National speed limit
The National speed limit is the speed limit on a road in the United Kingdom that is not in a 'built-up' area (i.e., those with street lights, in which case the speed limit is 30 miles per hour unless otherwise stated) or with a lower speed limit imposed. The limit is:
| Type of vehicle | Speed limit | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Single carriageway | Dual carriageway | Motorway | |
| Car up to 2 tonnes/motorcycle | 60 mph | 70 mph | 70 mph |
| Car with caravan or trailer | 50 mph | 60 mph | 60 mph |
| Bus or coach up to 12 m long | 50 mph | 60 mph | 70 mph |
| Goods vehicle up to 7.5 t | 50 mph | 60 mph | 70 mph |
| Goods vehicle over 7.5 t | 40 mph | 50 mph | 60 mph |
Note: 70 mph ≈ 110 km/h, 60 mph ≈ 95 km/h, 50 mph ≈ 80 km/h, 40 mph ≈ 65 km/h
Dual carriageways
While most drivers are clear about what a motorway is, some are confused about the definition of a dual carriageway. For a road to be classed as a dual carriageway, the two directions of traffic flow must be physically separated by a central reservation. A road where the two directions of flow are separated only by lines painted on the road surface is a single carriageway, regardless of the number of traffic lanes that may be available to the traffic in each direction. So a road with three or four lanes is still a single carriageway if there is no central reservation.
See also
External links
- Highway Code Rule 103: Speed limits
- Department for Transport. Speed: Know your limits (PDF)
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