AdobePinon

Yep, it's fugly out there on the motorways.
True, but I find it hard to drive that slow, being 7 hours from the nearest city bigger than Albuquerque. A real challenge. When I left the UK in the early 90s, traffic was always 95+ mph on some sections of the M5 and M6. It's very surreal out there now.
It has improved, but still has a long way to go. Brits, I'm afraid, are creatures of habit and don't know a crappy Mexican meal if they've never been west of Lands End (or for that matter, a crappy Indian meal if it veers from the usual 8-item takeaway selection). But pubs are still cheaper to eat at from my limited recent experience.
As a Salford grad, I can tell you that that all started around the early 90s. I've been back one since (late 90s) and can't imagine what it looks like now. I didn't recognize the place even on my last visit.
Definitely improved. Ironically, the Starbucks there have better food than most of them out here, particularly the western ones.

Enjoy the remainder of your trip, and do remember to ask to do a taste testing of Scotch at the duty free before you leave. (No ask, no get, and no better way to start an 8 a.m. flight.)

bevinva

RickWG

My cards have "Ask For ID!" in the signature space, no bugger ever asks... I started signing the names of disney characters, then went on to porn names (pet/street: Goldie Buckfast, Rusty Blackwater etc) & have been known to do anatomically correct drawings of genitalia or animals instead of a name.
Finally got stopped at BestBuy after I drew a pair of boobs in the sig box on the little machine...

RickWG

The daftest piece of legislation was the widespread lowering of speed limits to "ease congestion"..... except no one seems to have pointed out to the gormless idiots in charge that of you drive SLOWER it takes LONGER to get somewhere.. so more traffic is on the road at any one time....

Sally Redux

Not necessarily, if it stops traffic bunching up.

RickWG

If everyone is hauling ass it shouldn't bunch up, ever driven the 14 between Newhall & Palmdale?

tonrob

Is all this driving slower really true? I ask because this thread is the first I've heard of it. While I've been returning to the UK about 3 times a year I actually drove there for the first time in 6 years while over there a month or so ago. I did a couple of short-ish M3/M25/M4 journeys and - being nervous - stuck to the limit. Everybody else seemed to be flying by me (which is what I'd expected).

GeoffM

Wrong, everybody starts to drive at roughly the same speed which means there's little point pulling out to overtake, and thus fewer brake applications which cause ripple effects in traffic. Studies have shown that slowing the traffic down increases the average upwards. The only ones negatively affected are the lunatics that drive at 90+, weaving in and out to try to get every inch of advantage (and rarely get anywhere).

Correct.

Lorries, coaches, vehicles hauling trailers, and various other vehicles have lower speed limits, sometimes electronically limited, so that's physically impossible.

Steerpike

I always use 'Bambi' for favorite / first pet ... Darn - my cover is blown!

Today, I filled up with fuel for the first time. Since I don't have a card with a chip, I had to sign. And since I sign with a careless scribble, the guy actually noticed and wanted to see ID!!!!! Shocked me to death.

I also had no idea whether my car was diesel or petrol ... I assumed diesel since it sounded like one, and since everyone seems to drive diesel. But the nozzle wouldn't fit .

When I used to come back in the 80s and 90s, I remember there would always be multiple pile ups on the M1/M6. I would be in the slow lane doing 80+, and have to carefully strategize how to get into the middle lane to overtake a lorry since the middle lane was going much faster. By the time I got home I was a nervous wreck. Nowadays, it does seem like all three lanes are going about the same speed, and there is a lot less lane changing. I know that's hated by many, but for me it made for a more peaceful journey. I have yet to see an accident after driving several hundred miles.

Another thing much improved seems to be showers . It used to be impossible to take a shower without a few scalds and freezes, if someone in the same town flushed their toilet or something.

And today, in the Lakes, the weather was GLORIOUS !!!!! Clear, sunny, crisp. The Lake District, in good weather, is about as pretty as it gets - gentle rolling hills, distinctive walls, sheep grazing ... I have to confess, only one bad evening of rain so far. I shall have to do this again

Brit3964

When I was in UK last year, my cousin told me they have changed the Highway Code and now you can legally undertake on the inside lanes on the motorways if the car in front is slower than you. IOW same as here! And yes, it does seem to have helped although the stop-start nature of driving anywhere in UK gets annoying quick. I was glad to be back on I-20 heading East (and no manual gearbox)

Thydney

I hate anal street and that area of Manchester, Costa coffee and Starbucks decent coffee? FFS! as for the roads they are terrible I hate driving over here it's mind numbing you worry constantly that a few miles over the limit and your licence can be gone in 5 miles. The UK is a shithole and will get worse over the next few years

candy wy.

I do not think this is true..

Thydney

no undertaking it's still against the law. It was discussed but that was as far as it went

Jerseygirl

Only OK if the outside lane is moving slower than the inside lane AFAIK...and that's been the case as far back as I can remember.

Thydney

thats not strictly overtaking on the inside though is it