i remember the days when 65mph was the norm … and you could still breath at those speeds … 
Snudger:
44 Tonne Ton:
FarnboroughBoy11:
It’s the not the overtaker that’s the ■■■■■■ anyway, it’s the ■■■■ that won’t allow the faster lorry to go. Half a mile faster or not, at some point in the journey the truck overtaking has been faster. Again on most things on the road, common sense must prevail.Bollox! Read your Highway Code! It will tell you to overtake as quickly as possible and not to let a queue of traffic build up behind you. Don’t just quote the little bit that suits your side of the argument i.e. a vehicle being overtaken should knock it back to assist an overtaker. No overtaking should be attempted unless you can do it within a reasonable time. The plod mentioned by OTS was talking bollox as is OTS (welcome BTW!), the overtaking vehicle is the one causing the obstruction if he’s taking mile after mile to do it! How much time do you think you’re saving anyway?
As an example I came out of Leicester on a night trunk a few years ago and had this situation. The ■■■■ took something like 10 or 11 miles to pass, not such a problem at night with traffic volumes. I had plenty of time to work out that if he was going to the bottom of the M1 as I was then he would probably get there about 20 seconds before me! I had this confirmed when we did indeed both go to the bottom of the M1 and he got there about 200 yards in front of me.
As an example
So you’re saying that he shouldn’t have attempted to overtake even though he could go faster (OK only by a little bit)
Exactly. And the little bit faster is the relevant point here. I have no issue with anyone who can overtake in a reasonable time as per the Highway Code.? How would you feel if the situation was reversed?
There’s been occasions when it has been but if I can’t get past in a reasonable time I drop it back a click or two. I get paid by the hour but even if I wasn’t how much time would i save myself in a day by hanging out there for mile after mile? 10 seconds?20? And you obviously don’t read my other posts as I’m 50 mph man, if you can’t get past me easily I suggest you’re not planning ahead properly.You know it’s gonna happen:- it takes two to tango. I agree there is little to be gained by such manoeuvres but it all adds up
It adds up to what? 10 seconds?20?. Still, I prefer economy to speed. BTW,
So what are you bumping your gums about then?I know you know it, but if you’re bringing the highway code into it, rule 168 states, in part:-
“Being overtaken. If a driver is trying to overtake you, maintain a steady course and speed, slowing down if necessary to let the vehicle pass.”
And rules 162 and 169 state you should be able to complete overtaking quickly and not allow a queue to build up behind you hence why I said don’t just quote the little bit that suits your argument.As FB11 stated, common sense must prevail
Indeed. I look forward to that day. I’ll see the inside of my box first!. What would you lose by knocking your speed off a couple of clicks?
What would the overtaker lose by knocking off a couple of clicks?Of course if you were short of time
Nobody is that short of time.then maybe there was a reason for maintaining progress.
As for the OP (no overtaking for “super-restricted vehicles”), what would happen if you met a locomotive or electrical transformer being hauled up a long incline? 90kph is at times a slow enough top speed to have to deal with without being held up by such loads, let alone lower top speeds. Apart from one person, there are always going to be slower drivers than you whom you might wish to pass even if you drive a Coles.
As for Adam_Mc’s situation, that was slightly different; you shouldn’t feel obliged to slow up as I’m sure you’re not, but 44tt’s situation was for 10 miles!
Yeah you think the carrot would have got the message but apparently not.and I’ve been behind worse than that.
And as with all things on the road, including “zip merging” we all have our opinion on what’s best but it often depends on the precise conditions.
And we also have a Highway Code. More people should read it. All of it!
People are completely missing the point by bringing other factors into it like hills and different weights. We are talking about on a flat with speed limiters. If a truck is doing 54.5mph and the truck in front is doing 54mph why should he not proceed to overtake?? At the end of the day my opinion is that if there is a truck overtaking another, the truck that is overtaking is faster, whether it be 0.5mph or 3mph.
Wheel nut - yes I do watch motor racing I love it. Used to do a bit of karting aswell when I was younger but when I’m driving a truck im not in a race.
Thank you for a well-reasoned and reasonable response 44tt. I see your points and agree there is a pretty negligible amount of time to be gained by very slowly overtaking something but it seems as if you are not pressurized in your work like some people feel, i.e. they feel the need to “get things done” and go as fast as possible for whatever reason. I have been in situations where I’ve been running out of driving time and want to minimise or avoid an infringement and over a long enough distance a 0.5 mph difference could mean your trip is perhaps 15 minutes shorter but the speed difference in your example was less. In certain circumstances they need to slow down of course but in others it seems they can’t, so let them get on with it cos you can’t stop them trying!
