What is the UK motorway speed limit?
Discussion
I usually drive in Germany, Switzerland and France where speed limits work straightforwardly; you can go maybe 5 km/h over. In the UK, the divided road limit is 70 mph. But everyone exceeds that with apparent abandon; people travel only a little bit faster on derestricted German sections. I was also intrigued to see that most people stick to 70 in speed control zones then accelerate like Lewis Hamilton at the sign that says speed control ends even though the speed limit stays exactly the same. I try to drive within the limit so it would be good to know what it is going on.
You're safe up to about 96mph as long as you don't mind copping 3 points and £100 fine.
I've been driving 20+ years and never had a single point for speeding despite regularly driving prolonged periods above 70mph on the motorways, I'd say you're pretty safe as long as you're observant. Slow for cameras, slow for road works, slow near police cars, don't drive aggressively, don't tailgate, and don't pass other cars too fast.... do all of that and your chances of any hassle are quite low. But only you can decide if you want to take the chance. As you can see from the speed of a lot of drivers, many are quite happy to take a gamble.
I've been driving 20+ years and never had a single point for speeding despite regularly driving prolonged periods above 70mph on the motorways, I'd say you're pretty safe as long as you're observant. Slow for cameras, slow for road works, slow near police cars, don't drive aggressively, don't tailgate, and don't pass other cars too fast.... do all of that and your chances of any hassle are quite low. But only you can decide if you want to take the chance. As you can see from the speed of a lot of drivers, many are quite happy to take a gamble.
I commute on the M25 daily (I'm only on for 1 junction but it's as bad as you can imagine). From my experience, the speed limit is 40mph governed religiously by cameras every 100 metres, but aside from a VOSA car checking for tax once every fortnight, it's all automated cameras. It means people cut across white lane dividers, use the hard shoulder, drive across the chequered markings at junctions, and so on. They're all doing less than the speed limit so of course their behaviour is safe.
Heartworm said:
bigdog3 said:
Rigid 70 mph from 2022 
Or press the disable button on the limiter?"The council is likely to push for there to be no off switch for the limiters once motorists have become accustomed to the systems."
Exceeding 70 mph will be too uncomfortable and eventually impossible. Expect the outside lane to be jammed solid with cars hard their limiters, matching the speed of adjacent vehicles in the centre lane.
Second Best said:
I commute on the M25 daily (I'm only on for 1 junction but it's as bad as you can imagine). From my experience, the speed limit is 40mph governed religiously by cameras every 100 metres, but aside from a VOSA car checking for tax once every fortnight, it's all automated cameras. It means people cut across white lane dividers, use the hard shoulder, drive across the chequered markings at junctions, and so on. They're all doing less than the speed limit so of course their behaviour is safe.
Where on the M25 are there cameras every 100m?Edited by BertBert on Monday 8th April 05:47
But unfortunately the newer limited cars will get in your way...grumpyscot said:
Just don't go too far over the limits in Scotland since Police Scotland don't offer speed awareness courses. To them, it's "points make prizes" - prizes being they don't get told off for not meeting targets! (Which all cops deny....... with a wink!)
A very long time ago I got done for 85 on the m/way in Scotland. It wouldn't have been so bad but I was being passed by faster cars at the time. It's as though they knew I was from England 
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