NSL - 60 or 70mph

[T5R+]

Debate raging in office - if in a NSL with 2 lanes in one direction and 2 in opposing with no physical barrier (or divide) - what is the max permitted speed limit in a car, 60 or 70mph?

(In the interests of honesty - I am in the 60mph camp until educated otherwise).

[craigsup]

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

https://www.askthe.police.uk/content/Q594.htm

[deltashad]

Should be 70 for dual, 60 for single. But does it have the nsl sign or something different, if it is less than 70 surely it would state that.

[ziggy328]

70 in a dual, 60 in a single. A 4 lane road (2 in either direction) is still a single carriageway if there is no physical central divider.

[Mr E]

Note, a dual carriageway is a road with a separation between the oncoming traffic.
Not multiple lanes going in the same direction.


What's the speed limit on a single lane, one way NSL road (as there's no chance of oncoming traffic)?

[WinstonWolf]

As described you're driving on a two lane single carriageway, the limit is 60MPH. There has to be a physical divide for it to be 70MPH.

[ModernAndy]

definitely 60mph (in a car). I'd imagine quite a proportion of the general public don't understand the definition of 'dual carriageway' and are therefore easy pickings for camera vans on these sorts of roads.

[Feirny]

WinstonWolf said:

As described you're driving on a two lane single carriageway, the limit is 60MPH. There has to be a physical divide for it to be 70MPH.

This.

Once had the same debate with a traffic copper, and his colleague sided with me.

[Johnnytheboy]

T5R+ said:

physical barrier (or divide)

60.

[jurbie]

I think some of the confusion is caused by the definition of a physical divide. Does there have to be a bit of armco or is a strip of grass acceptable?

I would assume a strip of grass is a physical divide but I've met plenty who claim it isn't which I would imagine makes driving on roads where the armco suddenly stops only to reappear several 100 yards later an interesting experience.

https://goo.gl/maps/8iubDK6xQeC2

[V8LM]

Mr E said:

What's the speed limit on a single lane, one way NSL road (as there's no chance of oncoming traffic)?

60.

[ziggy328]

It can be anything - the test is if you can roll a ball from kerb to kerb then it's a single. If it is stopped in the middle by anything, it doesn't have to be a crash barrier, then it's a dual carriageway.

[V8LM]

jurbie said:

I think some of the confusion is caused by the definition of a physical divide. Does there have to be a bit of armco or is a strip of grass acceptable?

I would assume a strip of grass is a physical divide but I've met plenty who claim it isn't which I would imagine makes driving on roads where the armco suddenly stops only to reappear several 100 yards later an interesting experience.

https://goo.gl/maps/8iubDK6xQeC2

Central reservation is a physical divide.

[y2blade]

60

[TooMany2cvs]

There is a clue in the name "dual carriageway". How many actual physically separated carriageways are there? Paint does not count.

[Mr E]

V8LM said:

Mr E said:

What's the speed limit on a single lane, one way NSL road (as there's no chance of oncoming traffic)?

60.

Indeed, yet build a second lane going the other way, stick a barrier in and it's now 70.
Has it become inherently safer with oncoming cars separated by a barrier?

(It's irrelevant, it's just a quirk of the rules)

[VX Foxy]

It's worrying that people with driving licenses don't know the answer to this.

[speedking31]

V8LM said:

Mr E said:

What's the speed limit on a single lane, one way NSL road (as there's no chance of oncoming traffic)?

60.

Motorway slip roads?

[speedking31]

VX Foxy said:

It's worrying that people with driving licenses don't know the answer to this.

So do you have to slow down to 60 here? It's not always clear cut.

[Mandat]

V8LM said:

Mr E said:

What's the speed limit on a single lane, one way NSL road (as there's no chance of oncoming traffic)?

60.

70, assuming that the other carriage way is separate, therefore making it a dual.