UK Speed Limits - A Guide To Driving At The Correct Speed

You should always keep your speed below the maximum speed limit for the road you are driving on. Although you are not legally obliged to drive at the maximum speed limit, if it is safe to do, you should try and drive at a speed that at least approaches it for instance in a 40mph zone your speed should be between 35 and 40mph.

Driving too slowly can be as dangerous as driving too fast. The driver who toddles along a 60mph road at 40mph causes tailbacks and frustration. This can lead to dangerous overtaking manoeuvres and other road safety issues.

Speed in itself is not that dangerous, inappropriate speed is. Always take into account the weather and road conditions. Driving at 60mph, even though you are legally entitled to do so when there is ice on the road is a stupid and dangerous thing to do. It would be inappropriate as would driving at 40mph on a dual carriageway when the weather is fine.

The general speed limit rules for cars are:

For built-up urban roads with street lighting the national speed limit is 30 mph.

For single carriageway roads the national speed limit is 60mph.

For dual carriageways and motorways the national speed limit is 70mph.

These speed limits apply at all times, whether during the rush hour or the dead of night and are overridden only if a road sign indicates a different speed limit for instance it is not uncommon to have a speed limit of 40mph on a road with street lighting.

Minimum Speed Limits

The table below shows the national speed limits for different vehicles on different types of road.

The Correct Gears You Should Use

1st gear - for speeds between 0 and 10mph

2nd gear - for speeds between 10 and 20mph

3rd gear - for speeds between 20 and 30mph

4th gear - for speeds between 30 and 40mph

5th gear - for speeds over 40mph

Stopping Distances

The speed at which you are traveling

The thinking distance - the time it takes you to think about stopping and hit the brakes.

The braking distance - the time it takes for the car to come to a stop after you have applied the brakes.

The weather conditions - dry roads mean shorter braking distances, wet and icy mean longer braking distances.

The below diagram shows overall stopping distances at a variety of speeds when the road surface is dry. If the road was wet the stopping distance would be twice the distance, on icy roads the stopping distance would be ten times as great.