RWS Driver Training

Traffic lights and stop lines…. Do you think this would be a driving test fail?

Experts recommend you should change your tyres when they reach a minimum of 3mm of tread yet the legal minimum is 1.6mm. What are your thoughts?

Here’s a useful tip if you’re struggling with road positioning and keep getting too close to the left. Give it a go and see how you get on.

I often hear the question how on earth could this be a national speed limit road? How could the speed limit be 60 here?

Well, my initial response would always be that’s it’s a limit not a target… But, it does beg the question, why do we have national speed limit roads?

For those who are interested, here’s a brief history surrounding national speed limit roads..

1865: The Red Flag Act: Imposed a maximum speed of 4 mph in open country and 2 mph in towns, requiring a person to walk in front of the vehicle carrying a red flag.

1903: Motor Car Act: Raised the national speed limit to 20 mph and introduced mandatory vehicle registration.

1930: All numerical speed limits for cars were abolished because earlier limits (such as 20 mph) were widely ignored. For a few years, the countryside had no speed limit (sound familiar?)

1934: The UK introduced its first modern, speed limit system. 30 mph in built-up areas. Outside of these areas, roads remained entirely unrestricted.

1965: A “temporary” 70 mph maximum speed limit was introduced on all previously unrestricted roads, including motorways, in response to multiple crashes and fatalities.

1977: The government finalised the rules still used today. The National Speed Limit became a tiered system depending on the type of road: 70 mph on dual carriageways and motorways, and 60 mph on single carriageway roads.

The well known circular white sign with a black diagonal stripe was originally used as a “derestriction” sign. When the government introduced the national 70 mph and 60 mph caps, they simply redefined the meaning of this existing sign rather than replacing thousands of them across the country.

So there you have it, that is why we have national speed limits.

Remember, it’s a limit not a target!