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Vehicle Speed Limits

Summary Of National Speed Limits

You MUST NOT exceed the maximum speed limits for the road and for your vehicle (see the table below). Street lights usually mean that there is a 30 mph speed limit unless there are signs showing another limit. Law RTRA sections 81,86,89 & schedule 6.

Vehicle	Built-up Areas *	Single carriage-ways	Dual carriage-ways	Motorways
Cars and motorcycles (including car derived vans up to 2 tonnes maximum laden weight)	30mph	60mph	70mph	70mph
Cars towing caravans or trailers (including car derived vans and motorcycles)	30mph	50mph	60mph	60mph
Buses and coaches (not exceeding 12 metres in overall length)	30mph	50mph	60mph	70mph
Goods vehicles (not exceeding 7.5 tonnes maximum laden weight)	30mph	50mph	60mph	70mph †
Goods vehicles (exceeding 7.5 tonnes maximum laden weight)	30mph	50mph	60mph	60mph

These are the national speed limits and apply to all roads unless signs show otherwise.

* The 30 mph limit applies to all traffic on all roads in England and Wales (only Class C and unclassified roads in Scotland) with street lighting unless signs show otherwise).

† 60 if articulated or towing a trailer.

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Detailed Version Of Section 86 (1) and Schedule 6 Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984

Vehicle		Carriageway
		without trailer			with trailer
		Single	Dual	Motorway	Single	Dual	Motorway
Motorcycle		60mph	70mph	70mph	50mph	60mph	60mph
Invalid carriage		20mph	20mph	-	20mph	20mph	-
Passenger vehicle, dual purpose vehicle, motor caravan (none of which exceed 3050kg unladen or 8 passenger seats) car derived van not exceeding 2000kg max laden weight or 8 passenger seats		60mph	70mph	70mph	50mph	60mph	60mph
Passenger vehicle, dual purpose vehicle, motor caravan, car derived van exceeding 3050kg unladen or 8 passenger seats and: -	NOT exceeding 12 metres in length	50mph	60mph	70mph	50mph	60mph	60mph
	exceeding 12 metres in length	50mph	60mph	60mph	50mph	60mph	60mph
Goods vehicle NOT exceeding 7.5 tonnes which is not an articulated vehicle or car derived van		50mph	60mph	70mph	50mph	60mph	60mph
Goods vehicle exceeding 7.5 tonnes which is not an articulated vehicle		50mph	60mph	60mph	50mph	60mph	60mph
Articulated goods vehicle NOT exceeding 7.5 tonnes		50mph	60mph	60mph	50mph	60mph	60mph
Articulated goods vehicle exceeding 7.5 tonnes		40mph	50mph	60mph	40mph	50mph	60mph