Speed Limits Painted On Road?

[woofgang]

Do speed limits painted on the road without accompanying roundel metal signs have legal status? I am not talking about what would happen if you are going faster than the painted limit and have an accident, but simply if there is only a painted limit on the road and no other notification, can you get done for exceeding the painted limit?

I am asking because 20 signs have recently been painted all over roads near me and I just wondered.....

[jomifl]

have you checked that the 'official' speed limit sign isn't hidden behind a bush or other road sign?

[woofgang]

yes, jomifli there is nothing nix nada.

[Peaspeculiars]

Hmm.. take a peek at this link:
http://www.speedlimit.org.uk/speed_markings.html

Speed limit roundels painted on the road surface may be used to supplement a system of speed limit repeaters, but on their own do not constitute a legal system of speed limit marking. For a limit to be enforceable, the proper number of repeaters must also be present.

An exception to this is that the 40 mph limits covering large areas of Dartmoor and the New Forest have a specific derogation from the need to have repeaters because of environmental considerations, and are therefore marked solely by carriageway roundels.

[jomifl]

this indicates thhat theyare only valid when accompanied by the normal sign.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/@motor/documents/digitalasset/dg_191955.pdf

[Famous5]

Is it possible that the road in question is about to become a 20 mph limit, and that the road has been painted before the signs have been put up? The local authority can't put all the warnings in place at the same time. Maybe a check at Town Hall/Police Station, as I would have thought that details should have been published as part of planning process to allow for objections/refinement

[woofgang]

So it looks like the answer is no......many thanks for all your input.

[ToraToraTora]

no they have no legal status but they inform what the limit is. It depends on the limit and and other factors as to whether there have to be the red ring signs. For example on urban roads where lamp posts are spaced within a certain distance the limit defaults to 30 with no signs needed. What is the limit on the painted limit as a matter of interest?

[woofgang]

The road painting says 20. The road is in an urban area with close lampposts so the 30 default applies. there are no speed roundels at all.

[woofgang]

I mean of course no metal speed roundel signs.

[Nibble]

I think that woofgang has stated in the OP because 20 signs have recently been painted, but in my reading of it says 20mph advisory signs.

However, please don't quote me on this, as it's only IMHO, of course.

[Nibble]

^ Ah! thanks for the additional info, woofg... I thought that's what you meant ☺

[ToraToraTora]

I see I thought you meant 20 signs not 20mph signs, anyway, clearly they are preparing to put up the 20mph signs, the ones on the road have no meaning ever but they will be accurate when the actual proper 20mph signs go up.
signs like these are on the way: https://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&site=imghp&;tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1280&bih=670&q=20pmh+sign&oq=20pmh+sign&gs_l=img.3...4275.8113.0.8984.10.5.0.5.0.0.98.341.5.5.0....0...1ac.1.32.img..6.4.285.WouneUKtuh8#hl=en&q=20mph+sign&tbm=isch&;facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=opIgbKg5i9egEM%253A%3BLrkCYfyx_Jot8M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fi.telegraph.co.uk%252Fmultimedia%252Farchive%252F01398%252Froad_1398128c.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.telegraph.co.uk%252Fnews%252Fuknews%252Froad-and-rail-transport%252F8038821%252F20mph-limit-has-not-made-roads-safer.html%3B460%3B288

[woofgang]

Can councils paint road signs and not put up metal roundels? We have a very "active" parish councillor here who just loves traffic calming measures. I am wondering whether the parish council had some spare white paint and an employee with time on his hands.......

[ToraToraTora]

yes but they have no meaning, as above, I suspect they are preparation.

[woofgang]

I will let you know.....

[stocksman]

MPH signs painted on road surface surely can not be sufficient. What about dirty roads (a lot around at present), or if very busy traffic they will be impossible to see as they'll be under a vehicle most of the time.