Speed limits - GOV.UK

https://www.gov.uk/speed-limits[7/7/2015 1:06:16 PM]

Home Driving and transport Vehicle and boat safety

Speed limits

You must not drive faster than the speed limit for the type of road

 and your type of vehicle. The speed limit is the absolute

 maximum - it doesn’t mean it’s safe to drive at this speed in all

 conditions.

A speed limit of 30 miles per hour (mph) or 48 kilometres per

 hour (km/h) usually applies, unless you see signs showing

 otherwise.

National speed limits

Type of vehicle Builtup

 areas

mph

 (km/h)

Single

 carriageways

mph (km/h)

Dual

 carriageways

mph (km/h)

Motorways

mph

(km/h)

Cars, motorcycles,

 car-derived vans and

 dual-purpose

 vehicles

30 (48) 60 (96) 70 (112) 70 (112)

Cars, motorcycles,

 car-derived vans and

 dual-purpose

30 (48) 50 (80) 60 (96) 60 (96)

Speeding penalties

Penalty points (endorsements)

Driving disqualifications

More

Find your local approved speed

 limiter centre

More

Being stopped by the police while

 driving: your rights

Request a speed limit change

Request a pedestrian crossing

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Speed limits - GOV.UK

https://www.gov.uk/speed-limits[7/7/2015 1:06:16 PM]

 vehicles when towing

 caravans or trailers

Motorhomes or motor

 caravans (not more

 than 3.05 tonnes

 maximum unladen

 weight)

30 (48) 60 (96) 70 (112) 70 (112)

Motorhomes or motor

 caravans (more than

 3.05 tonnes

 maximum unladen

 weight)

30 (48) 50 (80) 60 (96) 70 (112)

Buses, coaches and

 minibuses (not more

 than 12 metres

 overall length)

30 (48) 50 (80) 60 (96) 70 (112)

Buses, coaches and

 minibuses (more

 than 12 metres

 overall length)

30 (48) 50 (80) 60 (96) 60 (96)

Goods vehicles (not

 more than 7.5 tonnes

 maximum laden

 weight)

30 (48) 50 (80) 60 (96) 70 (112)

60 (96) if

 articulated

 or towing a

 trailer

Goods vehicles (more

 than 7.5 tonnes

 maximum laden

 weight) in England

 and Wales

30 (48) 50 (80) 60 (96) 60 (96)

Goods vehicles (more

 than 7.5 tonnes

 maximum laden

 weight) in Scotland

30 (48) 40 (64) 50 (80) 60 (96)

Vans, car-derived vans and dual-purpose vehicles

Most vans under 7.5 tonnes laden (loaded) weight, including Ford
Speed limits - GOV.UK

https://www.gov.uk/speed-limits[7/7/2015 1:06:16 PM]

 Transit vans:

have a lower speed limit than cars

must follow the speed limits for goods vehicles of the same

 weight

A vehicle qualifying as a ‘car-derived van’ or ‘dual-purpose vehicle’

 has the same speed limits as a car.

Motorhomes

Motorhomes or motor caravans are classed as goods vehicles if

 they:

carry goods for exhibition and sale

are used as a workshop

are used for storage

Locally set speed limits

Local councils can set their own speed limits in certain areas, and

 these must be clearly signed.

For example:

20 mph zone in a built-up area near a school

50 mph (rather than 60 mph) limit on a stretch of road with

 sharp bends

Speed limiters

A speed limiter must be fitted on:

vehicles with more than 8 passenger seats, eg buses,

 minibuses, coaches, stretch limousines

goods vehicles with a maximum laden weight of more than 3.5

 tonnes

Speed limiters are designed to reduce accidents. They limit the

 maximum speed of a vehicle by restricting the fuel supply to the

 engine. Having a speed limiter may mean that your vehicle can’t

 reach the speed limit.
Speed limits - GOV.UK

https://www.gov.uk/speed-limits[7/7/2015 1:06:16 PM]

Last updated: 15 June 2015

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