Is it illegal to drive too slowly

11 February 2026

You might be wondering if it's illegal to drive too slowly in the UK, especially when you're stuck behind a car crawling at 50mph on the motorway.

Being slow isn’t a specific offence, but you can be fined for driving too slowly. A police officer could ticket you if they think your slow driving is dangerous, careless or inconsiderate.^[1]Discover what speed is too slow and the fines you might face if you’re pulled over.

EASY AS HACK

Avoid the middle or outside lanes on motorways when driving below the general traffic speed. Stay in the left lane and let traffic pass safely.

At a glance

Driving too slowly can result in careless driving charges, even though the UK has no national minimum speed limit.

what are the minimum speed limit rules?

Driving over the speed limit for your vehicle class is an offence, yet the UK has no universal minimum speed limit in place. However, you may spot occasional signs indicating minimum speed limits.

Fig 1 - Minimum speed limit zone starts

Fig 2 – Minimum speed limit zone ends

These signs are blue and circular with the minimum speed stated in miles per hour.^[2] According to the Highway Code, you should stick to the minimum speed permitted unless it’s impracticable or unsafe to comply. The same blue sign crossed by a red diagonal line marks the end of the minimal speed requirement.

These signs are not common. However, the most likely places to see them are on approaches to bridges and long tunnels and in areas of heightened congestion.

The UK speed limits are up to 30mph in built-up areas, 60mph in non-built-up areas and 70mph on motorways and dual carriageways. Some vehicles like those pulling caravans may be subject to lower limits. ^[3] Find out about speed limits for other vehicles

Is there a law against driving too slowly?

While there is no specific law against driving too slowly, the police may class driving as dangerous, careless or inconsiderate if it puts other road users at risk.^[4]

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) states: “The offence of driving without due care and attention (careless driving) under section 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 is committed when the defendant’s driving falls below the standard expected of a competent and careful driver.^[5]

The police may also consider unnecessarily slow driving dangerous under section 2 of the RTA 1988.

can you be fined for driving too slowly?

According to the Highway Code, the two relevant offences are careless and inconsiderate driving (sometimes called driving without due care and attention). They can result in:

An unlimited fine
Discretionary disqualification from driving
3-9 penalty points^[6]

Depending on the circumstances, the police may issue a verbal warning or a fixed penalty notice for driving too slowly and being inconsiderate^.[7] However, drivers could also face a £5,000 fine for careless driving and risk a community penalty,^[8] such as a place on the National Driver Improvement Course.

Each offence has a penalty points scale of 1 to 11 on the penalty table, with serious offences receiving more. So, for dangerous driving, you could receive:

2 years’ imprisonment
An unlimited fine
Obligatory disqualification
3-11 penalty points (depending on disqualification)

why is driving too slowly dangerous?

Typical examples where the law has considered driving too slowly as dangerous because it increases the risk of an accident include the following:

Slower drivers have caused frustration for other motorists, prompting them to brake sharply, tailgate, or overtake in a hazardous way^[9]
Driving slowly in the central lane has affected all the other lanes, potentially causing a multi-car pile-up as motorists brake and speed up on either side
Driving slowly has increased the risk of a crash and congestion build-up, especially on motorways, where it could cause a rear-end collision
Failing to join the motorway fast enough to match other motorists’ speed can also disrupt traffic flow and may result in collisions.^[10]

how slow is too slow to drive?

There is no definition of how slow is too slow under UK law. It depends on the road you are driving on, whether you’re causing an obstruction, weather conditions and who you’re sharing the road with.

For specific situations, the Highway Code emphasises reducing your speed, such as overtaking horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles. You should drive under 10mph and allow 2 metres of space for horses.^[11]

It’s up to police officers to decide whether your behaviour falls below the standards expected of a competent and careful driver. It can be riskier to drive too slowly on faster roads like motorways and dual carriageways, as other cars are going at such rapid speeds.

FAQs

is it illegal to drive too slow in the uk?

It is not illegal to drive too slowly in the UK unless a police officer should class it as an offence because it’s inconsiderate or careless driving and could lead to an accident or create a danger to other road users.^[3]

can you be fined for driving too slowly?

Yes, you can be fined for driving too slowly if it falls below the standard of a competent and careful driver. The penalties for unnecessarily slow driving range from a verbal warning from a police officer to prosecution for careless driving if it causes a hazard to other road users.^[1]

You could receive an on-the-spot fine of £100, rising to a £5,000 fine if you’re prosecuted. Serious cases may lead to imprisonment if the careless driving caused injury or death.^[12]

how slow is too slow when driving?

No definition exists in the UK for how slow is too slow. It’s down to the circumstances and the discretion of a police officer. However, you must always reduce your speed when overtaking horses or approaching and passing pedestrians.^[3]

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