Why do people drive under the speed limit?
It can be dangerous to drive under the speed limit. Some individuals may drive slower due to anxiety or fear of collision. Driving too slow on the road can be hazardous and illegal; if individuals drive too slow without a reasonable reason, they may face charges.
Driving drastically under the speed limit in the UK can be classed as a motoring offence, and there are many different reasons why a person might be driving too slowly. Unfortunately, in many cases, fear of driving isn’t the cause of slow driving and many slow driving behaviours are often caused by distractions. For example, using your mobile phone whilst driving may slow an individual down.
Driving below the speed limit on the roads could sometimes be very dangerous. Slow driving can have a significant impact on other drivers on the road, causing other vehicles behind to break and then speed up repeatedly or have to come to a dangerous stop on a fast-moving road. Driving too slow can also cause road rage, with other vehicles attempting to overtake the slow driver which can be a remarkably hazardous manoeuvre, as drivers may risk overtaking a vehicle in a restricted area.
Motorways
The national speed limit on the motorway is 70mph, and many drivers are aware that driving too slow can be remarkably dangerous. If you are found driving on the motorway below 50mph, you can be reported and fined up to £1000; by driving too slow you will cause hazards to yourself and other people on the motorway. Driving too slowly on the motorway can be significantly hazardous to other drivers, especially when they are travelling at a faster speed and are forced to suddenly brake or swerve due to their driving behaviour. If your driving behaviour causes other drivers to swerve or brake, it is a good indication that your driving behaviour is a breach of the law.
A roads
The national speed limit on A roads is usually 60mph; this may vary depending on the type of road. Roads can pass through towns, residential streets or schools. Roads going through a built-up area near schools or playgrounds, or where there is a high possibility of children or elderly people crossing the road, the speed limit may be as low as 20mph. The speed limit on single-lane carriageways is usually 60mph, which may drop to 50mph if the road has sharp bends. Understandably, some drivers may travel under the speed limit if they are travelling on a new road, however, travelling too slow can be very dangerous, and drivers may face driving charges if they cause accidents or are caught.
Signs you should pay attention to
There are many different signs on the road, and you should always pay attention to them. One of the most important signs is the speed limit signs.
Signs which show the maximum speed limit have a circular shape have a red border, they are white inside and they have a black number inside, the numbers are usually 20,30,40 or 50, and they look like this.
Signs which show the minimum speed limit
The sign that will show you the minimum speed limit is also a circular shape. However, the sign has a white border, they are blue inside, and they have a white number in the middle.
National speed limit sign
The sign that shows the national speed limit sign is also a circular shape, it does not have an outline like the other two signs; it just has a black stripe going diagonally through it. The national speed limit sign looks like this.
You will find all of these signs on the left side of the road, make sure you pay attention to them. By driving too slowly you may face 3 to 9 penalty points and pay a fine of up to £5000. If you are driving above the speed limit, you could face 3 to 9 points on your driving licence and up to a £2500 fine.
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