What is the speed limit?

[PurpleMoonlight]

A national speed limit single carriageway A road is 60 mph I believe.

If it branches into two lanes, for 800 yards or so to permit overtaking, does the speed limit increase to 70 mph for a dual carriageway? There is no central reservation or anything, just double white lines, and the lane on the other side is still single.

[zeewrath]

If there is something physically dividing the lanes then you can go 70, if not it is 60.

There being 1 or 2 lanes doesn't matter

[PurpleMoonlight]

Okay ta.

Some poor sod that overtook me is going to get a ticket then.

[Turbojuice]

The road you are talking about would remain 60

[DuraAce]

PurpleMoonlight said:

There is no central reservation

Not a dual carriageway then.

[NickCQ]

Yep, dual carriageway does not refer to the number of lanes. Vice versa, you can have a dual carriageway with one lane in each direction

[caelite]

Are even dual carriageways not in dispute at the moment? UK highway code I believe is (was?) that there must be a central reservation (grass, fence, barrier etc). Whereas a fairly recent EU rule is mandating a concrete central barrier. It was possibly only motorways I was thinking about but I remember there was some controversy within the last couple of years.

[PurpleMoonlight]

NickCQ said:

Yep, dual carriageway does not refer to the number of lanes. Vice versa, you can have a dual carriageway with one lane in each direction

Yes, fair point.

[ferrariF50lover]

PurpleMoonlight said:

A national speed limit single carriageway A road is 60 mph I believe.

If it branches into two lanes, for 800 yards or so to permit overtaking, does the speed limit increase to 70 mph for a dual carriageway? There is no central reservation or anything, just double white lines, and the lane on the other side is still single.

A303?

[Pica-Pica]

PurpleMoonlight said:

A national speed limit single carriageway A road is 60 mph I believe.

If it branches into two lanes, for 800 yards or so to permit overtaking, does the speed limit increase to 70 mph for a dual carriageway? There is no central reservation or anything, just double white lines, and the lane on the other side is still single.

A dual carriageway is one with a physical separation between the two traffic directions. Additionally a single carriageway can have more than one lane in either direction, and a dual carriageway CAN have only one lane in each direction.

You may be thinking of, perhaps, 2+1 single carriageways, that have two lanes up a hill and one lane down. These are very common, used to facilitate flow with slower vehicles, and are usually separated by double white lines. They are most definitely SINGLE carriageways and are subject to the posted or NSL for that road type (i.e. If unsigned, 60mph for the fastest category of vehicles).

If I may say, this is basic Highway Code, and theory test stuff, and everyone should know this.

[PurpleMoonlight]

Pica-Pica said:

A dual carriageway is one with a physical separation between the two traffic directions. Additionally a single carriageway can have more than one lane in either direction, and a dual carriageway CAN have only one lane in each direction.

You may be thinking of, perhaps, 2+1 single carriageways, that have two lanes up a hill and one lane down. These are very common, used to facilitate flow with slower vehicles, and are usually separated by double white lines. They are most definitely SINGLE carriageways and are subject to the posted or NSL for that road type (i.e. If unsigned, 60mph for the fastest category of vehicles).

If I may say, this is basic Highway Code, and theory test stuff, and everyone should know this.

I'm too old to have needed to do a theory test.



I did think it was 60 which is why a stuck at 60, but the car behind me didn't and there was a camera van two thirds up the hill.

[Pica-Pica]

PurpleMoonlight said:

Pica-Pica said:

A dual carriageway is one with a physical separation between the two traffic directions. Additionally a single carriageway can have more than one lane in either direction, and a dual carriageway CAN have only one lane in each direction.

You may be thinking of, perhaps, 2+1 single carriageways, that have two lanes up a hill and one lane down. These are very common, used to facilitate flow with slower vehicles, and are usually separated by double white lines. They are most definitely SINGLE carriageways and are subject to the posted or NSL for that road type (i.e. If unsigned, 60mph for the fastest category of vehicles).

If I may say, this is basic Highway Code, and theory test stuff, and everyone should know this.

I'm too old to have needed to do a theory test.



I did think it was 60 which is why a stuck at 60, but the car behind me didn't and there was a camera van two thirds up the hill.

