Which speed limit is a road with TWO limits

[cymtriks]

That's right. Two limits.

Near me there is an industrial estate which, approached from one end has a 30 limit but when approached from other directions is a 40 limit. At first I thought they'd finish the site with extra signs but it just seems to be getting left this way.

Is this right? Is it 30 one way and 40 the other?

Has anyone seen this before, I can't ever recall noticing this sort of thing before.

Just out of curiosity how does this affect the law in this area?

[catso]

cymtriks said:

Just out of curiosity how does this affect the law in this area?

Err, can go faster on the wrong side of the road

[7db]

Exactly as written -- different limits in different directions. A few roads have this, but they aren't that common as hazard densities are usually similar on each side and simplicity dictates leaving the limit the same in each direction.

Not sure how quickly you can drive laterally, however.

[streaky]

7db said:

Exactly as written -- different limits in different directions. A few roads have this, but they aren't that common as hazard densities are usually similar on each side and simplicity dictates leaving the limit the same in each direction.

Not sure how quickly you can drive laterally, however.

You appropriately increase or decrease your speed as you cross the white line (or centre of the road). It's a bit like the Shatt al Arab waterway ... in more ways than one! - Streaky

[tvrgit]

Have to say I'm not sure how you would specify that in the Traffic Regulation Order - the schedules usually refer to "lengths of road (between points a and b, a distance of x metres or kilometres or whatever)" not "from a to b with a different limit from b to a". You can do it on a dual carriageway where each "road" can be specified and scheduled separately - but not (I think) on single carriageway roads - maybe you can but I've never heard of it, possibly because I can't see the point in having different limits in different directions on single carriageways.

Sounds more like a cock-up - I was looking at a road yesterday in a 30 limit, with street lighting, that had (illegal) 30mph repeaters and a couple of (also illegal) NSL repeaters obviously left there about 4 years ago when the limit was extended.

[Major Bloodnok]

Got one like that in Altrincham (*) - approach from one direction and there's no sign to indicate any change from 30, approach from the other and there's an NSL sign. Could it be one of these idiotic "lampposts" things, since the road in question is a section of unlighted road between two "residential" areas? Surely, it's high time we scrapped that particular consideration - all speed limits should be signed and repeated: presence of and distance between lampposts should be irrelevant.

(*) Dairyhouse Lane, for anyone that knows it. Approach from George Richard's Way, and you get an NSL sign, approach from Seamon's Road/Black Moss Road and there's nothing.

[Peter Ward]

Major Bloodnok said:

Got one like that in Altrincham (*) - approach from one direction and there's no sign to indicate any change from 30, approach from the other and there's an NSL sign. Could it be one of these idiotic "lampposts" things, since the road in question is a section of unlighted road between two "residential" areas? Surely, it's high time we scrapped that particular consideration - all speed limits should be signed and repeated: presence of and distance between lampposts should be irrelevant.

(*) Dairyhouse Lane, for anyone that knows it. Approach from George Richard's Way, and you get an NSL sign, approach from Seamon's Road/Black Moss Road and there's nothing.

In the old days, when it was a 30 limit or derestricted, I'm sure the lamppost thing worked fine. And you didn't get streetlighting outside of towns. The 30 was there for a reason and was, I imagine, reasonably well respected. Why speed in a 30 when in a couple of minutes you'll be free again? Even when NSL came in I don't recall many people speeding in towns.

Now, when the limit can be anything from 20 to 70, and can change every few hundred yards, it's crazy to force drivers to rely on counting lampposts and the "if there's no sign it's 30" message. Speed limits should be posted clearly with regular repeaters. Otherwise, you might be persuaded that there were ulterior motives in not making limits 100% clear and I'm sure that's not the case....

[greatgranny]

Re. lamposts, there will always be a sign when entering the 30 limit amd leaving the limit. Its just that there are no repeaters in a 30 limit.

[mko9]

I guess it would make it much easier to overtake if you are on the 30mph side, once you are in the other lane you can go 40mph, right? Of course it will make it virtually impossible to overtake on the 40mph side!

[tigger1]

There's a roundabout in the Wyvern (near Pride Park) that seems to be a 30 limit if you enter from one direction and 40 from another...which is odd...along with a similar mismatch on one of the exit roads

[nobleguy]

The A5 at Milton Keynes says 50 for a stretch and returns to NSL after a bit, but one of the slip roads onto it during the 50 period has no sign. Probably a cock up.