Is It Against The Law To Drive Below The Speed Limit?

[Zak51arc]

Recently, I was en route to a hospital appointment. I was driving at 45mph in a 50 limit. The police pulled me over, there was only the one. He gave me a dressing down, told me that I should be driving at the speed limit unless conditions didn’t allow it. He said he was a police sergeant. He said he was concerned about my ability to drive several times. I was concerned about his ability to be a police officer! He was very officious, demeaning and down right nasty. Fortunately, my husband was with me, therefore I had a witness. Truly shocking.

[davebro]

If the 45/50 figures are accurate I would question if you were in fact pulled over by someone impersonating a police officer!

I once cleared rubbish from a country lay-by & a copper saw me putting the bags into my car. He pulled me up further down the road and accused me of trying to DUMP the rubbish but being put off by his presence! They aren't always of high intelligence.

[dannyk13]

Dave//you were in fact pulled over by someone impersonating a police officer!//
It could be, if he was in uniform why did he say "I am a police sergeant" ?. Also motorway police vehicles are staffed by two officers. As I said earlier it all sounds a bit iffy.

[aelmpvw]

makes me wonder if your speedometer needs checking?

[TonyV]

I had circumstance in kinder of reverse yesterday, went to local tyre fitters yesterday to get puncture mended. Heavens opened whilst I was there on way home lots of lying water and massive puddles, I was driving well below 30 limit and got tailgated by HGV flashing headlights, he was fine up high and could see where he was going and not aqua planing through puddles. Was glad to get home.

[postman44]

You were driving sensibly don't worry about this,maybe he was having a bad day.

[cassa333]

Personally I wouldn’t say 45 in a 50 was overly slow.

And not forgetting you only need to go one or two mph over and you get a speeding ticket.

[bhg481]

Yet another good reason for having a dashcam which displays your speed. You know exactly what speed you were doing and you have a record of it just in case the policeman decides to book you and "exaggerate" your lack of speed.

[cassa333]

Sorry that should have been WASN’T overly slow.

[davebro]

"Sorry that should have been WASN’T overly slow."

Ooops - you just doubled your negative!

[woofgang]

IMO 45 in a 50 is not slow. People who have been in the news for slow driving have been doing stuff like 10 in a 30 or 30 on the motorway. Its a real pity you dodn't get his details because he sounds like a fake to me.

[douglas9401]

Joe Public can easily find themselves at the mercy of guardians of the peace who are ill-equipped for the task.

Best to just nod and make the right noises, especially if there are no witnesses, gets things over quicker and you have the satisfaction of knowing that our hero is and always will be an utter ***, loathed by all who encounter them.

Only rich folk and silly billys argue with the sheriff.

[vulcan42]

" I read that to mean timid, and driving below the allowable limit can cause frustration in more capable drivers meaning they may take an overtaking risk".
Aren't we supposed to drive below the allowable limit?
If a driver risks an overtaking move, s/he is not a capable driver, being capable means you don't take risks.

[SparklyKid]

I live near lots of country lanes with loads of bends. The limit is 50 mph but you would have to be crazy to do a 45 degree bend at 50.

[teacake44]

The law can be an ass at times, along with some overzealous police officers, most however would not pull you over for that speed. He must have had little else to do I would think.

[THECORBYLOON]

On the Driving Test Report, one of the areas looked at is headed
"Maintain progress". The notes for that section say,

"On test you needed to show that you can drive at a realistic

speed appropriate to the road and traffic conditions. You needed
to approach all hazards at a safe, controlled speed, without being over cautious or slowing or stopping other road users. You
should always be ready to move away from junctions as soon as
it is safe and correct to do so. Driving too slowly can frustrate
other drivers which creates danger for yourself and others."

[ToraToraTora]

45 in a 50? He's having a Turkish, it's a limit not a target. There are some places with minimum limit (white numbers on a blue back ground, circular) but they are rare. There is no actual offence of going "too slow" however there is an offence of not keeping up with prevailing road conditions and traffic.

[ABerrant]

Although it does sound as if the officer could benefit from a refresher course in how to deal with the public, it is likely that your speedo was over-reading by around 3 mph {it can legally over-read up to 10.75 mph for an indicated 45 mph} putting you closer to 42 mph actual speed.

[Zak51arc]

Buenchico
My standard of driving is absolutely first class. I have been a member of the Institute of Advanced Motorists for many years and I was taught the police system of driving whilst preparing for the IAM test. The police officer that stopped me wasn’t a traffic police officer and his conduct was completely out of order. I hope that with a ‘formal complaint ‘ on his record it will jeopardise his prospects of ever climbing the ranks. His approach was so that he doesn’t deserve promotion

[retrocop]

I am a member of the great I AMs. I am also a class I Advanced Police Driver and Class 1 Advanced Police motorcyclist. I also learnt to drive to 'the system' as proscribed by the police driving bible called Roadcraft. I was a Black Rat ( Met Police Traffic Officer). I do not think you were stopped by a bona fide police officer and yes, as previously stated, you can be summoned for driving excessively slow under certain conditions and circumstances.
I certainly do not believe that the circumstances you describe merits a stop or caution. I reckon your official complaint may raise eyebrows as I feel this was a wannabee unlawful stop.There was a motorcyclist who rode round the M25 all day in pseudo police attire a good few years ago. He had a Jeltex jacket on with 'Please' on the back and used to pull up motorists and caution them. Very sad person. I often thought he could be a moderator somewhere. :-)

[retrocop]

//My standard of driving is absolutely first class//

Lol. I have your IAM qualification and some ( Class 2HGV and Class 1 PSV) I would never state my standard of driving is absolutely first class. I was trained,as an advanced driver to drive at excessive speed, but that won't impress a magistrate should I transgress. I sometimes do. My halo sometimes slips no matter how good I thought I was trained. :-)