Why Do People Drive So Slowly in the Rain?
For me there are few things more frustrating than being stuck behind a slow driver, but why is it, when it rains, everybody drives slowly?
I’m not talking about the need for speed, or to show off in any way, and I don’t endorse speeding in any way. I happen to think there are far too many people on the roads today breaking the law. You cannot go anywhere without someone tailgating, and you will always see someone driving too fast.
My problem lies with the drivers who tentatively plod along during the morning rush hour at 30mph where the limit is 60mph. It’s these people who hold up the roads and make everybody late for work.
I drive to work using the back roads, as the motorway is scarcely free of incident. I take the long and winding country roads to avoid being held up and always make it to work with time to spare. Occasionally an unsure driver will slow you down, but for the most part there is no hassle. But add a little rain into the mix and suddenly the whole country slows down.
Obviously you need to drive with caution in wet weather, and I would never maintain a normal speed through these roads if it was hazardous in any way, but to drive at half the speed limit is excessive I think. In heavy rain maybe, but in normal English rain there is no need for such drastic measures.
Only this morning I was stuck behind a slow driver, and became more irritated by the minute with every decline in speed for all corners and visible puddles on the road. Cars are designed to be able to drive in the rain, and I’m pretty sure the car will not spin out of control if you drive around a light bend in the road at 20mph in light rain.
As this same driver pulled into a side road, it was only seconds before I came up behind the next car, also doing 30mph. If you cannot drive in wet weather without being petrified of the roads, then in my opinion you should not be on the roads. Or at least take the motorways and leave the back roads to those who can manage.
I don’t want to alienate anybody, and I certainly don’t wish to have a dig at any person in particular, but it just seems that in England, if it’s not dry then we cannot cope on the roads. In snow we stop, in rain we plod along, yet in other countries the roads are unaffected by the weather. People just get on with it. I wish this country shared that attitude.
Tagged with: britains roads • Road transport • slow driver • Speed limit • unsure driver • Weather
Filed under: My Views
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Dan Stevens
I’m convinced that the nanny/welfare state that smothers our culture has actually snuffed-out the brilliance, the fight and the good stuff that crafted our rich history. It’s devastating.
We dont really do weather very well in England do we?!! Which is a suprise as we are famed for it. If it snows the country goes in to meltdown, same with heatwaves. There is a need for caution when sriving whilst its raining but like say sometimes people are over cautious. Sometimes its actually more dangerous to drive slower than the limit as other drivers are not expecting this!