Speed Limits Table
There are speed limits for differing classes of vehicles, and speed limits for differing classes of road. Where these differ the lower limit applies. For example, a 7t lorry is subject to a speed limit of 50mph on derestricted single-carriageway roads but on urban roads with a 40mph, 30mph or even (in some residential areas) 20mph limit it is always the lower road limit which applies. Similarly certain stretches of motorway are subject to maximum speeds of below 70mph. They are appropriately signed in all cases.
Indicated speed limits for principal classes of vehicle.
| |
Motorways |
Dual carriageways |
Other roads |
| Cars, car derived vans and dual-purpose vehicles. |
70 |
70 |
60 |
| Cars, car derived vans and dual-purpose vehicles when drawing one trailer. |
60 |
60 |
50 |
| Cars, car derived vans when drawing more than one trailer. |
40 |
20 |
20 |
| Rigid goods vehicles (not being a car derived van) up to 7.5t MAM and not drawing a trailer. |
70 |
60 |
50 |
| Articulated vehicles up to 7.5t Gross Train Weight (GTW) and goods vehicles (not being a car derived van) drawing a trailer where their combined maximum laden weight does not exceed 7.5t. |
60 |
60 |
50 |
| Articulated vehicles over 7.5t GTW, goods vehicles over 7.5t MAM and goods vehicles drawing a trailer where the combined MAM exceeds 7.5t. |
60 |
60 |
50 |
| Motor vehicles other than a car derived van drawing more than one trailer. |
40 |
20 |
20 |
| Motor tractors and locomotives with or without trailer: |
|
|
|
- meeting certain provisions as to springs and wings
|
40 |
30 |
30 |
|
|
20 |
20 |
20 |
| Works trucks. |
18 |
18 |
18 |
| Industrial tractors. |
N/A |
18 |
18 |
| Agricultural motor vehicles. |
N/A |
40 |
40 |
| Passenger vehicles with an unladen weight exceeding 3.05t or adapted to carry more than eight passengers: |
|
|
|
- not exceeding 12m in length
|
70 |
60 |
50 |
|
|
60 |
60 |
50 |
| Wheeled vehicles not fitted with pneumatic tyres on all wheels: |
|
|
|
- where every wheel is fitted with a resilient tyre or at least one wheel is fitted with a resilient tyre and every wheel which is not fitted with a resilient tyre is fitted with a pneumatic tyre
|
20* |
20 |
20 |
- where any wheel is fitted with either a pneumatic or resilient tyre
|
5* |
5 |
5 |
| Track laying vehicles and motor vehicles drawing one or more trailers any one or more of which is a track laying vehicle: |
|
|
|
- if fitted with springs and resilient material
|
20* |
20 |
20 |
- if not fitted with springs and resilient material or if not fitted with either a pneumatic tyre or resilient tyre
|
5* |
5 |
5 |
Notes for table
- A car derived van is a goods vehicle constructed as a derivation of a car and having a maximum laden weight not exceeding 2t.
- All the limits stated are the maximum permissible for different types of vehicle. Account must be taken of the actual speed limits prescribed over particular roads.
- By virtue of DPP v Holtham (1990) certain recovery vehicles which carry a substantial part of the weight of the broken-down vehicles are deemed to be goods vehicles and must obey at the appropriate limit for goods. vehicles exceeding 7.5t drawing a trailer. These vehicles are still considered to be locomotives for the purpose of calculating the number of trailers that may be drawn.
Download the speed limits chapter of the Yearbook of Road Transport Law
