minimum speed limit in uk

[Mo Harvey]

minimum speed limit on motorways in england

[Pollyfrance]

I cannot find a minimum speed limit for driving in the UK, but there are offences that would cover driving too slow - dangerous driving, causing an obstruction, driving without due care and attention etc

[ursula62]

minimum speed is 30mph on a UK motorway (unless otherwise directed by road signs e.g. for roadworks or lane closures).

[Narolines]

Where did you find that info, Ursula?  According to the most recent Highway Code (at least I think it's the most recent) there is no minimum speed limit anywhere in the UK.  Ireland has a minimum speed limit on expressways, apparently, but not the UK.  I've never been aware of there being a minimum speed limit on any UK road.

[Grunty]

There are minimum speed limits, and the Highway Code shows the sign (blue with white numbers), but there is no minimum speed limit covering all motorways.  There is, however, a law that bans certain slow-moving vehicles from motorways.

[ursula62]

Was told it by a driving instructor.  Couldn't find it in my highway code either!

[kempie]

There is not, as yet, a legally enforced minimum speed limit on mainland UK motorways, even though there are many anecdotal reports of traffic police informing motorway drivers that the minimum speed limit was 30mph. However, driving at a speed far below that of the prevailing traffic flow could be deemed as potentially dangerous, for which you could be charged.

[spudqueen]

10Clarionst, you're right, there's a minimum speed limit on the Mersey tunnels.

[Narolines]

I was going to ask where anyone had seen one of these blue minimum speed signs; I've seen them in various countries on the continent, but never here, and I travel a lot of motorway miles.  I even kept a special lookout yesterday all the way down the M40 and back!  Never been through the Mersey Tunnel........and I can't recall offhand any other motorway tunnel in this country having a minimum limit.

[kempie]

It should be pointed out that the Mersey Tunnel (Kingsway) is not part of a motorway since it is 2 miles beyond Junction 1 of the M53.

[david1leigh]

I think that a minimum speed of 50 mph should be introduced on motorways. Some people drive at 30 and are a danger to themselves and other road users.

Coming up behind someone doing 30 when you are doing 70 means hard braking if you cannot change lanes. Cars behind must then brake hard.

[WolfDancer]

Interesting, the police on the M4 in wales have told Fuel Protesters that they must drive at a minimum of 40mph.

I also thought that there was a minimum of 30mph on uk motorways

[JudgeJ]

In good road conditions it should take you no more than 80 yards (73m) to reduce your speed from 70mph to 30 mph. Most motorways are fairly straight and fairly level - there are few blind spots.

If you “come up behind someone” who is doing 40mph less than you on a motorway and you do not notice them well before they are 80 yards away, you need to consider whether your motorway driving technique is good enough to accommodate the vagaries of other road users. The overriding requirement is that you drive so that you can safely stop within the distance that you can see as being free of obstruction. No, I know few people do so, but that is the principle cause of many accidents.

But, back to the question, minimum speed limits only apply where the signs which have been mentioned are displayed. There is no blanket minimum speed limit in the UK.

[kempie]

With regard to the M4 fuel protesters being instructed to travel at a minimum of 40mph, this is an order under Section 12 of the Public Order Act 1986, which allows the police to regulate public processions, and is unrelated to the Road Traffic Act(s) or any other legal instrument governing highway and vehicle usage.

[andrewlee]

I passed my test 30 years ago when I was 17, and have never seen a minimum speed limit sign.   Apart from the Mersey Tunnel, are  there any displayed elsewhere?

As for minimum speeds, I agree slow moving vehicles can be an enormous hazard;   I recently came across a tractor on the A1 doing 20-ish mph on a dual carriageway where the speed limit is 70.   This is a potential accident waiting to happen as cars slow down suddenly, and then pull out into the outside lane.   Not all drivers are observant or even particularly competent, especially when looking ahead is concerned, and we need to make safety provision to accommodate the worst case not best case scenario.

(I would ban tractors from all roads, but that's another rant for another day!!)

[kempie]

andrewlee - the only other posted minimum speed limit I am aware of is on the A12 approach to the Dartford Tunnel - pic. I would also be interested to hear of any others.

[netibiza]

In case any of you come to Spain there is a min speed limit on motorways of 60kph and a max of 120kph.

[Alltorque]

Kempie is correct; the Dartford tunnels do have min speed limits but, like the QEII (Dartford) bridge they are not part of the M25. They are an "A" road and the M25 is not a complete loop..........good for a quiz night, perhaps.

[gemmabe]

I failed my driving test recently for driving 40mph in a 60 zone!