Trouble keeping up with what the speed limit is??
Discussion
Ok this might just be me but increasingly I'm finding it difficult keeping up with what the speed limit is on motorways.
Between smart motors and road works, the speed limit changes so frequently and is also not regularly sign posted so I often sit there wondering what speed I'm actually supposed to be driving! Anyone else find this? I'm sure other drivers feel the same as I often see a big chunk of cars travelling at 50 when the road has changed back to a 70.
I have also found a couple of examples where the speed limit changes but there is no sign to indicate this, one example being the exit out of Liverpool on to the M62 which indicates 50 mph but then never changes and a road out of Manchester Airport that does the same.
I'm fully prepared to be flamed for this post...
Between smart motors and road works, the speed limit changes so frequently and is also not regularly sign posted so I often sit there wondering what speed I'm actually supposed to be driving! Anyone else find this? I'm sure other drivers feel the same as I often see a big chunk of cars travelling at 50 when the road has changed back to a 70.
I have also found a couple of examples where the speed limit changes but there is no sign to indicate this, one example being the exit out of Liverpool on to the M62 which indicates 50 mph but then never changes and a road out of Manchester Airport that does the same.
I'm fully prepared to be flamed for this post...
rotaryjam said:
I have also found a couple of examples where the speed limit changes but there is no sign to indicate this, one example being the exit out of Liverpool on to the M62 which indicates 50 mph but then never changes and a road out of Manchester Airport that does the same.
I'm sure there's a motorway comings out of Manchester that is a 50 and then a 70, but there are no signs to indicate the change, all that happens is there are no more 50 signs.It's a few years since I was last one it, I should check with Street View.
I'm with you on this, I find myself having moments of doubt on the limit that I should be adhering to. You can't trust navigation apps to get it right, and speel limit recognition systems in modern cars are often wrong.
It doesn't take too long to figure out, but it is frustrating none the less. You can often see other cars doing 50 in a 70, or 70 in a 50, as they seem unaware of the limit too. It can create quite a hazard, so this is clearly not intentional etc.
It doesn't take too long to figure out, but it is frustrating none the less. You can often see other cars doing 50 in a 70, or 70 in a 50, as they seem unaware of the limit too. It can create quite a hazard, so this is clearly not intentional etc.
Totally agree with this, and it's not just motorways. With the proliferation of previously NSL A and B roads being changed to 40, 50, and sometimes even 30, and what seems to be a very haphazard approach to putting up reminder signs by some authorities, it's becoming a bit of a chore trying to keep up with what the limit is in some areas.
Another that gets me is I enter 20 mph roads on my commute and when I turn off then down a side road, I am unsure if the side road too is a 20 or 30. I presume it is a 30 but as the OP says, those using these connected roads are all over the place re speed, most playing safe but quite a few doing the headlights and horn while tailgating.
rotaryjam said:
Ok this might just be me but increasingly I'm finding it difficult keeping up with what the speed limit is on motorways.
Between smart motors and road works, the speed limit changes so frequently and is also not regularly sign posted so I often sit there wondering what speed I'm actually supposed to be driving! Anyone else find this? I'm sure other drivers feel the same as I often see a big chunk of cars travelling at 50 when the road has changed back to a 70.
I have also found a couple of examples where the speed limit changes but there is no sign to indicate this, one example being the exit out of Liverpool on to the M62 which indicates 50 mph but then never changes and a road out of Manchester Airport that does the same.
I'm fully prepared to be flamed for this post...
I have the same problem tbh and in the same part of the country. It's unbelievably annoying.Between smart motors and road works, the speed limit changes so frequently and is also not regularly sign posted so I often sit there wondering what speed I'm actually supposed to be driving! Anyone else find this? I'm sure other drivers feel the same as I often see a big chunk of cars travelling at 50 when the road has changed back to a 70.
I have also found a couple of examples where the speed limit changes but there is no sign to indicate this, one example being the exit out of Liverpool on to the M62 which indicates 50 mph but then never changes and a road out of Manchester Airport that does the same.
I'm fully prepared to be flamed for this post...
I think one of the issues is the way they seem to use variable speeds to "manage" the flow of traffic. So you get a 50mph limit, falling to a 40mph, then back up to NSL, then back down to 50 and there is no apparent reason for it (no roadworks or anything). My guess is that they think they're being super clever doing this and then forget to reset the limits when the blockage has cleared.
rotaryjam said:
Ok this might just be me but increasingly I'm finding it difficult keeping up with what the speed limit is on motorways.
Between smart motors and road works, the speed limit changes so frequently and is also not regularly sign posted so I often sit there wondering what speed I'm actually supposed to be driving! Anyone else find this? I'm sure other drivers feel the same as I often see a big chunk of cars travelling at 50 when the road has changed back to a 70.
