Speed limits

Speed is a significant factor in about one third of road accidents, particularly in urban areas, where speeding vehicles 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 2 categories – legislative and physical. Speed limits fall into the first category, whereas traffic calming devices fall into the second.

Comprehensive information on the speed limits you would expect to come across on the different categories of road is in The Highway Code.

If a road has a system of street lighting on it with no speed limit repeater signs, the road is already subject to 30 mph and as such the highways authority is not permitted to place 30 mph repeater signs on it. The system of street lighting in a built up area should be sufficient evidence of a 30 mph limit.

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 highways authority must consider all these factors:

• 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 a change in the speed limit is warranted, a new speed limit order has to be made. This involves a statutory legal process that takes approximately 9 months to complete.

Speed checks

Accident risk increases the faster a driver travels. At 25% above the average speed, a driver is about 6 times more likely to have an accident than a driver travelling at the average speed.

It has been proved nationally that traffic cameras can reduce the number of road crashes and protect road users by encouraging people to drive more slowly.

When a driver breaks the speed limit, safety cameras detect the offence and provide evidence for a fixed penalty notice. Drivers who exceed the legal speed limits will incur a minimum penalty of £100 and 3 penalty points on their driving licence. Find out more about speeding fines.

Fixed cameras are located where 4 or more fatal or serious injury accidents have occurred in the last 3 years.