National speed limit or 70mph?

[Duck n Dive]

I've always taken it that as long as there's any sort of divider it's 70.
Doesnt have to be an armco barrier etc.
A kerb with grass for example between each side is enough...

 

[T.C]

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

Yep,

 

[Duck n Dive]

This from the highway code :

"A dual carriageway is a road which has a central reservation to separate the carriageways."

 

[slim63]

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?

A small clarification if you can as I am not sure I have read some of the above posts correctly although yours is the clearest

What exactly constitutes a dual carriageway? I never really thought about it before just assuming that 2 or more lanes in either direction divided in some way (barrier or grass) was a dual carriageway but what in the case of a single lanes in each direction that are divided?

Obviously I would be observing all posted speed limits on any road but the above thought has now begun to bother me as I know of one divided single lane in each direction road that has no obvious limits posted apart from the national speed limit sign, I have always assumed it to be 60mph

 

[T.C]

A small clarification if you can as I am not sure I have read some of the above posts correctly although yours is the clearest

What exactly constitutes a dual carriageway? I never really thought about it before just assuming that 2 or more lanes in either direction divided in some way (barrier or grass) was a dual carriageway but what in the case of a single lanes in each direction that are divided?

Obviously I would be observing all posted speed limits on any road but the above thought has now begun to bother me as I know of one divided single lane in each direction road that has no obvious limits posted apart from the national speed limit sign, I have always assumed it to be 60mph

I thought I had already clarified this... A dual carriageway is a road which has a central reservation to separate the carriageways

It can be a grass refuge or a barrier

 

[Duck n Dive]

There is actually a road (I think it might be Welsh Wales) where there is a dual carriageway which is single lanes in each direction.

It's still a dual carriageway as it has a central grass reservation.

I'm sure I read about it somewhere.
It came about where an old military road needed widening and for some reason they did it by adding a second carriageway.

So officially it's a dual carriageway

 

[Duck n Dive]

Found it.....

Llywel in the Brecon Beacons, off the A40
between Sennybridge and Llandovery.

 

[Duck n Dive]

 

[T.C]

This is in Reading just around the corner from me where the A329(M) becomes the A3290 so going from Motorway spec to dual carriageway.

Some parts now have a central barrier and all the ECP's have been removed (as in 99% of Motorways), but it does emphasise the point quite well in regards of a central grass reserve.

 

[slim63]

I thought I had already clarified this... A dual carriageway is a road which has a central reservation to separate the carriageways

It can be a grass refuge or a barrier

So that went 30.000 feet over your head then, not sure why I bother sometimes

There is actually a road (I think it might be Welsh Wales) where there is a dual carriageway which is single lanes in each direction.

It's still a dual carriageway as it has a central grass reservation.

I'm sure I read about it somewhere.
It came about where an old military road needed widening and for some reason they did it by adding a second carriageway.

So officially it's a dual carriageway

Exactly the question I asked and wanted conformation of

 

[T.C]

So that went 30.000 feet over your head then, not sure why I bother sometimes

Exactly the question I asked and wanted conformation of

Then don't bother then. You wanted clarification, I gave it!

 

[andyBeaker]

Then don't bother then. You wanted clarification, I gave it!

Where?
I'm still confused.

 

[Squag1]

Where?
I'm still confused.

It's an age thing

 

[andyBeaker]

It's an age thing
.

Don’t ask me. I’m a fish.

And I got overtaken by a very irate red faced driver in a Transit van as I had the downright cheek to observe a 20mph speed limit outside a school today.

Not a central reservation in sight. In fact I didn’t see a red indian until some time after.

 

[sr71caspar]

A dual carriageway has opposing traffic separated by a central reservation.
The amount of lanes on each side is immaterial.
There could be 1 lane on each side or there could be 20 lanes on each side.
It is still a dual carriageway.

 

[slim63]

Then don't bother then. You wanted clarification, I gave it!

I think its clarified by sr71caspar above now but it seems you misunderstood the question, I was asking it of you as an ex traffic cop and your answer was unclear (to me at least)

So is a single lane in both directions divided classed as a dual carriage way or not ?

 

[Squag1]

 

[slim63]

View attachment 58533

The highway code isn't all law although breaking some parts of it can get you nicked

 

[T.C]

I think its clarified by sr71caspar above now but it seems you misunderstood the question, I was asking it of you as an ex traffic cop and your answer was unclear (to me at least)

So is a single lane in both directions divided classed as a dual carriage way or not ?

Well I have yet to see a single carriageway that is divided by a central barrier or reserve. All that I have worked or driven on (and there have been many) have been a minimum of two lanes in each direction hence the term dual, and which is why every experienced traffic cop, lawyer and judge consider a dual carriageway to be a minimum of 2 lanes in each direction.

In a crash report anything other than a dual carriageway or Motorway is described as a single carriageway with one lane in each direction regardless of what may be down the centre of the road.

The highway code isn't all law although breaking some parts of it can get you nicked

The Highway code is only law when the regulation states "Must Not" and is supported by the relevant regulation, act or section.

But what you say is often why many believe that as an example undertaking is illegal when it is not and has not been illegal since prior to the introduction of the 1972 Road Traffic Act, as the HC says "should not" and many (including some cops) take that as absolute law.

 

[Duck n Dive]

Read the sign