UK Speed Limits
The UK (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) has many speed limits that change from road to road. One moment, you might be driving at a respectable 20mph and the next, 30mph. For example, most school zones that are situated in populated areas are 20mph for safety reasons, even if the road itself is fairly simple. Signs will be displayed in many places so it's important to always keep your eyes on the road.
What are the different speed limits in the UK?
If you are a driver in the UK, then you will notice that there is a range of different speed limits. Some of these different speed limits relate to local roads and motorways, while others are on less populated roads. Certain areas may be limited to a minimum speed. The maximum speed limit is 70 miles per hour. However, this speed limit is only enforced on motorways, dual carriageways, and other major motorways. Other roads will be mostly determined by road conditions, population density and environmental impacts such as curves or bumps.
What is the lowest and highest speed limits in the UK?
The highest speed limit you can drive in the UK is 70mph, which is reserved for motorways only. The reason for the speed limit being so high is because of the pure simplicity of a motorway. It's mostly straight and spacious with low chances of danger. On the other hand, there is no official minimum speed limit however you can still be fined by police for going too slow. Just make sure you're not driving at a sluggish pace and you'll be fine.
What are other speed limits used for and where?
In the United Kingdom, a minor speed restriction is enforced not only on highways but on many other roads as well. Many roads are limited to 40 miles per hour, and some roads are limited to 20 miles per hour depending on conditions listed above. This applies especially to village streets that are local streets and residential streets that are within villages. On these types of roads, you may generally see "no passing" signs posted in rural areas outside towns and cities. There are also a number of roads limited to 20 miles per hour where there is no speed limit at all. These include roads in national parks, and on these roads, you will generally see signs posted that specify the speed limit.
What is a variable speed limit?
A variable speed limit is simply a road with an enforced speed restriction that changes over time. There are many places in the UK where the enforced speed limits change during the day or over the course of weeks as weather conditions change and daylight hours change.
Variable speed limits are used on some motorways in the UK. These can be altered for a number of reasons. The most common reason is bad weather. There may be more fog at a certain time of day than there is at another time. In the UK, fog is a common weather condition, especially in Autumn and Winter. Fog will alter the enforced speed limits on roads.
What are the penalties for driving above the maximum speed limit?
In the UK, speeding is a very common occurrence even though it shouldn't be. Some people do it on purpose and try to avoid getting caught and others do it accidentally and pay the price. In most cases, you will be caught speeding on security cameras, the police, or fellow drivers who report you. If you're caught by a speed camera, expect a "Notice of Prosecution" and "Section 172" notice to yourself.
The minimum penalty you can get for speeding is a £100 fine and 3 points on your licence.
Getting stopped by the police can result in one or more of the following things:
- Receive a verbal warning
- Receive a fine
- Order to go to court
The likelihood of getting each is dependent on how far you went over the speed limit. If you only went over the limit by a few mph, you will likely receive a verbal warning and going 20mph over the limit will result in the other two.
If pleading guilty to speeding charges, you may be offered a speed awareness course which is basically a lesson of what not to do and how to stay safe. The police themselves will decide if this is appropriate for your offence, as long as you have not done the speed awareness course in the past 3 years.
If you go to court and are found guilty, you will see the highest penalties, typically with the maximum being £1,000 (£2,500 for motorways).
Conclusion
Speeding is a common offence that often goes unnoticed, however consistently driving over the limit is dangerous for both you, and other drivers on the road. Not only are you risking your life, but theirs too. Plus, nobody wants points on their licence or a hefty fine do they?
If you're a newly licenced driver, you need to be especially careful since your driving licence can be revolked if you get 6 or more points in the first 2 years.