. If you can only see 30 yards thats the factor that dictates your speed. If there was a cow or broken down vehicle in the middle of the road 31 yards further down the road you want to be able to stop in 30 yards, the road may be NSL but visibility doesn't warrant 60mph at that point.

I would support every driver having to have a limited amount of instruction every few years. Comsidering your driving around whats in effect a lethal weapon could only help improve the general level of driving.
 
This makes me rage as well. The other day i was stuck behind some old dear that just would not overtake a bicycle for about 2 miles!! There were numerous safe places to overtake the cyclist but she just wouldnt. I couldnt really overtake either as there was another car in between us and it was quit a windy and narrow stretch of road. So basically me and this other bloke were stuck going 15-20mph for a few miles :(

Also, i was stuck behind another old woman a few weeks ago who had BOTH her wing mirrors folded in! Now, i guess i shouldnt have overtaken her seen as she didnt have any wing mirrors but its clear she wasnt going to use them. I overtook her, slowed down, opened my window and pinted to my wing mirrors with my hand to warn her but nope, she was completely oblivious. Anyway, a few miles on and i got caught behind some other horrendously slow person so the original woman caught up....still had her wing mirrors folded in about 5 miles further down the road! Argh!

Also, as had been said, many of these old people also just stick to the speed they are doing so if a NSL road turns to a 30 they just continue doing 40 regardless!!

This is one of the reasons why i had to get back into something with a bit of speed.
 
NoUserName said:
old people should have to take a refresher course to see if there still able to
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I'd be tempted to say this... I know a few elderly people whom can't drive for **** and it is very scary thinking there are others like them out there!

Reminds me of a South Park episode too!
 
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