Speed Limits
| Service Deliverer: |
Hampshire County Council |
| Contact: |
Hampshire County Council Highways Team South |
| Telephone No: |
HantsDirect on 0845 603 5633 |
| Address: |
Civic Offices, Civic Way, Fareham PO16 7TY |
| Email: |
roads@hants.gov.uk |
| Details: |
The Borough Council acts as Agent to Hampshire County Council
in some of the processes involved in setting or changing speed
limits. The Police enforce the speed limits.
|
Speed limits are set according to the location and purpose of
the road. In general, in urban areas with street lighting the speed
limit will be 30
mph
. Speed
limits are not 'targets' and they are not 'safe' speeds
for all road conditions. Inappropriate speed is a major factor in
many accidents.
Contrary to 'urban legend', the most economic and fuel efficient
speed to travel at is not 56
mph
but the lowest speed at which the engine is not labouring, which
may be 30-40
mph
on a flat clear
road in highest gear. Each 10
mph
increase in speed can increase fuel
consumption by more than 15%.
Which Speed Limit Applies?
|
Where no other lower speed limit is indicated,
the 'national speed limit' applies (indicated by the
black-on-white roundel shown on the right). This is not a single
speed limit, like '30' or '40', but depends on the vehicle
class - with lower limits for heavy vehicles or those with
trailers. That's why it is a symbol and not a number.
Full details of the various speed limits applicable are
available in Rule 124 in the
Highway Code reproduced below.
|
 |
| Unless a lower limit is shown, the 'national speed limit'
for a road is as follows: |
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.
A strange result of this arrangement is that a goods vehicle
of over 7.5 tonnes laden weight is allowed to travel on a
single carriageway at 50
mph
if
such a limit is posted and it is safe to do so, but only at
40
mph
in areas where the
'national speed limit' applies.
Setting and Monitoring Speed Limits
On receipt of reports of inappropriate speed, Hampshire County
Council will carry out surveys to indicate whether the limit on a
road is appropriate, needs to be changed, or whether more
enforcement is required.
We help drivers adhere to the speed limit by providing
information about speed limits and ensuring limits are correctly
signed. We can set up temporary automated signs to warn drivers if
they are exceeding the speed limit.
Law-abiding drivers who drive within the speed limit have
nothing to fear from speed enforcement. Inappropriate speed is
anti-social and dangerous; the only drivers who need fear
prosecution are those who break the law and in doing so put
themselves and others at risk.
Enforcement of speed limits on the public highway is the duty
of
the Police.