National speed limit or 70mph?

[DEG5Y]

A question for our ex cops or legals, unless of course Beaker knows the answer!

A section of road on the N Wales expressway (A55 Conway/ Colwyn Bay area), it is all dual carriageway with central reservation,
has the speed limit posted as 70 and not the national.

What's the difference?

 

[Minkey]

I always thought that the National speed limit on dual carriageways and motorways was 70, with 60 on other roads unless sign posted

 

[Stevebrooke]

I always thought that the National speed limit on dual carriageways and motorways was 70, with 60 on other roads unless sign posted

I concur. However there are a lot of drivers who think 70 is only for motorways, 60 for dual carriageways and 50 for single. Maybe the 70 signs are to remove doubt.

 

[T.C]

The National speed limit is 60........

The National speed on a Motorway or dual carriageway is 70 unless otherwise stated.

So in effect there are 2 national speed limits, but 60 is the official national limit.

Hope this helps?

 

[DanBow]

There are sections on the A55, around Colwyn Bay that are restricted to 50mph. These are clearly signposted as such. The rest of the A55 is a dual laned carriageway displaying national speed limit indicators so is a 70mph area.

I've no real idea why there are 50mph area. These have other restrictions on them too, like no 125cc.

 

[sr71caspar]

The national speed limit is different depending on what vehicle you are operating. (LGV, van, car, etc)

 

[Minkey]

many a time I've been following a car along the A43 at 70, but when they get to a speed camera and slam on their brakes as they don't know what the speed limit and seem to assume that it's 60

 

[Duck n Dive]

A question for our ex cops or legals, unless of course Beaker knows the answer!

A section of road on the N Wales expressway (A55 Conway/ Colwyn Bay area), it is all dual carriageway with central reservation,
has the speed limit posted as 70 and not the national.

What's the difference?

I'm pretty sure that there's a few sections in that area that are 50, so when it returns to 70 you'll see it posted.

There's a speed camera on the A556 Northwich by pass dual carriageway (70 limit) where you constantly get idiots who have no idea of the limit slamming on the anchors and even slowing to 40.

If they're that oblivious to the limit they shouldn't be driving.

 

[Duck n Dive]

On the A556 nearer the M6 junction 19 there used to be a funny (I thought anyway) where it was two lanes in each direction.
Not dual carriageway but every lane split with the normal dotted lane marking lanes.

Technically/legally I think you could have overtaken by using all four lanes.

Eventually after many, many years they put unbroken white lines between the centre two lanes.

 

[DEG5Y]

There are sections on the A55, around Colwyn Bay that are restricted to 50mph. These are clearly signposted as such. The rest of the A55 is a dual laned carriageway displaying national speed limit indicators so is a 70mph area.

I've no real idea why there are 50mph area. These have other restrictions on them too, like no 125cc.

No, there is definatley a section showing 70mph in a red ring.
I've ridden through it twice in the last month.
I tried to find them on Google maps but couldn't remember the exact location.

The National speed limit is 60........

The National speed on a Motorway or dual carriageway is 70 unless otherwise stated.

So in effect there are 2 national speed limits, but 60 is the official national limit.

Hope this helps?

Not really!
I'm now more confused!!

My understanding with regards to a dual carriageway is;
National speed limit of 60 unless the opposing lanes have a physical barrier and then the national limit is 70mph.
So why display a 70mph speedlimit and not a national speed limit sign?

 

[andyBeaker]

A question for our ex cops or legals, unless of course Beaker knows the answer!

A section of road on the N Wales expressway (A55 Conway/ Colwyn Bay area), it is all dual carriageway with central reservation,
has the speed limit posted as 70 and not the national.

What's the difference?

I do know the answer but after reading your comment I am not going to tell you.

so there.

 

[DEG5Y]

The national speed limit is different depending on what vehicle you are operating. (LGV, van, car, etc)

So if they are displaying a 70 sign does that then mean as it is not showing a 'national' speed limit, ALL vehicles can travel at 70?

 

[DEG5Y]

I've just found this on Google which is from Wiki (Which I know isn't 100% factual as anyone can add to it.)




Two sections between (Junction 23) Llanddulas to (Junction 17) Conwy are signed as a 70 mph (110 km/h) speed limit because they are actually special roads. This is because these sections were built under legislation for building motorways but they were never declared as motorways.

SO how does that differ, if at all to the National speed limit sign, because the national speed limiy affects different vehicles in different ways?

 

[Me!]

I've just found this on Google which is from Wiki (Which I know isn't 100% factual as anyone can add to it.)




Two sections between (Junction 23) Llanddulas to (Junction 17) Conwy are signed as a 70 mph (110 km/h) speed limit because they are actually special roads. This is because these sections were built under legislation for building motorways but they were never declared as motorways.

SO how does that differ, if at all to the National speed limit sign, because the national speed limiy affects different vehicles in different ways?

It affects vehicles such as Ford transits. Normally restricted to 60mph on a DC however this is a special road having held onto some motorway specifics (build etc) therefore your transit can smash 70

 

[T.C]

No, there is definatley a section showing 70mph in a red ring.
I've ridden through it twice in the last month.
I tried to find them on Google maps but couldn't remember the exact location.

Not really!
I'm now more confused!!

My understanding with regards to a dual carriageway is;
National speed limit of 60 unless the opposing lanes have a physical barrier and then the national limit is 70mph.
So why display a 70mph speedlimit and not a national speed limit sign?

As I have already explained (maybe badly) The national speed limit is depicted by a white circular sign which is displayed with a black stripe diagonally across it from right to left and often followed by the 70 limit that applies.

If you're on a dual carriageway and driving a car or motorcycle the national limit is 70mph. If you're on a single carriageway and driving a car or motorcycle the national speed limit is 60mph.

If there is no central barrier, the 60 limit applies as it is still deemed as a single carriageway but with 2 lanes in each direction

On a Motorway you will often find a posted 70 sign as confirmation that the national speed limit for a multi lane road applies. If it is a lower limit in force then a lower limit will be depicted,

Do not confuse what is applicable to other classes of vehicles as they are governed under separate regulations under the same act.

Does that help now?

 

[Cougar377]

I thought the national speed limit depends on who's watching....?

 

[T.C]

I thought the national speed limit depends on who's watching....?

No, you are confusing the national speed limit with GLF boards. GLF applies depending on who is watching....


(For the uninitiated, GLF stands for "Go Like Fuck!" )

 

[ogr1]

Feck me!...It's not gonna be National cycling proficiency questions next week.
Is it?

 

[DanBow]

No, you are confusing the national speed limit with GLF boards. GLF applies depending on who is watching....


(For the uninitiated, GLF stands for "Go Like Fuck!" )

I've called them glf boards for years and very few people know what I'm on about! Lol

 

[Jaws]

The National speed limit is 60........

The National speed on a Motorway or dual carriageway is 70 unless otherwise stated.

So in effect there are 2 national speed limits, but 60 is the official national limit.

Hope this helps?

Never thought of that... So all those doing 70 on say, the A11 dual'y are potentially speeding !