Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

Bitumen Boy · Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 8:56 pm Post subject: UK speed limits - interestic pic

An article from the BBC about speed limits - a bit dry, but there is an interesting shot of 3 men working at making the old style road signs;
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-31904471

roverdriver · Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2015 11:00 am Post subject:

Thanks for that link. It is interesting. Can anyone tell me when the 20 mph limit was raised for heavy vehicles, and what was the new speed limit for them?

In Oz each state has its own restrictions. At one time, in Victoria it was 30 mph in built up areas, and 50 mph on the open road, however if you were caught exceeding the 50 and could prove that you were travelling at a safe speed under the circumstances, that was accepted.

When we went to those horrible French measurements, built up areas came to 60 kph, open road 100kph but with some freeways (motorways) 110 kph, but since then lots of residential areas are 50, school areas are 40, and for varying reasons we have 90, 80, and 70 in odd places.
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Dane- roverdriver but not a Viking.

Bitumen Boy · Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2015 7:40 pm Post subject:

roverdriver · Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2015 9:54 am Post subject:

Thanks Bitumen, I had better do some more research to see if an answer can be found.
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Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22807 Location: UK

Rootes75 · Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2015 12:36 pm Post subject:

My understanding is that between 1934 and 1957 lorries with an unladen weight of 2.5 tons or more were limited to 20mph, those under that had a limit of 30mph. The limits were changed under the 'Road Traffic Act 1934' and subsequently under the 'Road Traffic Act 1956'.

My 1950 Commer has the round white on black 20mph plate on the back.