Motorway Slip Road Speed Limits

[ashleyman]

Probably going to get lots of silly, sarcastic, pointless replies but thought I'd ask anyway.

I was here: https://goo.gl/maps/UTQrbPzSKo12

I was driving down the M25 last night and the speed restriction was set to 40.
I got to the slip road to leave the motorway and the overhead gantry was displaying 40.
I went through at 40 and then drove up the slip road and left the motorway

Does the 40 apply for the slip road, or just the main motorway? IE, once I'm on the slip road can I go back to 70 or must I stay at 40?

Further up the slip road there was another gantry showing 60 over the main motorway lanes and nothing on the slip road. Not sure if this is because there are no screens over the slip road or if they just weren't active.

https://goo.gl/maps/546efvX3o5z

Just wondering if at this point you would be expected to stay at 40, free to go back to 70, or if you have to stay at 60 as per screens above live motorway?

[SS2.]

The speed limit on the main carriageway of the motorway will also apply to any slip roads.

If the limit in force was 40mph and you didn't pass a sign indicating NSL or another limit as you entered (or progressed along) the slip road, then the 40mph limit would still apply.

[chopper602]

I think a blue 'End of Motorway' sign would suffice too, as you are changing road type, although these are normally at the top of a slip before you hit a roundabout or similar

[Antony Moxey]

Gantries usually extend to slip roads too don't they? I'm sure I've seen the main carriageway have a speed limit on it whereas the slip road has a national speed limit sign to show you're no longer required to follow the main carriageway's speed limit. Other than that I would assume you follow the carriageway's indicated limit until you see something to tell you otherwise.

[ashleyman]

Antony Moxey said:

Gantries usually extend to slip roads too don't they? I'm sure I've seen the main carriageway have a speed limit on it whereas the slip road has a national speed limit sign to show you're no longer required to follow the main carriageway's speed limit. Other than that I would assume you follow the carriageway's indicated limit until you see something to tell you otherwise.

They do. Usually if there is a speed restriction over the motorway, the slip road will be a NSL sign OR the 'smart' limit of the road you are joining.

I was just wondering if the gantry over the slip road was showing a reduced speed, if there was any reason why wouldn't stick to that limit especially once the slip road is it's own road - separated from the motorway by barriers etc...

chopper602 said:

I think a blue 'End of Motorway' sign would suffice too, as you are changing road type, although these are normally at the top of a slip before you hit a roundabout or similar

In my example, those blue signs are the very end of the slip road. https://goo.gl/maps/Rd5B7HoxLxB2

[Pica-Pica]

chopper602 said:

I think a blue 'End of Motorway' sign would suffice too, as you are changing road type, although these are normally at the top of a slip before you hit a roundabout or similar

The roundabout may well have a 40 limit before it. I never understand why roundabouts with NSL dual carriageways on all sides have to have a 40 limit just to cover the roundabout. The great big black and white chevrons give a big hint to slow down. Nanny state? I thought we were going away from excess signage.

[Pica-Pica]

ashleyman said:

Antony Moxey said:

Gantries usually extend to slip roads too don't they? I'm sure I've seen the main carriageway have a speed limit on it whereas the slip road has a national speed limit sign to show you're no longer required to follow the main carriageway's speed limit. Other than that I would assume you follow the carriageway's indicated limit until you see something to tell you otherwise.

They do. Usually if there is a speed restriction over the motorway, the slip road will be a NSL sign OR the 'smart' limit of the road you are joining.

I was just wondering if the gantry over the slip road was showing a reduced speed, if there was any reason why wouldn't stick to that limit especially once the slip road is it's own road - separated from the motorway by barriers etc...

chopper602 said:

I think a blue 'End of Motorway' sign would suffice too, as you are changing road type, although these are normally at the top of a slip before you hit a roundabout or similar

In my example, those blue signs are the very end of the slip road. https://goo.gl/maps/Rd5B7HoxLxB2

And before that sign, here is the preceding one, which gives a clue.

[ashleyman]

Pica-Pica said:

And before that sign, here is the preceding one, which gives a clue.

What's your point? That doesn't say end of motorway, or a change in speed.

[Pica-Pica]

There is/was a ridiculous situation on the A494. The road was reduced from 70 to 50 limit, with permanent 50 speed signs. A temporary 40 limit was in place (red ringed of course) for road works yet I could see that the slip road coming in still was showing the 50 limit signs.

[speedking31]

@Repel_max will tell you that an unlit gantry is not a sign and does not have any effect on the speed limit in force, and that there is always an "End of variable limit" sign to keep you fully informed. In the absence of the latter you must proceed at 40 mph until you pass a sign indicating a different limit.

[covboy]

Don’t know if it’s still there now but J1 slip on the M5 (exiting north coming off the temporary 30mph roadworks limit), has NSL sign about 50 metres before the end of the slip followed about 30 metres after that is a the permanent 30mph limit sign for the roundabout. I assume legal requirements ,