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Speeding
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Different
Speed Limits and how to recognise them
| 20mph
Speed Limit |
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The 20mph speed limit is predominately used in urban areas. Commonly
you will see them in town centres, high streets, residential roads
and in the vicinity of schools.The aim of this limit is to reduce
vehicle speeds that allows for the presence of vulnerable road users;
cyclists, children and the elderly. More often than not a 20mph
speed limit will come in the form of a ‘zone’.A zone will contain
traffic calming features, usually road humps that force drivers
to reduce their speed to around 20mph. Research on the effectiveness
of these zones has shown that casualties can fall by up to 70% where
they have been introduced.
| 30mph
Speed Limit |
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The 30mph speed limit is predominately used in urban areas (and
more recently in many villages) and usually is indicated by the
presence of a system of streetlights. The presence of street lights
is the way we recognise this speed limit and it is the reason why
you do not see, apart from where the limit starts, 30mph speed limit
signs. Some believe this to be an odd way of indicating a speed
limit, but really it is simple. If there are streetlights and no
signs to the contrary a 30mph speed limit is in force.
There are a number of unlit roads where a 30 mph speed limit applies.
In these circumstances the traffic authority must place 30 mph repeater
signs.
| 40mph
and 50mph |
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These two speed limits were introduced in the 1970s and are predominately
used in non-built up areas or in built up areas where a higher speed
is both safe and appropriate. In addition to signing the beginning
of the speed limit, traffic authorities must also place speed limit
repeater signs at regular intervals along the length of road being
enforced.The driver should therefore be in no doubt of what the
speed limit is for the road being driven on.
| The
National Speed Limit |
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The national speed limit is indicated by a round sign showing
a white background with a diagonal black stripe across it. For the
majority of vehicles it means 60mph on single carriageway roads
and 70mph on dual carriageway roads (as detailed above, some vehicles
are restricted to lower speed limits).
This speed limit works on the same principle as the 30mph speed
limit in that it is not signed apart from where the speed limit
starts. It is predominately used along the rural road network.Again,
recognising it is simple.Where there are no streetlights and no
signs to the contrary, the national speed limit is in force.The
speed limit on a motorway is 70mph unless otherwise indicated.
But do speed limits make sense?
Most people believe in the need for there to be speed limits; but
who decides? The system may not be perfect but it is not arbitrary.
Detailed guidance on setting speed limits is provided to all traffic
authorities.Their Highway Engineers and Road Safety Officers using
their knowledge and experience will apply the guidance.They will
also consult the police who have the task of enforcing speed limits.
This ensures the limits are set appropriately. |
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