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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to drive at 70mph on this road?

114 replies

georgeisadinosaur · 10/05/2018 18:27

Rubbish diagram attached.

A road near me that I regularly use, has two lanes on one side but only one lane on the opposite (to go other way).

I have always driven (up to) 70mph on the left side, but 60mph on the right side. Was driving with a friend earlier who was shocked and said she only drives 60 both sides as it isn't a dual carriageway without two lanes on both sides of the central reservation?

Am I wrong??

OP posts:

Kocerhan3 · 10/05/2018 18:53

A dual carriageway has to have a physical barrier between them. If you rolled a ball across the road, would it hit and stop at something in the middle? If yes, it's a dual carriageway. If no, it's not. From there, Highway Code applies

blueskyinmarch · 10/05/2018 18:53

If it has a barrier i would say you are good to go at 70. The A9 in Scotland has loads of bits of road like that. It is normal 60 limit road then there will be a bit where it turns 2 lane and you can go faster, up to 70 (and get past pesky caravans) but the side going the opposite way isn't always dual carriage way too.

Dahlietta · 10/05/2018 18:53

It sounds like it's a dual carriageway if there really is a metal barrier. Either way, the speed limit is the same on both sides: 60mph if it's not got a central reservation; 70mph if it has.

IWantMyHatBack · 10/05/2018 18:57

"National speed limit IS 60"

No its not.

RatRolyPoly · 10/05/2018 18:59

"When you enter an area that is signed by a diagonal black stripe on a white background, you are driving under national speed limit restrictions. For most vehicles this will mean 60mph on single carriageway roads and 70mph on dual carriageway roads. It is also 70mph on the motorway network unless otherwise indicated."

a9road.info/safety-statistics/speed-limit-information/

OP's not an idiot.

Bekabeech · 10/05/2018 19:02

The A9 in Scotland has loads of bits of road like that. It is normal 60 limit road then there will be a bit where it turns 2 lane and you can go faster, up to 70 (and get past pesky caravans) but the side going the opposite way isn't always dual carriage way too.

Wrong if there is more than paint separating the carriageways it is dual carriageway - on both sides.
If its just paint it isn't.

toomanydicksonthedancefloor1 · 10/05/2018 19:02

Just done a speed awareness course ☹️.

National speed limit varies on type of road. A dual carriageway is NOT defined by the number of lanes, it can be just one lane each side. It's defined as having a physical barrier (not just markings). So the analogy about rolling a tennis ball is a really good one!

And the national speed limit for a dual carriageway (ie one with a central physical barrier) is most definitely 70mph. National speed limit for a single carriageway is 60mph (if no signs telling you otherwise and no streetlights in a sequence of 3 or more).

toomanydicksonthedancefloor1 · 10/05/2018 19:04

I would say the limit is 70 on BOTH sides.

blueskyinmarch · 10/05/2018 19:06

Bekabeech. The A9 bits like that have a physical barrier and those bits are definitely 70. Absolutely 100%!

TheMobileSiteMadeMeSignup · 10/05/2018 19:09

We have a road like that near us. Two lanes going up hill, one lane down. Nothing but solid painted lines separating the down lane from the ups so the up lanes are 60mph as its a single carriageway.

After a roundabout there is a metal barrier and central reservation along so dual carriageway 70mph.

Original poster

georgeisadinosaur · 10/05/2018 19:18

But "national speed limit" is not defined, I don't mean that means any speed is fine but national speed limit on a motorway/single/dual carriage way are different so not a "set" limit of say 60/70 ot whatever.

OP posts:

myhousesmellsofIKEA · 10/05/2018 19:20

Ah OP, if there’s a metal barrier separating the lanes, then you’re right to go at 70mph.

CowbellPopular · 10/05/2018 19:20

Just turn on your GPS when you're driving down that road and it will tell you what the speed limit is on that particular section.

Gynaegirl · 10/05/2018 19:21

Asking my DH, he's a highway engineer, he's quoting The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 Schedule 1. Which contains definitions of various highway terms, including the definition of a dual carriageway and a central reservation. Good luck if you want to read it, it's incredibly complicated !! Basically the speed limit on each side of the road has to be the same, either 60 or 70. What is the name/ number of the road?

crazycoconut · 10/05/2018 19:23

If there's a central reservation then the speed limit on both sides of the road is 70mph. A dual carriageway is defined by the presence of a central reservation not by the number of lanes.

AJPTaylor · 10/05/2018 19:26

Isnt national speed limit 60 and 70 on a dual carraigeway?

MereDintofPandiculation · 10/05/2018 19:27

Am I wrong?? You're wrong. The speed limit on both sides will be the same. So you're completely wrong thinking it could have one speed limit in one direction and a different speed limit in the other direction.

The number of lanes has nothing to do with speed limits. It is possible to have a road with a single lane in each direction and a central barrier, meaning it has a 70mph speed limit.

Gynaegirl · 10/05/2018 19:30

The national speed limit is dependent on what type of vehicle is being driven and on what kind of carriageway.

DragonsAndCakes · 10/05/2018 19:36

I find it scary that some people think the national speed limit means 60 on all roads.

TroubledLichen · 10/05/2018 19:40

Oh FFS the OP is not saying that she doesn’t know what the national speed limit it, surely it’s beyond obvious that by ‘not defined’ she meant it can be either 60 or 70.

My understanding is that it would be 70 in both directions because it’s the central reservation that makes it a dual carriageway rather than the number of lanes. So you and your friend are both wrong. That’s also assuming you’re both driving regular cars and not HGVs since you don’t mention being a lorry driver.

CakeMakesEverythingBetter · 10/05/2018 19:54

The national speed limit is dependent on what type of vehicle is being driven and on what kind of carriageway.

Plus whether the vehicle is towing anything. The national speed limit for those pesky caravans is lower. Pesky caravanner here

higgyyellow · 10/05/2018 20:29

Oh FFS the OP is not saying that she doesn’t know what the national speed limit it, surely it’s beyond obvious that by ‘not defined’ she meant it can be either 60 or 70.

The Whole post is about how she doesn't know what the national speed limit is for that road. So that is exactly what she is saying.

NoodlesLivesHere · 10/05/2018 20:37

This is exactly why we shouldn't have a 'national speed limit applies' sign. It's open to interpretation by those who don't know the highway code meaning some will drive too fast/aggressively thinking it's actually a faster road than it should be. We should just have the big red circle with a number. No ambiguity then.

I also think little winding country roads should be no more than 40mph unless there's enough room to paint a dividing line to separate two full lanes jumps off soapbox because no one really cares

BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou · 10/05/2018 20:43

“National speed limit IS 60”

No it’s not!

higgyyellow · 10/05/2018 20:52

This is exactly why we shouldn't have a 'national speed limit applies' sign. It's open to interpretation by those who don't know the highway code

Not really. People should know this if they are driving on the roads. There should no interpretation about it.

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