Quizzes & Puzzles3 mins ago
National speed limit sign.
http://www.shiresmt.co.uk/images/national%20speed%20limit%20sign.gif
What is the point of it? Yes, I know I SHOULD know what the national speed limit is for a dual carridgeway in a built up area, etc., but I don't. Why don't they just put up a sign telling you what the actual speed limit is?
And don't get me started on why there are never speed signs near speed cameras, causing everyone to slow to 30 in a 40 zone!
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Buses: 50mph
Lorries up to 7.5 tonnes 50mph
Lorries over 7.5 tonnes: 40mph
The limits are 10mph faster in each category when driving on dual carriageways. In addition buses and lorries up to 7.5 tonnes can travel at 70mph on motorways and heavy lorries at 60mph.
So you see, MsBadely, the sign means different things to different drivers in different places!
Same goes for speed limit signs near speed cameras. A good driver would know the speed limit of that road (since it would have said somewhere; either when joining that road, or on the road itself, as a small sign), and would not be exceeding it.
People tend to lose their "smilies", MsBadely, when they learn that there are people driving about who cannot absorb one of the most important rules of driving.
Furthermore, there are not a "few people who drive specialist vehicles". If you look around you you will see that the "non-car" vehicles makes up a sizeable proportion of the traffic on many roads. Why should the drivers of those vehicles be expected to remember that they cannot travel at the advertised speed limit, but a similar burden (to translate the national speed limit sign into 60 or 70mph) is too great for you?
JudgeJ - So I'm to remember what others don't have to?
Kerplunk - Did you read my email? Nowhere does it say I don't know what road signs mean. I do. I even know most, but not all, of the national speed limits, but it's not always easy to tell if you are in a 'built up area'.
I will be happy to post my route to work though, so you can all save your lives by staying off the roads while I'm around.
Jeez, talk about a circle jerk.
No, MsBadely, I’m not suggesting that you have to remember what others don’t have to. All I’m suggesting is that you remember what you have to – in common with all other competent drivers whatever and wherever they are driving.
A knowledge of other aspects of the National Speed Limit is required as part of the competence to drive. This is because (a) you should be aware of the speeds that other types of vehicles are limited to when you encounter them whilst driving and (b) because you can drive vehicles which are subject to a different speed limit even under your “non-specialist” car licence. For example you can tow a trailer and thus be subject to lower limits.
Your original question was what is the point of the “National Speed Limit” sign to which you provided a link. You asked why a sign showing the actual speed limit was not displayed instead. I think it has been adequately explained to you by me and others why this is not so. Whether you accept those explanations or not is up to you, but I (and many others, it seems) think the sign makes perfect sense.
In your last post you begin to cloud the issue by saying “it is not always easy to tell if you are in a built up area”. This has nothing to do with your original question. Nonetheless since it may help you either avoid prosecution or, more importantly, avoid killing someone, here’s a brief explanation. In most built up areas, towns and villages, etc., the speed limit is 30 mph. Effectively this speed limit is in force wherever there are lamp posts. Where the speed limit exceeds 30 mph, there will be 'repeater' signs reminding you of the higher limit. In some villages there will be no street lighting - hence no lamp posts. In these situations the 30 mph speed limit will be posted with regular repeater signs.
It really is not that difficult.