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Vehicle Speed Limits
Summary Of National Speed Limits
Summary Version | Detailed Version
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 |
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