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

47 Comments

Kev F

10/6/2016 20:45:19

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 18:04:20

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

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

Gary

5/11/2019 13:21:04

Unless it weighs less than 7.5 tonnes!!!

Chris Graham

14/1/2021 08:54:23

A tractor unit is not constructed so as to carry goods so as a result it is a heavy motor car and not subject to speed restrictions for trucks and HGV's although its stability is suspect and I would advise driving modestly

SteveM

29/9/2017 13:13:22

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.

Graham Newton

24/6/2021 19:51:25

The law's changed HGVs can now 50 mph on a single carriageways

Rick

16/8/2018 06:19:55

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

Roy Joned

17/9/2018 17:35:57

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

Roger Ward link

11/10/2019 22:00:27

I think common sense is required here, a posted speed limit is a limit within a National Speed Limit.

Richierich

27/7/2016 23:30:02

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

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 20:52:42

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 14:49:25

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!

Steve c

3/5/2019 09:46:03

Yes you can

Christine Black

12/8/2019 23:17:36

If a single carriageway sign displaying 50mph then your hgv is limited to 40mph but if a national speed limit sign is displayed cars can do 60mph but your hgv can only do 50mph hope this clears this matter up

stephen campbell

7/11/2017 20:55:06

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 17:49:47

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

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

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 21:26:46

Great buddy :) keep it up

K Abbott

27/6/2018 16:22:11

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 14:54:28

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

Fiddling with a speed limiter is a serious offence.

Tim

12/12/2018 08:26:46

@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 22:19:56

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.

Andrew Jones

26/8/2019 19:35:54

Or maybe not sit in the nearside or middle lane in road works, saying to yourself, he can f off is just dumb, we have 2 lanes only, for Christ's sake, just go in the outside lane. Why run with them when you don't have to.

Deggs

6/1/2019 00:08:31

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

Andy Jones

26/8/2019 19:32:27

Tim, you've obviously never driven one. By far the most dangerous drivers on the road are your average car drivers pissing about with phones in narrow lanes in road works. Absolutely horrendous, they're swerving in and out of lanes, HGV drivers try to avoid them and end up in an accident with an innocent, while the culprit buggers off.

Michael Dalton

24/10/2019 13:58:35

Thanks for making those observations.
When the single carriage speed limit for HGV's was 40mph most HGV's I encountered were being driven at 60mph. The police ignored the speeding thereby being complicit. The Traffic Commissioner's response was to get the speed limit increased.
Oh, and they still drive at 60mph on those rural A and B roads.
I don't blame individual drivers because the Companies that run the lorries are responsible, they see the Tachographs and set the schedules.

Robert K

6/1/2019 20:25:18

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)?

Clive

10/2/2019 02:27:05

The 2 tonne weight only applies to car derived vans over this weight

Roger Ward

18/6/2019 14:50:51

And now perhaps Asda and Tesco HGV drivers will now give us a break and unblock Lincolnshire.

Peter J

14/8/2019 19:01:36

So, what about reduced speed limits on motorways, e.g. through roadworks (M5 Bristol, for example). Are HGV drivers allowed to drive up to the 50mph limit through these areas?
Thanks.

Daniel Satchell

5/9/2019 23:56:38

If you can see the number you can do the limit. This still applies for smart motorways! National speed limits are 10mph less. Simple.

Richard McCarthy

6/9/2019 15:04:59

Hi, just a query for those of you who know about this stuff: when I was a kid, I thought that the national speed limit for carswas 50mph on main roads, 60mph on a dual carriageway and then 70mph on a motorway. Was this just my imagination? or was tis th case prior to 1984, after which it became what it is now?

Many thanks

Rich

Zac Cooper

11/10/2019 18:36:06

When did the 7.5 toner speed restrictions come out

Patricia

12/10/2019 10:22:44

Thank you all for your contributions. Being involved in road safety for children I often wondered what different hazards a lorry driver faces once they cross the border such that they need to reduce their maximum speed (national limits) by 10mph.

If anyone can enlighten me about the logic of advisory speed limits as shown in the Highway Code, I'd be much obliged.

Patricia

11/8/2022 05:57:35

Time flies…and unfortunately I’m no more informed…grateful if anyone could explain as it still confuses me. Many Thanks

Derek

1/7/2020 17:40:21

Some of the silly questions show that many drivers are not competent enough or responsible enough to keep up to date with national driving laws. No wonder people call for regular testing.
I am appalled by the low standard of driving ad particularly those stupid cars who pull in behind a lorry and then find it is only doing 60 and have to pull out again.....not to mention the middle lane morons......Drivers are controlling machines which can kill and which are the biggest risk to your own life...take it seriously and keep up to date ,,,or stop driving

Meredith link

8/12/2020 10:00:23

Nice bllog thanks for posting

Stefan Robert link

13/1/2021 05:32:37

The public speed limit sign is what befuddles such a large number of individuals about the time it was changed to show genuine paces against images for the vehicle classes.

Belinda Northey

1/3/2021 12:41:10

I have a private HGV (a motorhome) - so I presume that I am classed as a goods vehicle - with a revenue weight of 4500kg. I just want to double check the speeds at which I can travel to settle a husband/wife 'disscussion' :-) 30, 50, 60 and 70 - right? Not that I'd be travelling at 70 !!

Hackney Towing link

25/8/2021 19:11:58

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Barking Towing link

26/8/2021 15:13:58

It’s a pleasure for me to know these regulations. Will be sharing this with my boss

Enfield Towing Services link

30/8/2021 14:48:46

Well written and informative. The points are taken seriously. Thanks for posting this!

Towing johnson city link

11/8/2022 05:13:31

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New higher speed limits for lorries in England and Wales

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