Roads - speed limits
| Speed limits |
Built-up areas *
|
Single carriage-ways |
Dual carriage-ways
|
Motorways
|
| Type of vehicle |
mph (km/h) |
mph (km/h) |
mph (km/h) |
mph (km/h) |
Cars & motorcycles
(including car-derived vans up to 2 tonnes maximum laden
weight) |
30 (48) |
60 (96) |
70 (112) |
70 (112) |
Cars towing caravans or trailers
(including car-derived vans and motorcycles) |
30 (48) |
50 (80)
|
60 (96)
|
60 (96) |
Buses, coaches and minibuses
(not
exceeding 12 metres in overall length) |
30 (48) |
50 (80) |
60 (96) |
70 (112) |
Goods vehicles
(not exceeding 7.5 tonnes
maximum laden weight) |
30 (48) |
50 (80) |
60 (96) |
70 (112)** |
Goods vehicles
(exceeding 7.5 tonnes
maximum laden weight) |
30 (48) |
40 (64) |
50 (80) |
60 (96) |
* The 30 mph limit usually applies to all traffic on all roads
with street lighting unless signs show otherwise.
** 60 mph (96 km/h) if articulated or towing a
trailer.
You must not exceed the maximum speed limits
for the road and for your vehicle (see the table above). The
presence of street lights generally means that there is a 30 mph
(48 km/h) speed limit unless otherwise specified.
The speed limit is the absolute maximum and
does not mean it is safe to drive at that speed irrespective of
conditions. Driving at speeds too fast for the road and traffic
conditions is dangerous. You should always reduce your speed
when:
- the road layout or condition presents
hazards, such as bends
- sharing the road with pedestrians, cyclists
and horse riders, particularly children, and motorcyclists
- weather conditions make it safer to do
so
- driving at night as it is more difficult to
see other road users
Stopping Distances
Drive at a speed that will allow you to stop
well within the distance you can see to be clear. You should:
- leave enough space between you and the vehicle in front so that
you can pull up safely if it suddenly slows down or stops. The
safe rule is never to get closer than the overall stopping distance
(see Typical Stopping Distances PDF below)
- allow at least a two-second gap between you
and the vehicle in front on roads carrying faster-moving
traffic and in tunnels where visibility is reduced. The gap
should be at least doubled on wet roads and increased still further
on icy roads
- remember, large vehicles and motorcycles need
a greater distance to stop. If driving a large vehicle in a tunnel,
you should allow a four-second gap between you and the vehicle in
front
- If you have to stop in a tunnel, leave at
least a 5-metre gap between you and the vehicle in front.
Useful links
Department
for Transport
Highway code online