What's the difference between 70 and national speed limit

The sign with "70" on it refers to kilometers and is for EU harmonisation
purposes.

 

Hi,

On a dual carriageway (proper two+ lane with central reservation, etc) the
speed limit for a bike/cage is 70. Why then do we sometimes see a specific
change to 70 [1] and then back to national speed limit [2]?

I figure it has something to do with lorries/buses only and I'm sure someone
here will tell me...

Cheers.

[1] normal speed limit sign saying 70 [3]
[2] black line through white circle [3]
[3] obviously [4]
[4] just in case there's some confusion

 

Whereas all the 70 signs over here are in mph, specially for us
foreigners.

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When the council get road signs they are either plain white or white with a
red border they then employ a little man to paint the numbers on.

For NSLs it's easier if the man starts with a plain white sign and just
paints a black stripe across it, but if they're out of stock or if they're
on a high shelf or something then he can just use one of the red bordered
ones and paint the numbers on instead.

All makes sense, see?


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The speccy Geordie twat.

 

But why would they then bother with repeaters? Unless some form of sign
jealousy is in order.

 

I can't recall ever seeing a sign like that.... Where have you seen them?
If they are clustered around specific places then that may be a pointer
towards the reasoning for painting '70' signs...

That said, given that well over half of drivers these days seem oblivious to
the fact that the NSL for cars/bikes is 70 on a DC and 60 on a single
carriageway (they seem to think it is 60 & 40 in my experience [1]) maybe
putting the actual number up would hlp...

Dave

[1] qv the 'problem page' in MCN last week "How do I know if a dual
carriageway is 'de-restricted' or a 60 zone?"....

 

A chunk of the A55 near Colwyn Bay [1]. I'd always thought it odd, but this
time [2] I've remembered to find out.

[1] N. Wales
[2] just got back this morning

 

Because it's a special road?

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1990/Uksi_19901586_en_5.htm

 

Ah - it all becomes clear.

 

Also, for more explanation see the last paragraph of this page.

http://www.nwales-traffic.co.uk/english/road/road_users/highways_pages/n
ewtra/glconwy.asp

Amazing what simple googling can produce, isn't it?

 

Kevin Stone says...

It's all irrelevant if you are a Staffordshire copper.

 

The provisions of the 70 miles per hour, 60 miles per hour and 50 miles per
hour (Temporary Speed Limit) Order 1977 as continued indefinitely by the 70
miles per hour, 60 miles per hour and 50 miles per hour (Temporary Speed
Limit) (Continuation) Order 1978 (S.I. 1978/1548) do not apply to special
roads.

Feckin gobbledygook.