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.

	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.

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Raising or lowering speed limits

If you would like a speed limit to be lowered, raised or extended, please contact us using the details below. 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
• costs of engineering measures and their 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 you wish to report a vandalised/missing speed limit sign, please contact us using the details below.

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.

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Contact us

Frontline Services Business Support team

Tel 020 8489 1335
Email frontline@haringey.gov.uk

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