Speed Limits
Speed limits are introduced to ensure greater road safety. Measures for influencing the speed of vehicles generally fall into two categories, legislative and physical. Speed limits fall into the first category whereas traffic calming devices would fall into the second.
What are the 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.
Transport type | Built-up areas* | Single carriageways | Dual carriageways | Motorways |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Cars and motorcycles | 30mph | 60mph | 70mph | 70mph |
Cars towing caravans or trailers | 30mph | 50mph | 60mph | 60mph |
Buses and coaches | 30mph | 50mph | 60mph | 70mph |
Good vehicles (less than 7.5 tonnes) | 30mph | 50mph | 60mph | 70mph** |
Good vehicles (more than 7.5 tonnes) | 30mph | 40mph | 50mph | 60mph |
* 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).
** 60mph if articulated or towing a trailer.
|Back to top20mph zones
Why introduce 20mph zones?
Evidence shows that 20mph zones are effective in reducing road collision casualties. A recent Transport for London study found that 20mph zones in London reduced killed and seriously injured casualties by 57 percent and the frequency of injury collisions by 42 percent.
Where are the 20mph zones in Haringey?
- North Tottenham
- North of Philip Lane
- East of Tottenham High Road (near the boundary with Hackney)
- The busy pedestrian area around Wood Green town centre
- Woodlands Park Road area
- The 'Haringey Ladder' residential roads
- Victoria Road area
- St Ann's area
- Crouch End area
Please see the attached files section for a map showing the locations of 20mph zones in Haringey.
|Back to topRaising or lowering speed limits
If you would like a speed limit to be lowered, raised or extended, please contact us. Your request will then be assessed. The police view on a change to a speed limit is important and will be sought. Account should also be taken of the characteristics of the road, such as its alignment, the level of activity alongside the road, the accident record and the degree of severance caused to a community by the speed of vehicles.
In urban areas, speed limits should fit into a rational and easily understood hierarchy if they are to be observed by drivers. Before deciding to change an existing speed limit the Highway Authority must consider all the relevant factors such as:
- expected accident savings
- improvement to the environment
- improvement in amenities
- reduction in public anxiety
- improved facilities for vulnerable road users
- delays to traffic
- costs of implementation and maintenance
- costs of enforcement, especially where the speed limit is regarded as unreasonable by drivers
If it is considered that a change in the speed limit is warranted then a new speed limit Order has to be made. This involves a statutory legal process that takes approximately 9 months to complete.
If the road in question has a system of street lighting on it with no speed limit repeater signs the road is already subject to 30mph and as such the Highway Authority is not permitted to place 30mph repeater signs on it. The system of street lighting in a built up area should be sufficient evidence of 30mph limit.
|Back to topContact us
If you wish to report a vandalised/missing speed limit sign, please use our report a problem page or contact us using the details below.
If you have any comments or queries about speed limits please contact us:
Frontline Services Business Support team
Tel 020 8489 1335
Email frontline@haringey.gov.uk
Attached Files
| Filename | Filetype | Size |
|---|---|---|
Existing 20mph Zones in Haringey  | 604 KB | |
| PDF documents require Adobe Acrobat reader. Please click here to download. | ||
