Can a country (single carriageway) ever be a 70MPH?

Buchanan0204

Buchanan0204

Buchanan0204

Soldato
Joined
10 Jun 2010
Posts
5,158
Location
Scotland
Was debating with an idiot of a friend who claimed the road I was on was a 60MPH... because his TOMTOM said so, bearing in mind it's not been updated for 3 years! He also followed it up by saying majority of the traffic do 60MPH on it. It is in fact a dual carriageway with a central reservation and no signs indicating otherwise that it is any other than 70MPH.

I then tried to explain that all dual carriageways with a central reservation are a 70MPH unless otherwise stated via a sign. I also told him all single carriageways were 60MPH unless otherwise stated. This sparked a huge argument and led him to say not all country roads are 60, some are 70 etc etc. He then gave an example of the dumfries road... coming from Scotland I guess this is the A road leading into it. He claimed it was a 70MPH and he has done 70MPH on it because his tomtom told him too and the police seen him and never stopped him. Anyway...

I'm basically just wanting to rant and also reinforce my sanity that this dumfries road isn't a 70MPH? Also to confirm to myself that a single carriageway can never be a 70MPH in the UK anywhere?

He's a **** driver at the best of times... however this fascinated me to the point of wide eyes and a slack jaw.
 
You're right, but I think it's slightly risky to phrase it in terms of "unless otherwise stated." You shouldn't ever have to be working on an "unless otherwise stated" basis because there should always be a sign and you should always be seeing it. If in doubt, you should be assuming a lower speed, until you have reason to believe it's a higher one that is applicable. I think the only road you can ever be sure of without any signage at all is a motorway.

That's a fairly picky point, though.
 
Vonhelmet said:
You're right, but I think it's slightly risky to phrase it in terms of "unless otherwise stated" You shouldn't ever have to be working on an "unless otherwise stated" basis
Click to expand...

Why not? That is exactly the situation for a dual carriageway.

because there should always be a sign and you should always be seeing it. If in doubt, you should be assuming a lower speed, until you have reason to believe it's a higher one that is applicable.
Click to expand...

So you recommend doing 40 along the A1 for miles and miles looking for a sign to tell you what the highway code clearly says? :p
 
stokecity_m said:
My TomTom said bear left, but it was a horse.
Click to expand...

3fe93852866828850368852abdaf25013dd72d2b7a.png
 
Any "carriageway" is 70MPH providing there is a physical divide between the two roads. It doesn't matter if either side has 1 or 20 lanes, it is still 70MPH.

So yes, a "single carriageway" has the potential to be 70MPH providing it has a barrier. Your friend does qualify as an idiot if there is no barrier between his stated road, and you qualify if there is.
 
I doubt there is a divide between the road, it's a country A road. Usually when the rule is broken then there are a lot of signs warning you it's not the "normal" speed limit.

Loved foxes response! To the point... my kinda person.
 
wingman said:
Any "carriageway" is 70MPH providing there is a physical divide between the two roads. It doesn't matter if either side has 1 or 20 lanes, it is still 70MPH.

So yes, a "single carriageway" has the potential to be 70MPH providing it has a barrier. Your friend does qualify as an idiot if there is no barrier between his stated road, and you qualify if there is.
Click to expand...

You need to look up the definition of a dual carriageway.
 
Please speak to your "idiot of a friend" and find the exact road that is being discussed so we can end this debate. Google Map images would make for exciting times.
 
wingman said:
Any "carriageway" is 70MPH providing there is a physical divide between the two roads. It doesn't matter if either side has 1 or 20 lanes, it is still 70MPH.

So yes, a "single carriageway" has the potential to be 70MPH providing it has a barrier. Your friend does qualify as an idiot if there is no barrier between his stated road, and you qualify if there is.
Click to expand...

Carriageway is not the same as lane. A road with a lane in each direction seperated by a central reservation is a dual carriageway - it has two carriageways, a Northbound and a Southbound (Or East/West, whatevre) carriageway. Each carriageway can have 1, 2, 3 lanes etc.

Do not let the fact the vast majority of dual carriageways have two lanes on each carriageway confuse you into thinking it's related to lane quantity.

It's not.
 
Clarkey said:
You need to look up the definition of a dual carriageway.
Click to expand...

Apologies.

All single "lane" carriageways with a divide qualify for 70MPH. I wasn't aware it was called a dual carriageway regardless of lanes, so long as providing there is a divide.

We just need pictures of the road now.
 
Speed limits are simple.

For all non motorway roads:

If there is a system of street lighting(placed not more than 185meters apart) then its 30mph unless given a HIGHER limit by way of Traffic Order.

If there is no system of lighting then its national speed limit unless given a LOWER limit by way of a traffic order.

National speed limit for a single carriageway is 60mph, 50mph or 40mph depending on your vehicle, but all are National Speed Limit.

National Speed limit for dual carriageway is 70mph, 60mph or 50mph depending on vehicle, but again, all are National Speed Limit and nothing to do with posted limits.

A carriageway can have any number of lanes in either direction, but will always be a single if there is no divider, or dual if there is a divider.

For a road with a system of street lighting, there is no requirement for repeater signs once inside the limit, unless the speed limit is higher than 30mph.

For roads with out street lighting then there is no need for repeaters unless the speed limit is less than national speed limit.

That way, if your driving along a road, and there are no repeater signs, you know it will either be 30mph or national speed limit, just look for street lights.

People really should know this stuff BEFORE they get behind the wheel.
 
Last edited:
It is amazing just how many people don't know the right limits - especially folks who should know better:

A chap on one of the driving instructor forums was failed on his instructor practical driving test with no minors and one serious fault for speeding. An A road he was travelling on diverged into two carriageways, with one lane in each direction. He increased speed to 70mph, and then decreased to 60mph a short distance before the central reservation finished. The examiner stuck to his guns, stated it was still 60mph as there was only a single lane in each direction on this dual carriageway...

After being told he had failed, the candidate complained to the DSA who confirmed that the limit for that road WAS indeed 70mph, and contacted the relevant test centre to inform the examiner for future reference. Unfortunately the candidate lost his £111 test fee, and one of his three goes at the test...

But yes, if there is a central reservation (defined as a section dividing the carriageways constructed of a different material than the road - grass, gravel, mud, but NOT JUST tarmac with paint), the speed limit for the road is 70mph for cars if the NSL applies.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom