Roundabout speed limit - NSL?
Roundabout speed limit - NSL?
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Discussion

cmsapms

Original Poster:

708 posts

274 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2006
quotequote all

I've always assumed that regardless of the speedlimit in force on the approach roads, the speed limit on a roundabout (of any size) is 30mph. Yesterday, a driving instructor told 'er indoors that the limit on a local roundabout (Ainley top, for those in sunny 'uddersfield) was ridiculous as it was 60mph. 'Er indoors argued, and asked why he thought this. He replied that it went on the speed limit of the approach road. Now, I know that four of the five approach roads have limits of 40 or 50mph, but the fifth has a GLF/NSL sign (from a 50) just before the roundabout.

So, is he right? Or is the NSL on a roundabout different to the NSL (60) on a road?

BTW, parts of this particular roundabout are comfortable at at least 60mph in the dry in a Westfield

Paul

pdV6

16,442 posts

291 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2006
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I thought this idea originated due to the way some speedometers worked, i.e. by cable running off one axle / driveshaft? With this arrangement you'd get a wildly incorrect speed reading when cornering and therefore it was thought unfair to prosecute...

Could be something I dreamt up as a kid, though

donteatpeople

880 posts

304 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2006
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Not sure my Blandmobile (Mk1Mondeo) would go round it at 60, not fair I want a fun car.

Not heard of the 30 on a roundabout rule before but there are several different limits comming on to the roundabout so would be good to find out (Ive allready been proved wrong on the highway code once today). I thought most go to NSL before they reach it but cant be sure of it.

Richard C

1,685 posts

287 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2006
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Urban myth - Its the same speed limit as the approach roads unless there are 3o signs at the roundabout

cmsapms

Original Poster:

708 posts

274 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2006
quotequote all
Richard C said:
Urban myth - Its the same speed limit as the approach roads unless there are 3o signs at the roundabout


But the approach roads for this particular roundabout vary. Two are 40mph, one is 30mph (recently reduced ) and the other two are debatable. Does this mean a BiB would need to know your route before a possible prosecution? No wonder there's plenty of near misses if everyone's working to a different limit!!

victormeldrew

8,293 posts

307 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2006
quotequote all
cmsapms said:
Richard C said:
Urban myth - Its the same speed limit as the approach roads unless there are 3o signs at the roundabout


But the approach roads for this particular roundabout vary. Two are 40mph, one is 30mph (recently reduced ) and the other two are debatable. Does this mean a BiB would need to know your route before a possible prosecution? No wonder there's plenty of near misses if everyone's working to a different limit!!

If that happened I suspect no limit would be enforceable as technically that stretch of road would be incorrectly signed. Whichever speed limit was cited on the summons it could be argue that the other was in force and there was no case to answer. IMHO.

Flat in Fifth

48,854 posts

281 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2006
quotequote all
victormeldrew said:
cmsapms said:
Richard C said:
Urban myth - Its the same speed limit as the approach roads unless there are 3o signs at the roundabout


But the approach roads for this particular roundabout vary. Two are 40mph, one is 30mph (recently reduced ) and the other two are debatable. Does this mean a BiB would need to know your route before a possible prosecution? No wonder there's plenty of near misses if everyone's working to a different limit!!

If that happened I suspect no limit would be enforceable as technically that stretch of road would be incorrectly signed. Whichever speed limit was cited on the summons it could be argue that the other was in force and there was no case to answer. IMHO.

Second that, there was an instance in the north of our county where a number of cases were dropped because of missing signs on one of the possible approach roads.

The fact that none of the accused had actually approached along that delinquent stretch of road, and had been happily driving down a 30 for a whole year in the mistaken belief it was still a 30 was irrelevant.

Sure you've not missed the signs? Easy to do.



>> Edited by Flat in Fifth on Wednesday 22 February 14:10

7db

6,060 posts

260 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2006
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The critical question -- if it is on a single carriageway NSL road, does the limit increase form 60 to 70 as you go through the roundabout? On the roundabout traffic in opposite directions is separated physically so it is a dual carriageway...

