UK SPEED LIMITS : A Guide to Rule 124

Last updated:

📜 Highway Code Regulation 🚘 Independent revision guide 🌐 Multi-Language Translation Support

🖼️ Official Visual Diagram

Highway Code Rule 124

📖 Rule 124 Full Regulations & Explanation

Rule 124 ↗
You MUST NOT exceed the maximum speed limits for the road and for your vehicle (see the table below). A speed limit of 30 mph (48 km/h), or 20mph (32km/h) in Wales, generally applies to all roads with street lights (excluding motorways) unless signs show otherwise.

Speed limits
Speed Limits Built-up areas, England, Scotland Built up areas, Wales Single carriageways Dual carriageways Motorways
Type of vehicle mph (km/h) mph (km/h) mph (km/h) mph (km/h) mph (km/h)
Cars & motorcycles (including car derived vans up to 2 tonnes maximum laden weight) 30 (48) 20 (32) 60 (96) 70 (112) 70 (112)
Cars towing caravans or trailers (including car derived vans and motorcycles) 30 (48) 20 (32) 50 (80) 60 (96) 60 (96)
Motorhomes or motor caravans (not exceeding 3.05 tonnes maximum unladen weight) 30 (48) 20 (32) 60 (96) 70 (112) 70 (112)
Motorhomes or motor caravans (exceeding 3.05 tonnes maximum unladen weight) 30 (48) 20 (32) 50 (80) 60 (96) 70 (112)
Buses, coaches and minibuses (not exceeding 12 metres in overall length) 30 (48) 20 (32) 50 (80) 60 (96) 70† (112)
Goods vehicles (not exceeding 7.5 tonnes maximum laden weight) 30 (48) 20 (32) 50 (80) 60 (96) 70†† (112)
Goods vehicles (exceeding 7.5 tonnes maximum laden weight) in England and Wales 30 (48) 20 (32) 50 (80) 60 (96) 60 (96)
Goods vehicles (exceeding 7.5 tonnes maximum laden weight) in Scotland 30 (48) 20 (32) 40 (64) 50 (80) 60 (96)
† 60 mph (96 km/h) if exceeding 12 metres in overall length.

†† 60 mph (96 km/h) if articulated or towing a trailer.

For speed limits that apply to special types of vehicles, such as oversized vehicles, see Further reading.

Locally set speed limits may apply, for example

20 mph (32 km/h) in some built-up areas in England and Scotland
30 mph (48 km/h) in some built-up areas in Wales
50 mph (80 km/h) on single carriageways with known hazards
variable speed limit signs are used on some motorways and dual carriageways to change the maximum speed limit.
Speed limits are enforced by the police.

Law RTRA sects 81, 86, 89 & sched 6 as amended by MV(VSL)(E&W), RR(20)O

Text shown in the rule image

UK SPEED LIMITS : A Guide to Rule 124

REGIONAL DEFAULTS & BUILT - UP AREAS

WALES

The standard speed limit is 30 mph ( 48 km / h ) on roads with street lights , unless signs indicate otherwise .

A lower default limit of 20 mph ( 32 km / h ) applies to most roads with street lights in Wales .

ROAD CATEGORY DEFINITIONS : Speed limits increase progressively from built - up areas to single carriageways , dual carriageways , and motorways . : LIMITS BY VEHICLE CATEGORY ACROSS ROAD TYPES

CRITICAL EXCEPTIONS & ENFORCEMENT

VARIABLE SPEED LIMITS: Smart motorways and some dual carriageways use digital signs to change limits based on traffic flow or safety .

LOCAL HAZARD REDUCTIONS

Local authorities may drop limits to 50 mph on single carriageways known for specific hazards .

POLICE ENFORCEMENT: All speed limits are strictly enforced by the police under the Road Traffic Regulation Act ( RTRA ) .