Motorists across the UK are being alerted to a lesser-known traffic offence that could see them hit with a £100 fine and penalty points – driving too slowly.
The Hidden Hazard of Hesitant Driving
While the dangers of speeding are well-publicised, the risks and legal consequences of driving excessively slowly are often overlooked. Police officers have the authority to pull over drivers who are judged to be progressing at an unnecessarily or dangerously slow pace.
This could include someone travelling at under 20mph in a 30mph or 40mph zone, or a vehicle crawling along a motorway and disrupting the flow of traffic. Such behaviour is seen as creating a significant hazard, leading to sudden braking and risky overtaking from other road users.
What the Law Says About Minimum Speed
Graham Conway, Managing Director at Select Car Leasing, explains the legal position. "While there’s no official ‘minimum speed limit’ on most UK roads, the Road Traffic Act 1988 states that driving ‘without reasonable consideration for other road users’ can include going too slowly," he warns.
"You might think you’re driving sensibly but if you’re travelling at a snail’s pace, you become an unpredictable hazard." The key distinction, he notes, is between driving carefully and failing to keep up with the reasonable flow of traffic.
Highway Code Guidance and Potential Penalties
This advice is reinforced by Rule 146 of the Highway Code, which instructs drivers to ‘adapt your driving to the appropriate type and condition of road you are on’.
If police deem a driver's excessively slow speed to be careless or dangerous, they can issue a Fixed Penalty Notice. This typically means a £100 fine and three penalty points on the driver's licence. In more serious cases, drivers could even face court prosecution.
The warning serves as a crucial reminder that safe driving is not just about observing maximum limits, but also about ensuring smooth and considerate progress that doesn't endanger or unnecessarily inconvenience others.
