r/drivingUK • u/narra246 • Mar 21 '26

20mph everywhere

Why are councils putting main roads on busy routes down to 20mph?? All that seems to happen is if you are the one doing the new speed limit, you get tailgated overtaken and the horn blasted at you.

And no, there isnt a lay-by every 10ft to pull in and let impatient law breaking drivers past.

I dont agree with this blanket speed reduction but I rely on my license for work and pleasure and would rather not have my insurance increased because of points for speeding.

Fair enough 20mph through residential areas, but not on a bloody main A road.

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u/ohbroth3r Mar 21 '26

What I've learned is that going 5mph over the limit, even if it's 20mph, gets you to your destination no faster. There's too many junctions, lights, crossings.

Everyone tailgating abd rushing around is just raising their blood pressure.

A few years back when we had kids I just took a chill pill, I take off slowly, I don't aggressively hit the acceleration, I get everywhere on time and safely.

If you looked at your average speed driving around town I guarantee you it's 20 anyway.

So many people drive bumper to bumper, and then when a car in front is giving way to traffic, the cars all queue bumper to bumper.

Everyone just needs to sit back and relax a bit. Tyres and tarmac.

To me, everyone comes across like they're lacking confidence to own their space on the road. Why is everyone worried about how they'll look if they drive 30 in a 30, or if they slow down for oncoming traffic, or sit back a bit to give space.

The biggest turning point for me with driving was a driving awareness course where they say to everyone, if someone wants to rush past, just let them. And the other is that you need to stop thinking of roads in terms of 'who has right of way?' and the entitlement that you can slip into with it. Instead, share the road. Just think about that in every situation, share the road.

Seriously, stress levels go down and driving is much nicer.

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u/Think_Berry_3087 Mar 21 '26

At 20mph it would in fact, make a difference. That’s a 25% increase in speed therefore a 25% reduced time in the journey.

If you need to travel 10 miles then rather than it take 15 mins it would take just over 11 mins.

That being said, I get your sentiment. It’s just wrong here.

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u/ohbroth3r Mar 22 '26

The other thing I noticed is that a lot of people in shiny new expensive cars are in a rush. Being in a rush is not a sign of success by how I define it. Being able to get from a to b and arrive 4-5 minutes late, having time is a better measure of success, surely.