TypeR

1,198 posts

269 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2006
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The A355 that crosses the M40 at Beaconsfield has a dual carriageway NSL roundabout over the M40 itself. in the right circumstances, I can do a legal 70mph on that piece of roundabout, and jolly good fun it is too!

BliarOut

72,863 posts

269 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2006
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We have loads of roundabouts here where the limit is 70.... Or at least it was until the miserable buggers dropped it to 40. Not sure if that has anything to do with motorcyclists using them for knee down practice

deva link

26,934 posts

275 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2006
quotequote all
7db said:
On the roundabout traffic in opposite directions is separated physically so it is a dual carriageway...

Or is it a one-way street?

Mr Whippy

32,453 posts

271 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2006
quotequote all
Most are posted to the lowest limit from the higher limit if a lower limit exists from one of the exits, so I assume this is common practice.

Ie, motorway off ramps, get to top, they go to the 40mph of the local road that runs across the top of the motorway.

Don't think I've seen many where there are roundabouts that you can enter at NSL and leave into a 30 zone without it saying 30mph or whatever...

Google Earth some coords, it'd be interesting to see the layouts...


cmsapms said:
No wonder there's plenty of near misses if everyone's working to a different limit!!


Please, like everyone drives TO the top limit anyway. I think you'll that if the limit is NSL they won't go round at 60mph unless it's safe. Also, you give way to cars to your right, so why would it matter how quickly they are going speed limit or not?

Dave

7db

6,060 posts

260 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2006
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No matter - still 70.

BliarOut

72,863 posts

269 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2006
quotequote all
Lat 52'33'50.48 lon 0'17'03.27 used to be a 70MPH roundabout. They've signed it 40 now though.

cmsapms

Original Poster:

708 posts

274 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2006
quotequote all
Mr Whippy said:

Google Earth some coords, it'd be interesting to see the layouts...

Centre of island is 53deg 40' 10.11"N 1deg 49' 35.74"W

Mr Whippy said:

cmsapms said:
No wonder there's plenty of near misses if everyone's working to a different limit!!


Please, like everyone drives TO the top limit anyway. I think you'll that if the limit is NSL they won't go round at 60mph unless it's safe. Also, you give way to cars to your right, so why would it matter how quickly they are going speed limit or not?

Dave



I should have put a in there .

The limit most work to is that of "lowest common denominator". It has to be said though, the sight lines on this roundabout are particularly appalling. If you look closely at the triangle of grass at the SW corner of the roundabout, you can see where the traffic regularly goes through the hedge (hedge FFS) when they fail to make the sharp downhill left approach to the roundabout !!

pentoman

4,835 posts

293 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2006
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Something that does worry me is when people say (on a roundabout or single lane road for example) "I can't believe the limit here is 60 that's ridiculous", as if they think it's perfectly safe to do up to the speed limit on that road at any point. Scary. That seems to be the school of thought coming around though.

MilnerR

8,273 posts

288 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2006
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pentoman said:
That seems to be the school of thought coming around though.



That's the school of thought that has ruled road safety policy for the last 15 years. The propaganda is working that's all!

donteatpeople

880 posts

304 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2006
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Mr Whippy said:

Also, you give way to cars to your right, so why would it matter how quickly they are going speed limit or not?


It seems you have not met the average Huddersfield driver, no respect for ANY highway regulations, thicker than a McDonalds milkshake and the observational skills of a one eyed bat.

One of the worst places I have ever had the misfortune to drive.

Flat in Fifth

48,854 posts

281 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2006
quotequote all
deva link said:
7db said:
On the roundabout traffic in opposite directions is separated physically so it is a dual carriageway...

Or is it a one-way street?

Don't go there!

Last time the when is a road a jewel cabbageway topic raised itself I ended up talking to Two Jags Prescott's office!

stepej

445 posts

270 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2006
quotequote all
Ah Ainley Top:

From the roundabout, A643 -> A640 Over Buckstones to Denshaw, not a bad run that...

..and not a bad place to take a profile pic