What's the (variable) speed limit?

[mcdjl]

On more than one occasion I've seen this occur. As the photo hopefully shows the variable speed limits are in five, but theres bugging showing for Lane 3 (the hard shoulders live). Would Lane 3 be 70, or 60? Disregarding the actual ability to do 70.

[elliotff]

No I believe the limit is what the other lanes are showing...

[wolves_wanderer]

Seems fairly obvious no?

[speedking31]

Why waste money having a sign above each lane?

[Jon1967x]

speedking31 said:

Why waste money having a sign above each lane?

Because it also indicates when the hard shoulder is a live lane

[barker22]

Ah but on some stretches the gantry shows a lesser speed in say lane 1, where there is a queuing slip road or the lane is particularly slow. The limit is relevant to the lane below it then surely?
Otherwise in my scenario above what is to stop me(apart from the queue) from ignoring the lesser speed and doing the higher one.

[LoonR1]

barker22 said:

Ah but on some stretches the gantry shows a lesser speed in say lane 1, where there is a queuing slip road or the lane is particularly slow. The limit is relevant to the lane below it then surely?
Otherwise in my scenario above what is to stop me(apart from the queue) from ignoring the lesser speed and doing the higher one.

I'd say common sense would be one of the things that should stop you.

[Jon1967x]

LoonR1 said:

barker22 said:

Ah but on some stretches the gantry shows a lesser speed in say lane 1, where there is a queuing slip road or the lane is particularly slow. The limit is relevant to the lane below it then surely?
Otherwise in my scenario above what is to stop me(apart from the queue) from ignoring the lesser speed and doing the higher one.

I'd say common sense would be one of the things that should stop you.

...and no indication isn't the same as the NSL sign. You'd have to prove there were no signs in that lane previously. The only time I've seen split speeds is on the approach to a junction where the motorway splits and a solid white line has appeared.

The M6 has been a mess lately as the variable limits had been mixed with road work signs - there were times when the gantry said 40 and a fixed roadwork sign between gantries said 50.

[covboy]

speedking31 said:

Why waste money having a sign above each lane?

because they are also used to show lane closures and arrows pointing which lane to move over to beforehand (which a lot of drivers don't seem to understand)

[barker22]

LoonR1 said:

barker22 said:

Ah but on some stretches the gantry shows a lesser speed in say lane 1, where there is a queuing slip road or the lane is particularly slow. The limit is relevant to the lane below it then surely?
Otherwise in my scenario above what is to stop me(apart from the queue) from ignoring the lesser speed and doing the higher one.

I'd say common sense would be one of the things that should stop you.

Don't be silly. I drive a motor car in the uk and pay 'road tax' I have a right to do what i want!
I'm off to share my findings with the pepipoo gods. I will be treated like the messiah with my new found technicality that gets me off all speeding charges