What’s the national speed limit on a dual carriageway for a car?
November 23rd, 2007 at 8:18pm |
Here’s an interesting question. How frequently do you get stuck on a dual carriageway with a central reservation behind a car sticking to 60MPH?
This seems to happen to me nearly every time I go out. Is it that these drivers just don’t feel comfortable doing more than 60MPH (in which case I would respectfully submit that they should not be in the outside lane), or is it because they think the national speed limit is 60MPH?
If so, I have news for them. The national speed limit for a car on a dual carriageway with a central reservation is 70MPH. It’s in the Highway Code - the book everybody is supposed to read before taking their test.
Hi.
Well, of course, on a dual carriageway, under the conditions described, the national speed limiit for this type of vehicle is 70MPH.
However - on a multi-lane road - the rule is you should move to the next available lane on your left when appropriate and safe to do so. - That is to say - there is no “outside lane” as such …. only “available lanes” on your left to move into and thus leave the road clear for traffic behind you to overtake safely, if you are travelling at less than the posted speed limit. ….. or …. in other words - drive with “awareness” and consideration for other road users.
Regards
Eric
actually the national speed limit for dual carriageways isn’t necessarily 70mph, if it’s a d.c. with street lights and no speed limits signs then it’s only a 30mph limit.
Alex,
You will note that I’m talking about a dual carriageway with a central reservation, which is 70mph for a car regardless of street lights.
See, this is precisely my point - far too many people who haven’t actually read the Highway Code. I have. The most recent version. Cover to cover. Every driver should read the code at least once per year.
have just finished a course,(instead of a fine and points) where they tell me the following. speed limit unless otherwise stated is 70 mph, added to this IF THERE are street lights it IS 60 mph, seems no one really has the full picture!!
Not that I want to cause an argument here, but the Highway Code doesn’t say anything about the speed limit on a dual carriageway changing due to traffic lights, therefore no copper in the world can do you for it.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_070304
As I understand it, the Highway Code is the rule book which all motorists must follow. It doesn’t really matter what you get told by anybody, if it ain’t in the latest version of the Highway Code, it ain’t the law.
The speed limit on all roads is 30mph unless sign posted otherwise or on motorways. On a DC way if there are no speed limit signs and it is lined with street lights then the speed limit is 30mph. I was recently done by a mobile speed camera doing 42 on a similar stretch of this type of road. This I believe is an absolute farce if the speed limit is so critical to be 30mph why not high light it as such, Oh noinstead the Police prey on unsuspecting drivers and get there tally up by doing everyone who are not aware of this.
Dave,
Unless there were traffic signs telling you the speed limit was lower, then the limit is 60 or 70. I strongly suggest you fight your ticket and take with you a copy of the highway code (see my comment above), which _clearly_ shows the speed limit on a dual carriageway is 70mph for a car
These mobile speed wagons (talivans) are a real pain in the arse. They almost always illegally park in order to grab their illegal fines. I strongly suggest that anyone who has a ticket from these idiots visit www.pepipoo.com for advice.
I submitted a witness statement for my last ticket but refused to accept the fine as I had not received a caution. I got a letter from the Scamera partnership quoting “the law” and getting it completely wrong. Just an idle threat. I kept shtum and never heard anything more.
If everyone fought their tickets, speed cameras would disappear overnight.
actually the national speed limit for dual carriageways isn’t necessarily 70mph.
I’m getting rather tired of people commenting without reading the post.
READ the Highway Code if you’re not sure.
I’m closing comments on this post now.