So, am I in the wrong to do 30 in a 30?

[GT130]

I think your instructor was talking about making progress on NSL roads. I've done quite a bit of further training and none of the instructors would advise to overtake a car doing 30 in a 30 (or any other posted limit for that matter). It's just taking the pi$$.

Apologies, I did not put that across properly Macduff - my old instructor was actually talking about showing confidence by making progress etc and driving 'at' the speed limit as it's the only way to show the examiner that you know what the speed limit is....clearly he was not telling me to exceed the limit and overtake as none of his pupils would ever pass the test if they did that!

Interesting that you have not commented on bikes overtaking.........

 

[Macduff]

Apologies, I did not put that across properly Macduff - my old instructor was actually talking about showing confidence by making progress etc and driving 'at' the speed limit as it's the only way to show the examiner that you know what the speed limit is....clearly he was not telling me to exceed the limit and overtake as none of his pupils would ever pass the test if they did that!

Fair enough. In that case I agree

Interesting that you have not commented on bikes overtaking.........

Didn't see any need to comment on that as it's true. As a biker you'll know that you have superior visibility to a car driver due to sitting much higher. Plus of course we have all that extra performance available. But I'll only use it on NSL roads as bikers have a bad enough name as it is without attracting extra attention by being a tw@t in towns.

 

[GT130]

Agree with people that 30 in towns is the way to go but not all 30 roads are what I would call 'in town'.

Very interesting subject TMP.

 

[TMP-Audi]

I think it's admirable that you always stick to 30 in a 30 - I usually do also, dont understand why you would use your horn at someone that decides it's safe to overtake you though - if he has not cuased you a problem (almost run you off the road / overtaken outside school etc) then I dont think it's any of your business.......

I used the horn because they massively exceeded the 30 limit as they overtook. The X3 probably hit 50-60mph which is lunacy in a 30 'built up' zone. .

I was shocked and angry, the horn was a way to let them know I thought they were in the wrong. However, as previously said I will just count to ten next time and not beep or gesture etc

and as I understood it you are allowed to overtake if it's safe to do so and also to exceed the limit a little at that point...

In a 30 zone IMO you shouldn’t overtake another car if you have to exceed 30, simple as. Just sit back and chill, because (besides the extra risk to pedestrians) in all honestly how much time are you actually going to save?

Agree with people that 30 in towns is the way to go but not all 30 roads are what I would call 'in town'..

We have some new 30 zones which used to be 40 (that have very few houses on them) - it is frustrating. I still do 30 though, because if you get caught doing 40, guess what :busted_cop: ?


Tim

 

[quattrojames]

and as I understood it you are allowed to overtake if it's safe to do so and also to exceed the limit a little at that point....

I don't think is at all true to be honest.

 

[treblesykes]

Interesting that you have not commented on bikes overtaking.........

Thats fine its when the b

gers start under taking that things go wrong

 

[Nickynibbles]

Thats fine its when the b

gers start under taking that things go wrong

The biker v's car driver debate will go on for as long as there are car drivers out there who dont have a bike licence. Bikes undertaking is a fairly common occurance, but then in fairness they're going through a gap in the inside lane big enough to fit a car so why dosent the car move over to the inside lane as recommended by the highway code insetad of middle or outside lane hogging? Also, the car driver would be perfectly safe if they were using their mirrors more often and spotted the bike behind them in the 1st place. BTW I dont like undertaking but sometimes in heavier traffic its the only way to go!

Also to add, although i ride a fast jap sports bike i've no desire for mega speeds & only use dual carriageways/motorways if i really have to prefering to cruise the countryside. Coming home from Poole a few weeks ago I caught up with a Honda Fireblade cruising along with a with a Harley at about 50mph, it was such a nice day & wasnt in a rush I just tagged along behind enjoying the view & the riding company! See, not all bikers are mad nutters out to race the Starship Enterprise!

 

[Nilz]

OK quick question, if you are driving in the hard shoulder on the motorways that now have them open to drive in eg the M42 going onto the M40, if it says 60 on the signs above and the car in the slow lane is doing 50, are you ok to pass them whilst driving in the hard shoulder??

Does that make sense???

 

[rodenal]

Not unless the car to your right is in a queue moving slower than the lane you are in. If both lanes are empty you should still move out to your right

 

[AndyMac]

Those hard shoulder sections generally use variable speed limits on the gantry's. This is the only case where it is legal to undertake as far as I'm aware.

 

[Nilz]

Thats what my understanding was that its ok to undertake, under the circumstances of the variable speed limits....

 

[jojo]

Thats what my understanding was that its ok to undertake, under the circumstances of the variable speed limits....

Mate, if it says do 50 on the boards above, just do 50, they are not going to do you for speeding are they? I've noticed that the flow is quicker on the hardshoulder lane when it opens, as the cars need to go back into lane one when a junction comes up, but I usually need to turn off the first junction I come accross on the M42, so it's good for me.

 

[Nilz]

Yea i always stick to the speed it says on the boards up above, but its frustrating, when im only on for one junction and it says 50, and the dude in the slow lane is doing 40 and im in the Hard Shoulder, thinking do i or dont i????

 

[jojo]

Yea i always stick to the speed it says on the boards up above, but its frustrating, when im only on for one junction and it says 50, and the dude in the slow lane is doing 40 and im in the Hard Shoulder, thinking do i or dont i????

I pass them mate if I'm turning off the next junction, you are not speeding, and it's not really undertaking, as you are not trying to overtake in my opinion.

 

[Nilz]

Fair point, obviously im not speeding and defo not trying to overtake, just trying to get to my destination thats all

 

[neil.c]

It's probably safer to overtake cars doing 20 in a 30 than at any other speed, I think you can do it without exceeding the speed limit too. I always stick to the limit on anything other than national limits but some of the limits are bizarre you just have to accept it. If you get passed (which isn't that often, so must be where you live or the type of roads) it is better just to let them go you will probably catch them up at the next set of traffic lights or junction.

 

[jbw]

I enjoy the motorway and the occassional sprint if I know the road but a 30 should always be kept to.

The road I live on is a 30 but as it's as straight as a drag strip assholes use it as such. Cars are parked in a staggered fashion on either side of the road which these twats attack like a chicane at 50-ish mph. There's a playing field close by and children and pets are regularly crossing it. What makes worse (for me) is someone recently whacked my car whilst it was parked on this road, right outside my house. All due to speeding and I'm convinced it'll happen again in the next 6 months.
If I'd have known how bad this road was I'd probably not bought the house.