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.
 
 National Speed limit roundel
Further guidance for drivers is available in the Department for Transport document 'Speed - Know Your Limits' ( PDF , 76 kb ) >>
 
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.
 
Hampshire County Council has further information about the criteria used to set speed limits on their web site (external link) >>.
 
Enforcement of speed limits on the public highway is the duty of the Police.
Direct Gov UK
Havant Borough Council, Civic Centre Road, Havant, Hampshire PO9 2AX