[Tombola]

Well I've been driving for around 17 lessons now and one thing I'm struggling is figuring out what speed I should be travelling at on the roads.

Usually I'm travelling around 25-27mph on the roads and even slower when I'm going through smaller roads with houses on the side. The speed limit is 30, but does that mean I'm meant to be maintaining 30mph whenever practical (i.e. even on minor roads if there are no traffic about) and around bends?

So far I've been told to go into gear 2 when going around bends, so usually my speed drops down to like 20mph but I can't help but feel like all the traffic around me are usually just taking these turns at much higher speeds?

What do most people do?

[james1211]

If you feel it's safe to take at 30 then take it at 30. If you don't feel like you can manage to or it looks to be too dangerous to, then slow down to an appropriate speed. With practice you'll get better at assessing corners.

BTW the speed limit is a maximum, not a minimum. Don't worry about the traffic around you.

As a rule though you should be keeping with the flow of traffic so don't be rediculous! :P

[Elwyn]

As with everything this will be natural to you as you progress. But for now you should do as your instructor tells you. When they feel you are a better driver they may allow you to not go so slow around bends. Also, you should never do 30 through streets anyway eventhough it is technically the speed limit, unless it's a main road of course.

[StarsAndBoulevard]

Really depends on the corner. Usually 30mph is maintainable around corners, but seeing as every corner is different, it's all down to your own judgement. Just take the corner at whatever speed you feel comfortable with. There aren't any set rules to do with regards to going round them (drop down into 2nd gear etc). Just because you're in a 30mph limit doesn't mean you have to maintain that speed around every corner. If that were the case, taking some corners in a national speed limit road would be pretty dangerous!

Don't forget you're still learning. As you get more experience, you'll find yourself better able to judge the speed you should be doing.
Also remember that a lot of road users are crazy. I often see people barrelling through a 30mph limit corner doing 40+. Don't be too concerned with what speed everyone else is doing. Just be safe!

[Iqbal007]

(Original post by Tombola)
Well I've been driving for around 17 lessons now and one thing I'm struggling is figuring out what speed I should be travelling at on the roads.

Usually I'm travelling around 25-27mph on the roads and even slower when I'm going through smaller roads with houses on the side. The speed limit is 30, but does that mean I'm meant to be maintaining 30mph whenever practical (i.e. even on minor roads if there are no traffic about) and around bends?

So far I've been told to go into gear 2 when going around bends, so usually my speed drops down to like 20mph but I can't help but feel like all the traffic around me are usually just taking these turns at much higher speeds?

What do most people do?

They honestly are going faster..............like in a test in would be smarter to slow down a bit in a small road with cars, in case you don't see anyone.

I even remember this weird bend at 40mph, which I've been on a few times uphill, always gives a scare :/ cos I keep thinking its fast.

[ROG.]

For the test you will be expected to go at a safe and reasonable speed for the conditions but will not be expected to do what experienced drivers do

Do not judge your driving by that of everyone else because they are not at the same stage of driving that you are

[SillyEddy]

Drive at the speed which is suitable for the bend. If it's a tight bend, you may consider slowing down and dropping a gear or two (so that the gear matches your speed). Ordinarily, I wouldn't drop down a gear just because I'm going around a bend, I'd drop it down if I decided that I needed to. If the bend is quite smooth, then you could just stay in the same gear.

The speed limit is just that - The limit. As my instructor said "Remember, it's not your target!". If you need to go slower, go slower.


As said above, don't judge yourself on what others do - Just do whatever you feel is the safest and the most appropriate. You probably don't need to slow all the way down to 20 though, just be sure to have some confidence that you can carry your speed around the corner - You might be able to keep the same gear and the same pace, and just drive the bend. It depends entirely on the road.