A Guide to Speed Limits in the UK
FixMyCar explains how speed limits work and how they are enforced.
Book a car repair nowEllie Dyer-Brown
Tuesday June 04 2024
8 min read
All public roads have a speed limit. In areas with limited signage, it can be difficult to know how fast you should be going - especially since roads that traditionally had a 30mph limit are being changed to 20mph in some areas.
In this guide, we explain everything you need to know about speed limits in the UK.
What is the national speed limit in the UK?
The national speed limit varies depending on the type of road you are driving on.
What is the speed limit on a motorway?
The speed limit on motorways for cars, vans, motorcycles and dual-purpose vehicles is 70mph. If you’re towing a car, it’s 60mph. However, some stretches of the motorway have variable speed limits - you should always pay attention to road signs telling you what speed you can drive.
What is the speed limit on a dual-carriageway?
You can travel up to 70mph on a dual carriageway road or 60mph if you’re towing.
What is the national speed limit on a single-carriageway road?
On single-carriageways, the speed limit is 60mph. It changes to 50mph if you’re towing.
Table of the national speed limit by road type
| Road type | Speed limit |
|---|---|
| Motorway | 70mph |
| Dual carriageway | 70mph |
| Single carriageway | 60mph |
| Built-up areas | 30mph |
Which sign means the national speed limit applies?
In areas where the national speed limit applies, you’ll see a round white sign with a diagonal solid black stripe across it (pictured below).
When you see this sign, you can follow the national speed limit until you see another sign telling you otherwise.
Built-up areas, towns and villages
In most built-up areas, the speed limit in England and Scotland is 30mph. A good rule of thumb is that if you can see street lights but there are no speed limit signs, you shouldn’t be driving faster than 30mph. In Wales, it’s 20mph.
Local speed limits
Local authorities can set their own speed limits to tackle specific issues. For instance, 20mph speed limits are often introduced near schools to increase safety. These speed limit changes should be clearly signposted.
20mph limits
20mph speed limits are increasingly common in areas with pedestrians or cyclists. Traffic calming measures and signs are usually enough to enforce these limits without intervention from the police. However, police involvement may be considered in areas where drivers frequently disregard the speed limit.
The National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme (NDORS) introduced a speed awareness course in 2013 designed for speeding offences in 20mph zones where offenders could benefit from education.
How is a 30mph speed limit indicated?
When you enter a 30mph zone, you’ll see a round sign with a white background and a solid red circle around the perimeter. The number 30 will be displayed in the middle in black, as shown in the image below.
What does variable speed limit mean?
Variable speed limits are used on smart motorways to improve the traffic flow. You have to pay attention to the overhead signs indicating how the speed limit changes on different stretches of the motorway. It could go from 60mph to 40mph.
You must obey the variable speed limits if they are shown in a red circle because they override the national speed limit. Overhead gantries may be fitted with cameras to catch speeding drivers.
A sign saying “variable speed limit ends” will tell you when you can return to the national speed limit.
How to check speed limits on roads
Relying on your sat nav to tell you the correct speed limit is a bad idea. The data it uses could be outdated, so you shouldn’t depend on it. Instead, look out for signs at the roadside that remind you of the speed limit. These are typically placed 15-20 seconds apart.
However, if you can’t see any speed limit signs, always assume that the national speed limit applies. On single and dual-carriageway roads with street lights, that’s 30mph. You should assume this limit applies even if the road doesn’t seem like it should be a 30 zone.
Another trick is looking for side roads or junctions where the speed limit may change. A 30mph sign at the start of a side road indicates that the road you’re currently driving on isn’t a 30 zone.
Speed limits displayed inside a red circle are enforceable by law; you could be prosecuted if you fail to follow them. If you see a speed limit without a red circle, it’s for guidance only - but it has been put there for a reason.
Minimum speed limits
Minimum speed limits are rare. They are occasionally used in places where going too slowly can cause congestion or a high risk of a crash - tunnels are a good example. Signs indicating a minimum speed limit are blue and circular, with the speed you must follow in the middle. The end of a minimum speed limit is signalled by the same sign with a red diagonal line through it.
How are speed limits in the UK enforced?
Speed limits are in place for a reason. You can be prosecuted for exceeding them - but how are they enforced? Let’s take a closer look.
Penalties for speeding
If you are caught driving faster than the speed limit by a speed camera or the police, you could receive:
A warning
A fine
Points on your licence
A notice to go to court
A speed awareness course
A driving ban
The severity of the penalty depends on where you were driving, how much you exceeded the speed limit and whether you have previous driving-related convictions.
The penalties are much more severe if you cause a crash resulting in a serious injury or death. In England and Wales, the maximum penalty for causing death by dangerous driving is 14 years in prison and/or an unlimited fine.
Ways of deterring and catching speeding drivers
Speed cameras
Speed cameras are used across the country to enforce speed limits. They are cost-effective (especially if the money generated through fines is reinvested in road safety) and efficient, catching far more drivers than police officers with mobile cameras.
There are different kinds of speed cameras:
Average speed cameras
Fixed cameras
Mobile cameras
Learn more about how they work in this guide.
Community initiatives
Community initiatives rely on local volunteers who work with police officers to monitor vehicle speeds. Data about cars that exceed the limit is sent to the police to educate these drivers about the importance of maintaining a safe speed. Drivers who continue to go above the speed limit could be prosecuted.
Frequently asked questions
20mph speed limits are legally enforceable because they are introduced following the agreement of a Speed Regulation Order. They must be indicated by speed signs spaced at regular intervals.
Most speed cameras have a tolerance of 10% plus two miles per hour above the speed limit. So, if you are in a 30mph zone, you won’t receive a speeding ticket unless you travel above 35mph. However, that doesn’t mean you should exceed the speed limit - not all police forces have the same tolerance, and you would still be breaking the law.
Speed limits don’t apply to cyclists on UK roads. They are intended for motor vehicles only.
If there are no speed limit signs, you should assume the national speed limit applies. On single and dual carriageways with street lights, this is 30mph. Another option is to drive at the same speed as the cars around you - but remember that they aren’t necessarily obeying the correct speed limit, so this isn’t a reliable approach.
Motorways in the UK don’t have an official minimum speed limit. The same applies to all roads because you could end up stationary or crawling along due to traffic. You can, however, be pulled over by the police if they believe your slow driving poses a risk to you and other road users. Some tunnels have minimum speed limits for safety purposes.
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Written by Ellie
Ellie is FixMyCar's content manager. She has over three years of experience writing about cars and regularly collaborates with automotive experts to provide trustworthy advice for drivers that is easy understand. Her work has been featured in Yahoo! Finance, iNews, The Daily Express and The Sun. She has a BA in English literature and an MA in creative writing from Durham University. Outside of work, Ellie follows F1 and eagerly awaits Ferrari's next era of dominance in the sport. She drives a Suzuki Swift.