Hindhead Tunnel
Discussion
Today at 6.30am 4th May 2023 -
I am wondering if you could help me. I entered the tunnel today at Hindhead around 6.30am and the 40mph signs were lit then national speed limit then 40mph signs again.
The slip road on to the tunnel from Haslemere going towards Guildford had National speed limit but the tunnel was 40mph. Then it changed to 70mph then back to 40mph and then back to 70mph, and then back to 40mph again. All within about 20 seconds. I have dash cam footage that I cannot upload yet until this evening.
Could you tell me, I went past the first set of cameras at about 65 then slowed down to 38 as it said 40mph entering tunnel, and never went back to 70mph until past the last set of cameras. Will I get a ticket for that? I'm not sure what I averaged but must of been 37mph to 40mph.
I am wondering if you could help me. I entered the tunnel today at Hindhead around 6.30am and the 40mph signs were lit then national speed limit then 40mph signs again.
The slip road on to the tunnel from Haslemere going towards Guildford had National speed limit but the tunnel was 40mph. Then it changed to 70mph then back to 40mph and then back to 70mph, and then back to 40mph again. All within about 20 seconds. I have dash cam footage that I cannot upload yet until this evening.
Could you tell me, I went past the first set of cameras at about 65 then slowed down to 38 as it said 40mph entering tunnel, and never went back to 70mph until past the last set of cameras. Will I get a ticket for that? I'm not sure what I averaged but must of been 37mph to 40mph.
JustLiam85 said:
Today at 6.30am 4th May 2023 -
I am wondering if you could help me. I entered the tunnel today at Hindhead around 6.30am and the 40mph signs were lit then national speed limit then 40mph signs again.
The slip road on to the tunnel from Haslemere going towards Guildford had National speed limit but the tunnel was 40mph. Then it changed to 70mph then back to 40mph and then back to 70mph, and then back to 40mph again. All within about 20 seconds. I have dash cam footage that I cannot upload yet until this evening.
Could you tell me, I went past the first set of cameras at about 65 then slowed down to 38 as it said 40mph entering tunnel, and never went back to 70mph until past the last set of cameras. Will I get a ticket for that? I'm not sure what I averaged but must of been 37mph to 40mph.
You asked exactly the same question in January?I am wondering if you could help me. I entered the tunnel today at Hindhead around 6.30am and the 40mph signs were lit then national speed limit then 40mph signs again.
The slip road on to the tunnel from Haslemere going towards Guildford had National speed limit but the tunnel was 40mph. Then it changed to 70mph then back to 40mph and then back to 70mph, and then back to 40mph again. All within about 20 seconds. I have dash cam footage that I cannot upload yet until this evening.
Could you tell me, I went past the first set of cameras at about 65 then slowed down to 38 as it said 40mph entering tunnel, and never went back to 70mph until past the last set of cameras. Will I get a ticket for that? I'm not sure what I averaged but must of been 37mph to 40mph.
JustLiam85 in January said:
Hi, I was driving down the A3 from Bordon to Guildford this morning at 68mph. Got to the Hindhead Tunnel and National speed limit was up, so carried on. Then half way through the tunnel Speed limit changed to 40mph. We all slowed down as you do. But what I don’t get is, it clocked me doing 68 on the way in and 40 on the way out. So will I get a ticket for speeding? How would it know I was half way through the tunnel when the speed changed? The cameras are average ones by the way.
Many thanks
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=&t=2017889Many thanks
PorkInsider said:
Similar question you’re correct. Just wanted more clarification. I am a Paranoid speed camera freak JustLiam85 said:
PorkInsider said:
Similar question you’re correct. Just wanted more clarification. I am a Paranoid speed camera freak As you probably didn’t receive any tickets from that one, don’t you think it likely the same will happen this time?
A regular occurrence, the system flashes up the 40 limit automatically and an operator has to override it back to national limit.
Nothing to worry about if you are doing what the signs say when you pass them.
The lit ones inside the tunnel have flashed alternating 40/national to me before.
There are mechanical signs on the approach to the tunnel entrances that turn to show the limit, these seem to stick as occasionally you will get one stuck at 40 when right next to it is another showing national.
If there are more national signs around, then it's obvious a failure on just that one sign - I'm surprised they don't fix or cover the faulty one up.
Nothing to worry about if you are doing what the signs say when you pass them.
The lit ones inside the tunnel have flashed alternating 40/national to me before.
There are mechanical signs on the approach to the tunnel entrances that turn to show the limit, these seem to stick as occasionally you will get one stuck at 40 when right next to it is another showing national.
If there are more national signs around, then it's obvious a failure on just that one sign - I'm surprised they don't fix or cover the faulty one up.
I drive through the tunnel every day, and often wonder about the legalities of speed limits in it, but from a different perspective than the OP.
My interest relates to the form of signage they use. There are 'proper' speed limit signs just before and after the tunnel, which can show either NSL or change to a standard format 40mph sign (i.e. black figures on a white background in a red circle) when the lower limit is active. But the illuminated repeaters though the length of the tunnel are a long way from the usual format - the 40s do have a red ring around them but are yellowish-white figures on a dark background, and the NSL signs are a yellowish-white diagonal stripe on a dark background. Or at least I think that's the formats - I'm suddenly realising that I haven't necessarily taken in the detail on the numerous times I've seen them!
Anyway, question to anyone who knows the detail of the relevant law: If you drive into the tunnel and pass the proper 40mph sign just before it, but then then the limit is lifted meaning you drive past one of the 'not proper' NSL signs lit within the tunnel, from a technical perspective, can you legally drive at NSL? My interest is on the technical point, not the practicalities re whether or not you'd get a ticket for increasing to 70 (which I'm sure you never would, and I certainly never have).
My interest relates to the form of signage they use. There are 'proper' speed limit signs just before and after the tunnel, which can show either NSL or change to a standard format 40mph sign (i.e. black figures on a white background in a red circle) when the lower limit is active. But the illuminated repeaters though the length of the tunnel are a long way from the usual format - the 40s do have a red ring around them but are yellowish-white figures on a dark background, and the NSL signs are a yellowish-white diagonal stripe on a dark background. Or at least I think that's the formats - I'm suddenly realising that I haven't necessarily taken in the detail on the numerous times I've seen them!
Anyway, question to anyone who knows the detail of the relevant law: If you drive into the tunnel and pass the proper 40mph sign just before it, but then then the limit is lifted meaning you drive past one of the 'not proper' NSL signs lit within the tunnel, from a technical perspective, can you legally drive at NSL? My interest is on the technical point, not the practicalities re whether or not you'd get a ticket for increasing to 70 (which I'm sure you never would, and I certainly never have).
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