National speed limit sign.

[MsBadely]

http://www.shiresmt.co.uk/images/national%20speed%20limit%20sign.gif

What is the point of it? Yes, I know I SHOULD know what the national speed limit is for a dual carridgeway in a built up area, etc., but I don't. Why don't they just put up a sign telling you what the actual speed limit is?

And don't get me started on why there are never speed signs near speed cameras, causing everyone to slow to 30 in a 40 zone!

[JudgeJ]

Because the National Speed Limit varies according to the type of vehicle you are driving and the type of road you are on.

Single Carriageway Roads:

Cars and Vans: 60mph

Cars and Vans towing trailers: 50mph

Buses:

[JudgeJ]

to continue (my answer was suddenly "submitted"):

Buses: 50mph

Lorries up to 7.5 tonnes 50mph

Lorries over 7.5 tonnes: 40mph

The limits are 10mph faster in each category when driving on dual carriageways. In addition buses and lorries up to 7.5 tonnes can travel at 70mph on motorways and heavy lorries at 60mph.

So you see, MsBadely, the sign means different things to different drivers in different places!

[MsBadely]

Yeah, but each sign is only in one place!

And surely it is more reasonable for the few people who drive specialist vehicles to know how they're vehicles differ from the norm than for everyone to have to remember the convoluted rules.

[Loosehead]

And further to the judge, all the national speed limits can be adjusted if necessary without changing thousands of signs. Each vehicle DOES no it's own rules, except you it seems. For normal private cars it's 60 or 70 on a dual carraigeway. Didn't hurt did it.

[MsBadely]

So in future I'll just ask my car, seeing as it knows all the rules?

Thanks, sparky.

[Loosehead]

So you don't want to take responsibility for actually knowing anything yourself then. It's really very very simple I'm sure you could crack it.

[fo3nix]

If you do not know the speed limits, something crucial to driving, then you shouldn't be driving at all.

Same goes for speed limit signs near speed cameras. A good driver would know the speed limit of that road (since it would have said somewhere; either when joining that road, or on the road itself, as a small sign), and would not be exceeding it.

[ursula62]

Might I suggest you purchase a copy of the Highway Code? It contains all the information you need regarding the rules of the road.

The Highway Code is usually studied for a driving test, but perhaps you didn't have the opportunity to take a theory test, like new drivers do these days.

[MsBadely]

Please can we have some smilies on this site? I really need a :rolleyes:

[JudgeJ]

People tend to lose their "smilies", MsBadely, when they learn that there are people driving about who cannot absorb one of the most important rules of driving.

Furthermore, there are not a "few people who drive specialist vehicles". If you look around you you will see that the "non-car" vehicles makes up a sizeable proportion of the traffic on many roads. Why should the drivers of those vehicles be expected to remember that they cannot travel at the advertised speed limit, but a similar burden (to translate the national speed limit sign into 60 or 70mph) is too great for you?

[Kerplunk]

How can you drive safely on a road when you don't understand speed limit signs?? Get a re-test before you kill someone please !!

Do you know the sign for a one way street or no entry or even give way???

[MsBadely]

JudgeJ - So I'm to remember what others don't have to?

Kerplunk - Did you read my email? Nowhere does it say I don't know what road signs mean. I do. I even know most, but not all, of the national speed limits, but it's not always easy to tell if you are in a 'built up area'.

I will be happy to post my route to work though, so you can all save your lives by staying off the roads while I'm around.

Jeez, talk about a circle jerk.

[JudgeJ]

No, MsBadely, I’m not suggesting that you have to remember what others don’t have to. All I’m suggesting is that you remember what you have to – in common with all other competent drivers whatever and wherever they are driving.

A knowledge of other aspects of the National Speed Limit is required as part of the competence to drive. This is because (a) you should be aware of the speeds that other types of vehicles are limited to when you encounter them whilst driving and (b) because you can drive vehicles which are subject to a different speed limit even under your “non-specialist” car licence. For example you can tow a trailer and thus be subject to lower limits.

Your original question was what is the point of the “National Speed Limit” sign to which you provided a link. You asked why a sign showing the actual speed limit was not displayed instead. I think it has been adequately explained to you by me and others why this is not so. Whether you accept those explanations or not is up to you, but I (and many others, it seems) think the sign makes perfect sense.

In your last post you begin to cloud the issue by saying “it is not always easy to tell if you are in a built up area”. This has nothing to do with your original question. Nonetheless since it may help you either avoid prosecution or, more importantly, avoid killing someone, here’s a brief explanation. In most built up areas, towns and villages, etc., the speed limit is 30 mph. Effectively this speed limit is in force wherever there are lamp posts. Where the speed limit exceeds 30 mph, there will be 'repeater' signs reminding you of the higher limit. In some villages there will be no street lighting - hence no lamp posts. In these situations the 30 mph speed limit will be posted with regular repeater signs.

It really is not that difficult.

[Gef]

Well said JudgeJ. I hope that is the end of the matter.

[Tim B]

If your dual carriageway is in a built up area then there will be repeater limit signs posted to tell you what the limit is. Otherwise it is 70mph for cars etc.

[MsBadely]

JudgeJ's last post was, unfortunately far too long to read, so I suppose that is an end to it. I mean, if I wanted to read something that long I could just read the Highway Code, couldn't I?

But then who's going to be out on the roads driving badly and threatening innocent lives?

[Gef]

Not true Tim B. There is a short stretch of dual carriageway in the town where I work, the limit is 30 and there are no signs. It is 30 mph either side of the dual carriageway.

[Tim B]

Yes, sorry, you're quite right. I was thinking of urban duals where the limit is not 30, then there must be repeaters, even if it's national limit. oops.

[Kerplunk]

Quote - "Yes, I know I SHOULD know what the national speed limit is for a dual carridgeway in a built up area, etc., but I don't."

I took this to mean that you didn't know what the national speed limit for a dual carriage way in a built up area was. Sorry if I misunderstood.