My example from last year was after a night out, then a busy trawl around London on a Friday meant I didn’t want another one (night out). I was about to get on the M4 from the North Circular, put in a max speed of 55mph into the satnav which gave me 5 to 10 minutes short of 10 hours driving according to the ETA. Inevitably, pedal to the metal wherever possible, I couldn’t maintain anything like that speed all the way back to Bristol, even though there wasn’t a major incident that evening and I didn’t slowly overtake anyone, but I was several minutes over 10 hours driving. I had a quite legitimate reason though in that I had an expensive load and only one place to leave it - at base. Still, I don’t want to be doing that more than a few times a year at most.
I seem to recall from your posts that you are one of the less melodramatic posters on here but didn’t realise you were a 50mph type as I don’t remember everyone’s general driving style! Now for a look at how the zip-merging thread is progressing! All the best.
I wish people would stop this overtaking lark - it keeps waking me up ! 
I personally think there should be a minimum speed for dual and motorways. That way you don’t have to overtake cars which then match your speed and keep you in the fast lane.
The Saxmachine:
I personally think there should be a minimum speed for dual and motorways. That way you don’t have to overtake cars which then match your speed and keep you in the fast lane.
I think there should be a large fine or possibly a ban for people who think there’s a fast lane. 
Coffeeholic:
The Saxmachine:
I personally think there should be a minimum speed for dual and motorways. That way you don’t have to overtake cars which then match your speed and keep you in the fast lane.I think there should be a large fine or possibly a ban for people who think there’s a fast lane.
it’ll never be introduced, the labour transport minister spoke about the fast lane.
i broke the telly as a result.
44 Tonne Ton:
FarnboroughBoy11:
It’s the not the overtaker that’s the ■■■■■■ anyway, it’s the ■■■■ that won’t allow the faster lorry to go. Half a mile faster or not, at some point in the journey the truck overtaking has been faster. Again on most things on the road, common sense must prevail.Bollox! Read your Highway Code! It will tell you to overtake as quickly as possible and not to let a queue of traffic build up behind you. Don’t just quote the little bit that suits your side of the argument i.e. a vehicle being overtaken should knock it back to assist an overtaker. No overtaking should be attempted unless you can do it within a reasonable time. The plod mentioned by OTS was talking bollox as is OTS (welcome BTW!), the overtaking vehicle is the one causing the obstruction if he’s taking mile after mile to do it! How much time do you think you’re saving anyway?
As an example I came out of Leicester on a night trunk a few years ago and had this situation. The ■■■■ took something like 10 or 11 miles to pass, not such a problem at night with traffic volumes. I had plenty of time to work out that if he was going to the bottom of the M1 as I was then he would probably get there about 20 seconds before me! I had this confirmed when we did indeed both go to the bottom of the M1 and he got there about 200 yards in front of me.
As an example
What a load of bollox have you read a highway code book lately it actually states that if a vehicle is struggling to pass you you should ease off tolet them pass. 
There is one reason, and one reason only why there is so much overtaking, and lengthy overtakes, on the motorways these days - cruise control.
Virtually every truck on the roads now has it, and most of us like nothing more than to just sit on it and/or can’t be arsed adjusting speed - especially on long and boring motorway trips. It’s wrong, but I bet most readers of this thread are guilty of it sometimes or even a lot of the time. I’ll put my hand up.
I can do 56mph, but only ever do so on quiet stetches of road these days. On busy stetches I knock my speed back to 52 and just let everybody else do the overtaking.
i for one never use cruise control, i think it is dangerous.
beetee07:
44 Tonne Ton:
FarnboroughBoy11:
It’s the not the overtaker that’s the ■■■■■■ anyway, it’s the ■■■■ that won’t allow the faster lorry to go. Half a mile faster or not, at some point in the journey the truck overtaking has been faster. Again on most things on the road, common sense must prevail.Bollox! Read your Highway Code! It will tell you to overtake as quickly as possible and not to let a queue of traffic build up behind you. Don’t just quote the little bit that suits your side of the argument i.e. a vehicle being overtaken should knock it back to assist an overtaker. No overtaking should be attempted unless you can do it within a reasonable time. The plod mentioned by OTS was talking bollox as is OTS (welcome BTW!), the overtaking vehicle is the one causing the obstruction if he’s taking mile after mile to do it! How much time do you think you’re saving anyway?
As an example I came out of Leicester on a night trunk a few years ago and had this situation. The ■■■■ took something like 10 or 11 miles to pass, not such a problem at night with traffic volumes. I had plenty of time to work out that if he was going to the bottom of the M1 as I was then he would probably get there about 20 seconds before me! I had this confirmed when we did indeed both go to the bottom of the M1 and he got there about 200 yards in front of me.