I have also found a couple of examples where the speed limit changes but there is no sign to indicate this, one example being the exit out of Liverpool on to the M62 which indicates 50 mph but then never changes and a road out of Manchester Airport that does the same.
I'm fully prepared to be flamed for this post...
The exit out of Liverpool, on Bowring Park Rd (A5080) has 40mph signs (last time I visited), and then you go past a sign and under a gantry which changes the road type to a motorway, with plenty of blue motorway signs everywhere, hence you are then at motorway speeds. No speed sign needed. In a similar way if you come off a dual carriageway onto a single carriageway it changes from 70 mph to a 60mph limit, if no signs show anything different. Road type changes don’t need speed signs.Between smart motors and road works, the speed limit changes so frequently and is also not regularly sign posted so I often sit there wondering what speed I'm actually supposed to be driving! Anyone else find this? I'm sure other drivers feel the same as I often see a big chunk of cars travelling at 50 when the road has changed back to a 70.
I have also found a couple of examples where the speed limit changes but there is no sign to indicate this, one example being the exit out of Liverpool on to the M62 which indicates 50 mph but then never changes and a road out of Manchester Airport that does the same.
I'm fully prepared to be flamed for this post...
snuffy said:
rotaryjam said:
I have also found a couple of examples where the speed limit changes but there is no sign to indicate this, one example being the exit out of Liverpool on to the M62 which indicates 50 mph but then never changes and a road out of Manchester Airport that does the same.
I'm sure there's a motorway comings out of Manchester that is a 50 and then a 70, but there are no signs to indicate the change, all that happens is there are no more 50 signs.It's a few years since I was last one it, I should check with Street View.
jondude said:
Another that gets me is I enter 20 mph roads on my commute and when I turn off then down a side road, I am unsure if the side road too is a 20 or 30. I presume it is a 30 but as the OP says, those using these connected roads are all over the place re speed, most playing safe but quite a few doing the headlights and horn while tailgating.
The issue I find in built up areas is that the relative narrowness of roads and tightness of corners combined with terrible design (signage too high) means that some signs are completely obscured by the roof of the car when you turn into a side road. Think of how when you pull up to the line at traffic lights, how the main traffic lights are now completely obscured and only visible if you lean right forwards over the wheel or stick your head out of the window - like that.If the side view of the signage was obscured e.g. by a van or tree as you drive up the preceding road then you have no idea you have even passed a sign.
I don't think I've broken any 20 limits however as I once ended up driving 100m the wrong way down a one way street until I encountered any signage visible from the driving seat, I can see how it happens.
AyBee said:
snuffy said:
rotaryjam said:
I have also found a couple of examples where the speed limit changes but there is no sign to indicate this, one example being the exit out of Liverpool on to the M62 which indicates 50 mph but then never changes and a road out of Manchester Airport that does the same.
I'm sure there's a motorway comings out of Manchester that is a 50 and then a 70, but there are no signs to indicate the change, all that happens is there are no more 50 signs.It's a few years since I was last one it, I should check with Street View.
Which tells you that national speed limit etc apply.
I have to agree with the lack of 40/50 repeaters in previously NSL roads though. PITA.
AyBee said:
No, where the A5103 becomes the M56.
I would have thought that this section of the gantry denotes the start of the M56:
Which coincides +/- 100m or so with the end of motorway regs sign on the opposite side.
ETA: Although I would have expected something on a pole in the central reservation and off to the near side, rather than on a gantry.
MikeGTi said:
I would have thought that this section of the gantry denotes the start of the M56:
Which coincides +/- 100m or so with the end of motorway regs sign on the opposite side.
ETA: Although I would have expected something on a pole in the central reservation and off to the near side, rather than on a gantry.
Yes, it does, but like you'd I'd also expect a national speed limit sign or similar in the same place rather than just that sign on the gantry which isn't that different to something like the below:Which coincides +/- 100m or so with the end of motorway regs sign on the opposite side.
ETA: Although I would have expected something on a pole in the central reservation and off to the near side, rather than on a gantry.
AyBee said:
Yes, it does, but like you'd I'd also expect a national speed limit sign or similar in the same place rather than just that sign on the gantry which isn't that different to something like the below:
I think the key difference is the motorway bridge symbol, with your example you're already on a motorway, whereas the bridge symbol indicates the start of motorway regs.
vikingaero said:
You should try driving on the North Circular where it changes all the time. All you need is a couple of HGVs blocking your view, or another driver cutting you up and distracting you from the road signs.
Drive that at certain times of the day and it's like a wild west free for all. Only this morning I was on it and on my left was a 50mph speed sign and directly opposite it in the central reservation was a 30mph sign. I just added them together and worked with that !!
Forums | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff