New higher speed limits for lorries in England and Wales

17/4/2015

The new regulations in England and Wales for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) over 7.5 tonnes speed limits rise from 40mph to 50mph on single carriageways, and from 50mph to 60mph on dual carriageways.

The national speed limits for HGVs over 7.5 tonnes, travelling on a single carriageway increased from 40mph to 50mph.
The speed limit for HGVs over 7.5 tonnes, travelling on dual carriageways increased from 50mph to 60mph.

The speed limits in Scotland remain the same and European speed limiter requirements also remain unchanged and must be set at 56mph or lower.

Speed limits was changed from 6 April 2015.

Rule 124 of The Highway Code has been updated

Speed limits changed for HGVs

22 Comments

Kev F

10/6/2016 08:45:19 pm

Having spoken to some HGV drivers, there is confusion on the new speed limits introduced in Apr 2015. Can I confirm that a single carriageway signed at 50mph is still a 40mph limit to an HGV and that the 50mph single carriageway rule is only for National speed limit single carriageway roads?

Adam

14/6/2017 06:04:20 pm

Could you tell me if you are traveling tractor unit only ( not pulling a trailer) what is the speed limit in Scotland on a single track road national speed limit ?
Cheers Adam

Rick

16/8/2018 06:17:31 am

A tractor unit without a trailer is still treated as an HGV over 7.5 tonne

SteveM

29/9/2017 01:13:22 pm

As far as I am aware. It is for a single carriageway regardless of markings. It could say 50, 60 or 70. If it's a single carriageway you can only do 40 (HGV) .Unless it's a 30mph limit.

Rick

16/8/2018 06:19:55 am

HGV speed limit in a 50mph limit single carriageway road is 50mph.

Roy Joned

17/9/2018 05:35:57 pm

A posted speed limit is a posted speed limit. Rule only applies to National Speed Limits.

Richierich

27/7/2016 11:30:02 pm

Read what it says.... Roads displaying "national speed limit" and single carriage way are 50mph for HGVs (over 7.5 tonnes)

So by default, the new regs do NOT refer to a single carriage way signed at 50mph

Keith link

2/3/2017 05:54:33 am

Why can't any give a straight answer to the question can a hgv over 7.5 do 50 on a single carriage way if the sign says 50mph .yes or no that's all us drivers want to know .I've spoken to loads and this needs sorting as nobody knows .we know we can do 50 in a national speed limit. None of these Web cites give the answer is there anyone out there that can finally put this to bed for us thousands of drivers .thanks

stephen campbell

7/11/2017 08:52:42 pm

keith, the speed limit HAS NOT changed on single carriageway roads where it is signed speed limit at 50. anyone is legally allowed to go upto a posted speed limit sign on any road, except in scotland. if you are on a single carriageway road where ever in the uk and the posted limit is 50 mph then that is the speed limit for ALL traffic.

it is only the national speed limit roads that has no posted speed limit on them that has changed. even before this change, you were allowed to drive at 50 mph on a single carriageway road that is signed at 50 mph.

Alan

24/7/2018 02:49:25 pm

can a hgv over 7.5 do 50 on a single carriage way if the sign says 50mph .yes or no?
Simple answer is YES!

stephen campbell

7/11/2017 08:55:06 pm

the current speed limits on national speed limit dual carriageway and single carriageway roads are not just for HGV over 7/5t. HGV speed limits are now the same as a transit van that may only weight 2.5t or even a citroen berlingo van that maybe only just over 2 ton.

monty

24/8/2016 05:49:47 pm

the national speed limit sign is the thing that confuses too many people about time it was changed to show real speeds against symbols for the vehicle classes as I am fed up of the 40 mph'ers who have miles of traffic stuck behind them suddenly do 80 as soon as it becomes dual carriageway, vanish over the horizon only to be there blocking the road again as son as it becomes single carriageway

Jeremy H Pritchard

2/8/2017 10:21:41 am

If the sign you refer is vis; (//) THEN, this is an international road traffic sign held in "The 1968 UN Convention on Road Traffic, Signs & Signals", including Amendments to date.

Its Cataloged - Sign C,17a "END OF ALL LOCAL PROHIBITIONS IMPOSED ON MOVING VEHICLES. Wording of the section also references 'restrictions' (to free of). In some countries, its commonly called the speed derestriction sign. Other rules then tell the driver to not drive at dangerous speeds, manner etc. Its design has been around since before 1922, under the old League of Nations. The sign is also used at particular motor sport events, at the end of pit lanes usually - to signal the end of speed restrictons.

The Convention has a similar sign, the C,17b END SPEED-LIMIT sign. This one can fall to say a national speed limit, or 'rural default' - where and however that is set nationally. Unlike the (//), the END speed limit contains numerals within the circle with the same sloping diagonal band, representing the ceasing previous speed-limit, the new limit applying thereafter, would be the aforementioned 'default' (if one is set). C,17b Sign should be used to invoke particular caution in the road ahead, where it has particular hazards; driveways, poor camber or delineation, surface issues, railway crossings etc, where the authority feels it safer to not post a regular speed restriction sign for the area.

Three countries misrepresent the C,17a (//) sign; GB, Australia (coming back in line with Convention) and NZ. The speed derestriction sign must maintain global uniform legal meaning, its use of course, purely optional.

Peter

14/10/2016 12:45:09 pm

Richierich - I am afraid you are wrong; the above reads "the National Speed limits for HGVs ..... tarvelling on a single carriageway increased ..... to 50mph". It does not mention the speed limit for cars. Therefore 50mph signage is irrelevant - HGVs can do 50 on such a road.

Hassaan Pervez link

7/3/2017 09:26:46 pm

Great buddy :) keep it up

K Abbott

27/6/2018 04:22:11 pm

The speed of lorries in the north of the country is more than 60mph on the Motorways, in fact I sometimes have to do just over 70mph to pass them, do they fiddle with the speed limiters. If so, this is illegal.

Alan

24/7/2018 02:54:28 pm

It depends on the type of lorry.
If it is OVER 7.5t then they are restricted in law to 60mph on a motorway.
If it is 7.5t or UNDER then it can do 70mph on a motorway legally.
Fiddling with limiters I am sure is at least frowned upon - not sure on legality though.

Rick

16/8/2018 06:13:49 am

Fiddling with a speed limiter is a serious offence.

Tim

12/12/2018 08:26:46 am

@Alan, not sure on legalities of fiddling with limiters....are you serious? Looking at the sheer number of serious accidents now caused by HGV drivers and the insane decision to raise their speed limits, they should be retested every 12 months, and have much harsher penalties for failure to comply...after all they are incharge of the most lethal weapons on the roads...also, and this is too ALL drivers. The speed limits are the MAXIMUM speed under perfect conditions, so throw in light rain, cold temps (tarmac /tyres lose some grip when cold) and any PROFESSIONAL driver should know they should be travelling significantly below the maximum speed limit...mad as you all may be by my comments, just remember, all every road user wants to do, is simply complete their journey safely...don't be the idiot who ruins that.

Joe Bloggs

29/12/2018 10:19:56 pm

Had an HGV up my ar**, on the M1 before Christmas. HGVs seem to have their speedometers calibrated differently to cars.
If an HGV is 15 feet off my rear bumper I am certain that I can outbrake that HGV in an emergency.
Time for HGVs to be restricted to 56mph again ! Or for more Police Patrols to ensure that HGVs take account of braking distances, especially in the wet.

Deggs

6/1/2019 12:08:31 am

This is true, the Highway Code does say regardless of what the speed sign the weather dictates what speed you do..

Robert K

6/1/2019 08:25:18 pm

I have just bought an electric car with a kerb weight of 2.2t (Due to the amount of batteries!)
Is this car restricted to 60MPH on dual carriageways or is allowed to travel at 70MPH (conditions allowing)?

THE HIGHWAY CODE