National Speed Limit

[Cyw2018]

AIBU to remind people that the National speed limit sign does not translate as "free for all" and that an unclassified singletrack road with no pavement is not a "major" road just because it takes you from the end of your driveway to the nearest A road, and that all road users be it pedastirans (with or without dogs), cyclist and horse riders have just as much right as motor vehicle drivers to use these public rights of way safely.

YABU - screw you, I'll drive as fast as a want. That black and white sign is a target for hitting 60mph!!

YANBU - Your right, thanks for the reminder/ Your right, but I knew that already as I'm not a complete bellend!!

YANBU, the speed limit is a limit not a target and all drivers should be driving to suit the particular road and the conditions.

Free for all?

What's that?

Same applies if the single track, bendy road goes to the golf club.

I am a long term city dweller and hate driving on country roads. One of the reasons is precisely this - I think it's crazy that these unlit winding roads are national speed limit roads.

@FoxyTheFox

YANBU, the speed limit is a limit not a target and all drivers should be driving to suit the particular road and the conditions.

Totally agree.

I thought this was going to be raising the NSL on main roads. When people say it’s a limit not a target they should stay off dual carriageways.

On the other hand, anyone who grew up in the country knows not to let it rip on country roads especially when you can’t see what’s around the corner.

@NameChangeSake797

I thought this was going to be raising the NSL on main roads. When people say it’s a limit not a target they should stay off dual carriageways.

On the other hand, anyone who grew up in the country knows not to let it rip on country roads especially when you can’t see what’s around the corner.

True . Problem is people don't all grow up in the country and don't know that.

Case in point - there's a exit off the three lane A3 which is a country road. Narrow lanes; one car only can pass in places. It's NSL for five mins until it hits a row of houses when it's 30mph.

Because of sat navs a lot of people come off now at this junction. They're not "country road" drivers. They just put their foot down in their 2 litre diesel SUV or whatever, and go into blind corners without a care.

Luckily I anticipated just that yesterday. Slowed right down to go around a bend and was met by a charging Kadjar or whatever they're called. Bald bloke in his 40s brakes hard and then starts screaming at me ... I'm not sure why, just for existing on a road he thought he could belt it down?

Guess who reversed of course.. he was probably terrified to scratch the paintwork.

Plenty of country roads are NSL but are completely unsuitable for that speed, under any circumstances.

I also agree that it’s bonkers that winding country roads are NSL.

In order to have a different speed limit on a country road, the road has to be assessed, which takes time and money that councils can't afford right now. Or even afford at the best of times.

So it's NSL, and drivers taking care, or not.

YANBU.

However until motoring crimes are not seen as such and the courts regard them and a driving licence as a privilege I cannot see much changing.

The one change that could have some impact is to tax larger cars, especially those obtained by finance arrangements. I am sure the Chancellor could raise a large amount by this, without penalising the person living in a rural area with a small older car. Probably would have more support than a large hike in fuel duty.

@CounsellorTroi

I also agree that it’s bonkers that winding country roads are NSL.

The problem is judgement.

Country roads should work fine if people used their judgement. Slow in, fast out - only put your foot down when you can actually see what's going on.

The amount of actual "guessing" that goes on in modern driving is terrifying.

Whenever we have something in public life in the UK that relies on judgement you get piss takers, inconsiderate actions and recklessness.

I meant motoring 'offences' seen as the crimes they are.

Ironically failed my driving test for doing 45 on a windy country road as the examiner said it was too slow .

I remember once riding my horse down a windy country road (unavoidable- yard was on that road, no bridle paths)

Could hear a car speeding down the lane so I waited in a driveway- the woman slammed on her breaks as she came out of the corner and saw me and skidded straight past where I would have been.

Then got out of the car to apologise, and I saw she had 3 children in the car. I let rip at her. If I had been a HGV they would all likely have been dead.

You are absolutely not being unreasonable.

When people say it’s a limit not a target they should stay off dual carriageways

Yeah. Right.

@BlackberrySky

I am a long term city dweller and hate driving on country roads. One of the reasons is precisely this - I think it's crazy that these unlit winding roads are national speed limit roads.

Why? Cars have headlights and often the roads - especially once you know them - are perfectly fine to drive at 60mph on.

A rural road near me had the speed limit reduced from NSL to 50mph along most of its length, because some drivers seemed not to understand the principle of driving at a speed that enables you to stop within the distance you can see to be clear.

Now a significant minority of people drive along it at 30, even along the dead straight sections. On Friday, I did all 7 miles of it at 28mph, because of one such, and every time we got to a straight, there was oncoming traffic. So frustrating.

I sometimes wonder if they have poor eyesight and misread the 5 on the speed limit signs for a 3.

It’s not the speed limit that’s the issue though: it’s the driving! There can be stretches on rural B roads where it’s fine to go close to NSL, and stretches where it’s dangerously negligent and utterly wrong to try it. We (as drivers) shouldn’t need to be told what is and isn’t an acceptable speed, should have adequate judgement to decide for ourselves.
It staggers next how many people drive over the opposite side of the road around corners, just so so dangerous. Same for those who don’t think to slow down when the road narrows for (eg) a bridge.

Drive for the road, not the speed limit.

Narrow road outside a school at 3pm? 30 not appropriate, even if it's the limit

Motorway in fog? 70 not appropriate

Single track country road? Lots of bends? 60 not appropriate.

I sort of blame sat navs and route planners. They say these country lanes are shortcuts. They aren't.

When people say it’s a limit not a target they should stay off dual carriageways

I was the poster who said its a limit not a target. I do just fine on the dual carriageway, thanks, and I also manage to not drive like a dick on country roads. It isn't either/or.

It is an issue I am quite sensitive about. After i bought my DD home from hospital (24hour stay) we had lunch then went straight out for a walk from our front door. This was along a different single track NSL road to the one I was on this morning. I had DD in a front carrier wrap and DH had our dog on a lead. A local boy racer who is renowned for driving like an idiot came flying around a blind bend, if we had been 20m further along the road he would have wiped out my entire family including my day old DD. 3 years later it is still a memory I struggle with.

Us and our neighbours all hope the council don't rush to fill in the pot holes each spring, they act as a natural traffic calming measure!!

When people say it’s a limit not a target they should stay off dual carriageways.

Yesterday there were restrictions to certain vehicles on the dual carriageway bridge near me, due to high winds. The high winds also effect the dual carriageway particularly around junctions where the gusts hit harder due to changes in landscaping, thus reducing the safe driving speed.

The speed limit on dual carriageways/motorways is not a target of 70mph and driving to the road, traffic and weather conditions still applies.

A few of the lanes around here have gotten new signage recently with squared off recommended speed signs, so it's still NSL but a recommended maximum of 30/40/50. One particular stretch has a recommended speed of 20, its a bit of a blind bend with various entryways into fields and has had a few accidents.