As an example
What a load of bollox have you read a highway code book lately it actually states that if a vehicle is struggling to pass you you should ease off tolet them pass.
Not quite. It says you should slow down if necessary which isn’t really applicable on a multi-lane highway and is obviously referring to when being overtaken and there is a chance of vehicle approaching from the other direction.
168 Being overtaken. If a driver is trying to overtake you, maintain a steady course and speed, slowing down if necessary to let the vehicle pass. Never obstruct drivers who wish to pass. Speeding up or driving unpredictably while someone is overtaking you is dangerous. Drop back to maintain a two-second gap if someone overtakes and pulls into the gap in front of you.
I agree it is more often than not better just to ease off and get them away from beside you but using this bit of the Highway Code in support of this idea doesn’t work.
Coffeeholic:
168 Being overtaken. If a driver is trying to overtake you, maintain a steady course and speed, slowing down if necessary to let the vehicle pass. Never obstruct drivers who wish to pass. Speeding up or driving unpredictably while someone is overtaking you is dangerous. Drop back to maintain a two-second gap if someone overtakes and pulls into the gap in front of you.
I agree it is more often than not better just to ease off and get them away from beside you but using this bit of the Highway Code in support of this idea doesn’t work.
It is also SAFER not to have another vehicle at the side for any length of time as it gives the driver no-where to go if an incident does occur - this space is often referred to as part of the safety bubble around a vehicle
At the end of the day any vehicle has the right to pass another slower vehicle if needed. Overtaking bans are in my opinion stupid!!! There is an overtaking ban on the old severn crossing for any vehicle over 7.5ton. The amount of times i have caught up with some old dear driving at 40mph. I ignore the overtaking ban as i for one aint gonna sit there at 40 when the road is clear. Sod the overtaking ban, i’m not the only truck to do this either.
Just my opinion
ROG:
Coffeeholic:
168 Being overtaken. If a driver is trying to overtake you, maintain a steady course and speed, slowing down if necessary to let the vehicle pass. Never obstruct drivers who wish to pass. Speeding up or driving unpredictably while someone is overtaking you is dangerous. Drop back to maintain a two-second gap if someone overtakes and pulls into the gap in front of you.
I agree it is more often than not better just to ease off and get them away from beside you but using this bit of the Highway Code in support of this idea doesn’t work.
It is also SAFER not to have another vehicle at the side for any length of time as it gives the driver no-where to go if an incident does occur - this space is often referred to as part of the safety bubble around a vehicle
Indeed, which is why I put the bit in red. It’s my bubble and I don’t want them in it.
rob22888:
There is one reason, and one reason only why there is so much overtaking, and lengthy overtakes, on the motorways these days - cruise control.Virtually every truck on the roads now has it, and most of us like nothing more than to just sit on it and/or can’t be arsed adjusting speed - especially on long and boring motorway trips. It’s wrong, but I bet most readers of this thread are guilty of it sometimes or even a lot of the time. I’ll put my hand up.
I can do 56mph, but only ever do so on quiet stetches of road these days. On busy stetches I knock my speed back to 52 and just let everybody else do the overtaking.
x2
Another vote for letting the faster truck pass, the maximum speed differential is irrelevant, as most modern trucks are fitted with a pedal (or several in some cases) on the floor which is used to control the speed, through various means.
I yield as often as possible. What is peoples obsession with having one ‘catch all’ rule for everything? All it takes is a bit of observation and decision making, there is no excuse for just blindly maintaining your speed if someone has decided to overtake. “It’s his problem for overtaking” doesn’t really cut it.
If another truck is obviously faster on the flat, and there is nothing behind you. Turn the cruise off and just drop back to 50 or so. Let them away in front adding a suitable gap, then speed back up. It takes a matter of seconds, instead of miles and miles of frustration for the overtaker and all those behind him (in a 2 lane dually, for example). If the faster truck slows on a hill, then re-take it as appropriate further along the road.
Obviously if there is another truck up your backside then this is less of an option, but then he should be looking to overtake also or maintaining a more suitable gap.
It takes cooperation from all to have a half decent smoothly running road system, something we don’t have in this country, because everybody -cars and lorries- is a self appointed lane marshall.
As for the highway code, for the obedience of fools and the guidance of wise men in my opinion. Like any rules, they are not infallible.
Got a better idea ban them off the motor way all together
Why only the slower trucks? Happens to the faster ones too, two of em were slugging it out on the M4 the other day, til they came tearing up behind me and the one in the nearside lane got blocked behind me, much to his disgust because the overtaking truck wouldn’t let him out 