By-Pass Speed Limits

[Lesleyjoan49]

I have recently been told that there is a speed limit on By-Passes of 60mph even if they are duel carriageways, even when they have the national speed limit signs in place is this correct?

[New Judge]

No.

Where the National Speed Limit sign is displayed the limit for cars is 70mph if the road is a dual carriageway.

If you think about it, how are drivers who may be unfamiliar with the area supposed to know that the road they are on by-passes something or other?

[ojread2]

Does it not depend on how the lanes are separated?

I thought that if they are separated by white lines then the speed limit is 60mph, if there is a central reservation then the limit is 70mph, a dual carriage way must be separated by a central reservation to have a 70mph speed limit.

If I am correct a dual carriage way is only named as such if there is a central reservation. If it is separated by white lines it is still a single carriage way

[Panic Button]

I think you have spotted where the confusion comes from OJ. I have come across this before where someone thinks paint acts as a central reservation.

A dual carriageway must have a physical central reservation.

[Toureman]

Also a dual carriage way with a central reservation only needs to have 1 lane in each direction to be legal at 70 mph.

[New Judge]

Yes, there has to be a physical separation (not a white line) for the road to be classed as a dual carriageway.

However, that was not the issue here. The question was, whether Dual Carriageway "by-passes" are seen any differently from Dual Carriageway "non-by-passes". And the answer is they are not.

[Annlinda]

Our bypass has a 60mph speed limit and yes it is a dual carriageway with a grassed area with crash barriers between the carriageways. How do I know is 60mph? Simple the signs say 60 and the camera will catch you doing over 60

[New Judge]

Yes, annlinda, it has a sign other than the National Speed Limit sign which Lesleyjoan mentioned.

[mushroom25]

leaving carlisle southbound on the A6, as you leave the "30" limit you are confronted by 2 signs:- a "national speed limit" sign, below which is a "50" sign.

how does that work?

[ojread2]

It could be a single lane each way and still be a dual carriage way

Is there a central reservation - that will tell you if it's a dual carriage way or not

[Lesleyjoan49]

Thanks to everyone who answered my question, even though there still seems to be some confusion, I think it answers my question in full. - Thanks once more

[Panic Button]

That must be a mistake mushroom

[Gromit]

And the bit everyone forgets...

...When it is safe to do so.

If you are doing 70 in bad weather you are driving dangerously.

Rule 125 states:

"The speed limit is the absolute maximum and does not mean it is safe to drive at that speed irrespective of conditions. Driving at speeds too fast for the road and traffic conditions is dangerous. You should always reduce your speed when
the road layout or condition presents hazards, such as bends
sharing the road with pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders, particularly children, and motorcyclists
weather conditions make it safer to do so
driving at night as it is more difficult to see other road users