Speed Limits

[Quintus.JC]

So I recived a research task at school asking me to write about the speed limits of other European countries in comparison to the UK; Problem is I don't even know the speed limits for cars in the UK, never mind anywhere else. I've tried to look it up in search engines without much favourable result, probably because I've not looked hard enough. But then I thought I could always ask for help from the cooperative, dependable and couthie orgahs within the guild. So I ask for you help now.

Quoted from the 'Research Study Report'

'Compare the speed limits today for cars in Great Britain with those of two other European countries. Display your finding in the most appropriate way.'

It would be nice if you could give me a few tips on this question as well

Give reasons why there have been changes to speed limits for cars in Great Britain during the last hundred years.

I'll probably start taking driving lessons in the next few years, but before all that, I'm baffled by all that its asking.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Edit: Also I would also like to know who designed the first speed camera. I got the answer Maus Gatsonides but would like some confirmation on that.

[LittleGrizzly]

well they vary ;)

in built up areas it tends to be 30 mph

on motorways it is 70 mph

the national speed limit is 70 mph or 60 mph on a single lane road (1 each way) which covers country lanes and bypasses and the like...

In between 30-70 im sure there some kind of guidelines they set the speed limits based on like sharpness of corners and amount of houses nearby, but i can't think how to describe other speed limits...

[Guildenstern]

This is a link for what concerns the situation in Italy:

http://driving.drive-alive.co.uk/driving-in-italy.htm

The web site also gives some information about driving rules in other European countries. Just have a look at the "Driving in Europe" section on the page I linked.

Hope this helps.

[rasoforos]

In Greece:

Motorway: 130
Fast Road: 110
Normal Roads: 90
Town: 50


Basically they will usually not fine you on a 130km piece of highway unless you go above 145-150...

...I was doing 154 :(

[Omanes Alexandrapolites]

UK usually:
EDIT: Optional 20 mph near some schools.
20 mph in some really built up often really small streets
30 mph in built up areas
40 mph in less built up areas (e.g. where houses are only on one side of the road or the houses are well spaced apart). Also occasionally on other roads close to dangerous junctions.
50 mph on dangerous pieces of single carriage roads. This also occasionally applies to motorways/dual carriageway roads as they enter a city.
60 mph on standard single carriage way roads and most areas of dual carriageway.
70 mph on most areas of motorway (although the average speed of most cars on most motorways is at a guess about 80 mph. In the inside lane it is probably well over that)

Motorway roads are Ax (M) and Mx roads where x refers to a number. Dual carriage roads are usually Ax and single carriage are usually Ax or Bx.

[PBI]

In some towns the limit is reduced to 20mph near schools, also the nominal national speed limit on dual carriageways is 70mph (although it is typically lower than this).

[Andres]

Belgium:

* 50 km/h in urban areas, but brought down to 30 km/h near schools. Sometimes also in certain urban areas for reasons beyond the comprehension of mere mortals.
* 90 km/h on other roads, but often brought back to 70 km/h for reasons beyond the comprehension of mere mortals.
* 120 km/h on the highway, unless pollution in the air is high ("smog"), then it's 90 km/h, politicians say it helps, scientists say it doesn't. Mere mortals stick to the speed limit or get fined.

Trucks are not allowed to go faster than 90 km/h on highways.

Your vehicle must be able to do 70 km/h when you go on the highway.

[HoreTore]

we have two different speed limits in Norway:

In urban areas: 50 km/h
In non-urban areas: 80 km/h

Those are the basic ones. If there are other limits, then it's because of road standards, dense population, lots of accidents in the past, etc. You've got every decimal from 30 to 100(which is the maximum). Usually it's because of the following:

25/30: very dense urban areas, typically with narrow streets, no side-walk for pedestrians, lots of children, etc
40: usually in urban areas without a side-walk. Also usual in city centres.
60: much used on main roads going through cities.
70: usually on accident-prone non-urban roads. Ie. ones with lots of sharp turns, etc.
90: Used on Highways. The two directions have to be separated with barriers.
100. Used on Highways. The two directions have to be separated with major barriers, typically a 5-10 metre ditch, anything that makes it impossible for a car to end up in the wrong side of the road.