How do I find out the correct speed limit?
How do I find out the correct speed limit?
Author
Discussion

OverSteery

Original Poster:

3,794 posts

261 months

Monday 24th September 2018
quotequote all
I ask this mainly out of interest...
If I drive a route in one direction, I pass a 30mph limit sign and then drive past a fair number of houses. There are no street lights.
The route becomes more open with fields on one side no houses and then joins another road.

If I drive the same route in the other direction, I pass a national sign and no further signage.
So on one direction the entire route is a 30 and in the other its a 60.
There is no obvious sign of a damage/beheaded sign.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Starbucks+Coffee...

(the 30 is at the starbuck, and the national is to the east of the hilltop Lane junction)



Graveworm

9,237 posts

101 months

Monday 24th September 2018
quotequote all
The speed limit on a road will be subject to Traffic regulation order. Sometimes trickier than they should be to find.
If it is as you describe then looking at the map it's pretty much unenforceable. Anyone could have joined from any of the entrances or even just turned around and would never have passed a 30 sign. Without street lights or an effective system of repeaters how could they be aware of the restriction. The strict requirements for repeaters have gone but, where they have deviated from the guidelines, then it becomes a matter of fact for a court if it is sufficient and effective. Then whether it is 30 or NSL is irrelevant as it can't be successfully enforced.

Johnnytheboy

24,499 posts

216 months

Monday 24th September 2018
quotequote all
It's NSL.

  • one single terminal sign at the Starbucks end (should be one each side of road)
  • no streetlamps or repeaters the entire way along
That single 30 sign is there in error. It may well have been fixed there by some local busy body.

No ideas for a name

3,241 posts

116 months

Monday 24th September 2018
quotequote all
Johnnytheboy said:
It's NSL.

  • one single terminal sign at the Starbucks end (should be one each side of road)
  • no streetlamps or repeaters the entire way along
That single 30 sign is there in error. It may well have been fixed there by some local busy body.
Don't get it... there are streetlamps, so it is a 30 at least in part.

FiF

48,786 posts

281 months

Monday 24th September 2018
quotequote all
I had this scenario near Halesowen, right on the Worcestershire border. A stretch of unlit road that according to signs could have been 30, 40 or NSL dependant upon the route one had taken.

Turned out the council had screwed up the procedures for a limit change to 30 and signs had been partially erected then work stopped while the shambles was sorted.

Investigating the reason for the limit change, various responses were; roads policing unit - what? why? That's just bloody silly; County roads safety officer, as for RPU, only one serious RTC which was twoccers whilst being pursued so speed perhaps a factor, but really? Turned out it was a councillor being selfish, what a surprise.

It's now a 30 and subject to van and bike enforcement, obviously.

OP you need to talk to the council, signs are the language of the road, it's all laid down in print, with big Janet and John pictures, but the numpties they are still get it wrong.

OverSteery

Original Poster:

3,794 posts

261 months

Monday 24th September 2018
quotequote all
No ideas for a name said:
Don't get it... there are streetlamps, so it is a 30 at least in part.
I'd missed those, Yes I can find 3 running up to the junction with Netherne Road - which itself is a residential road. I wonder if that is were the national should start

Johnnytheboy

24,499 posts

216 months

Monday 24th September 2018
quotequote all
OverSteery said:
No ideas for a name said:
Don't get it... there are streetlamps, so it is a 30 at least in part.
I'd missed those, Yes I can find 3 running up to the junction with Netherne Road - which itself is a residential road. I wonder if that is were the national should start
My apologies, I missed them too. Netherne Road wraps round through Netherne (?) and the other end is correctly signed, so yes I think you re right: the 30 limit should end where Netherne road peels off.


Cat

3,134 posts

299 months

Monday 24th September 2018
quotequote all
Graveworm said:
The speed limit on a road will be subject to Traffic regulation order.
There won't be TRO if the road has a system of street lighting and is subject to a 30mph limit. Likewise if it is the national speed limit and there are no streetlights.

Cat

watchnut

1,301 posts

159 months

Monday 24th September 2018
quotequote all
general rule of thumb is that if street lights are less than 200m apart...then it is a 30 mph limit.....unless advised otherwise by repeater signs

If street lights are less than 200m apart and there is a little "repeater" sign on it then that is the speed limit....and the "repeater/reminder" signs are "normally" about 200m apart on alternate sides of the road

You can have dual carriage ways that are 30mph well lit with street lamps about 25m apart....and other than the "gateway" sign telling you this as you enter there will be no further "advice"......hence many get nicked going in and out of Southampton as the 30 MPH signs are not well placed

Graveworm

9,237 posts

101 months

Monday 24th September 2018
quotequote all
Cat said:
There won't be TRO if the road has a system of street lighting and is subject to a 30mph limit. Likewise if it is the national speed limit and there are no streetlights.

Cat
You are of course correct.