Guidance

There are three national speed limits set by government:

• 30 mph limit on street lit roads (also known as 'restricted' roads)
• 60 mph speed limit on single carriageway roads
• 70 mph limit on dual carriageways and motorways

Some vehicles, eg caravans, goods vehicles, buses and coaches have their own speed limits for certain roads.
We can set local speed limits where it is appropriate that a different speed limit should apply to a road. We aren't responsible for speed limits on motorways or trunk roads.

New national guidance was issued in August 2006 for the setting of all local speed limits (ie speed limits other than the relevant national speed limit). We are expected to review speed limits on all our A and B roads, in accordance with this guidance, by 2011.

The national guidelines form the basis of all decisions regarding new speed limits in Buckinghamshire, including any modifications to the new speed limits already in place and new speed limit proposals.

Full details are available in the Department for Transport (DfT) leaflet Circular 01/2006 Setting Local Speed Limits.

Village speed limits

New guidance on village speed limits is incorporated in the 2006 guidance.

It defines a village (for speed limit purposes) as having:

• 20 or more houses
• A minimum length of 600 metres
• An average density of at least 3 houses per 100 metres.

Villages which meet these criteria should have a 30mph speed limit. Where a community is less built up, a 40mph or 50mph limit can be considered.

Speed limits on country lanes

Many country lanes have the national speed limit. This doesn't imply it is safe to drive at 60mph. This is the absolute legal maximum.

On many of these roads drivers are usually already travelling at low speeds due to the type of road. To provide speed limits other than the national speed limit would mean more signs would be needed along these roads. This would be costly, would serve no real purpose and could be seen as a waste of money and environmentally inappropriate.

Setting speed limits

There is a legal process to be followed to ensure they are set up correctly and can be enforced by the police:

• Speed limits are made by Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) and governed by the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (Part VI).
• All relevant parties must be consulted. This includes parish and town councils, road user groups, the emergency services and bus operators.
• Adverts must be placed in local newspapers stating the proposed speed limits for the specific road lengths and other important information.
• Details must also be made available for public inspection, usually in libraries and on the internet.
• An additional advert is needed when the TROs for the speed limits are confirmed.