Roads - speed limits
Speed is a significant factor in about one third of road
accidents in the United Kingdom. This is particularly so in urban
areas, where speeding vehicles can adversely affect the quality of
life of many communities.
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.
Comprehensive information on the speed limits you would expect
to come across on the different category of road is given in chart
form in The Highway Code.
Getting a speed limit lowered, raised or extended
If you would like a speed limit to be lowered, raised or
extended, please contact us using the details above. 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 nine months to complete.
If you wish to report a vandalised/missing speed limit sign,
please contact us using the details above
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.