I am too old too (but I do like to keep up to date). It sounds similar to the A487 Felinheli by-pass, tempting to overtake up to 80 but often a speed van there. Note, the hill is steeper than the image shows, we are looking uphill.

Edited by Pica-Pica on Wednesday 20th December 15:45

Edited by Pica-Pica on Wednesday 20th December 15:46

[Fastpedeller]

Here a dual carriageway in Tunstead Norfolk (even has a dual carriageway sign) and is a bit confusing/amusing the first time you see it

http://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/01/04/61/10461...

Traffic has one lane for each direction - so not a dual carriageway in most people's understanding!

[eps]

As others have stated, NSL is 60 on a single carriageway - not lane and of course that is for a car and not larger vehicles such as vans and lorries. It's 50 on single carriageway.

[Pica-Pica]

Fastpedeller said:

Here a dual carriageway in Tunstead Norfolk (even has a dual carriageway sign) and is a bit confusing/amusing the first time you see it

http://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/01/04/61/10461...

Traffic has one lane for each direction - so not a dual carriageway in most people's understanding!

Ha, definitely a dual carriageway (I think I would like to see a direction arrow painted on each lane).

[Pica-Pica]

eps said:

As others have stated, NSL is 60 on a single carriageway - not lane and of course that is for a car and not larger vehicles such as vans and lorries. It's 50 on single carriageway.

50 for cars towing trailers or caravans too, but most people and police seem to ignore that (Although I do feel, that keeping to 50 with a decent set-up will only encourage frequent and rash overtakes by others)

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Turbojuice said:

The road you are talking about would remain 60

Or 50 in a Ford Ranger

[Red Devil]

Pica-Pica said:

PurpleMoonlight said:

A national speed limit single carriageway A road is 60 mph I believe.

If it branches into two lanes, for 800 yards or so to permit overtaking, does the speed limit increase to 70 mph for a dual carriageway? There is no central reservation or anything, just double white lines, and the lane on the other side is still single.

A dual carriageway is one with a physical separation between the two traffic directions. Additionally a single carriageway can have more than one lane in either direction, and a dual carriageway CAN have only one lane in each direction.

You may be thinking of, perhaps, 2+1 single carriageways, that have two lanes up a hill and one lane down. These are very common, used to facilitate flow with slower vehicles, and are usually separated by double white lines. They are most definitely SINGLE carriageways and are subject to the posted or NSL for that road type (i.e. If unsigned, 60mph for the fastest category of vehicles).

Plenty of 2+1s that are not on hills.
The A303 Ilminster bypasss is a prime example.
It swaps sides as well.
https://goo.gl/maps/iCqEngUuVZG2
https://goo.gl/maps/q7zsUiyeqZy
https://goo.gl/maps/6CUPr4J7Lys

Not understanding the definition of a D/C can cost you. This 2+1 is on a hill.
Strategically placed at the only overtaking opportunity for several miles.
A nice little earner...
https://goo.gl/maps/Ck7psNnd2zp

NickCQ said:

Yep, dual carriageway does not refer to the number of lanes. Vice versa, you can have a dual carriageway with one lane in each direction

My favourite 70 stretch.
Only 1 mile long but much fun in both directions.
https://goo.gl/maps/81iRsY1XJE52
https://goo.gl/maps/gEPQoxwjdpN2

[Toltec]

Fastpedeller said:

Here a dual carriageway in Tunstead Norfolk (even has a dual carriageway sign) and is a bit confusing/amusing the first time you see it

http://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/01/04/61/10461...

Traffic has one lane for each direction - so not a dual carriageway in most people's understanding!

This is one of my favourites

https://goo.gl/maps/2E3nbJm8o792

[Pica-Pica]

Toltec said:

Fastpedeller said:

Here a dual carriageway in Tunstead Norfolk (even has a dual carriageway sign) and is a bit confusing/amusing the first time you see it

http://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/01/04/61/10461...

Traffic has one lane for each direction - so not a dual carriageway in most people's understanding!

This is one of my favourites

https://goo.gl/maps/2E3nbJm8o792

Is it a dual carriageway or two one-way roads?