Stopped By The Police

Machighlander

My wife was stopped by the police on Thursday 8th September on a small Stretch of Dual Carraigeway just outside Asda in Robroyston, Glasgow. She was doing 44MPH, believeing this to be fine as it was a dual carraigeway and she thought the speed limit was 50. The police told her the limit on that stretch of the road was in fact only 30. There are no speed limit signs on this stretch of road at all, in fact the officer told her that Glasgow council could not afford to put speed signs up on this stretch of road and that the signs are not needed as the lamp posts on this stretch of road are less than 20 metres apart making it an automatic 30 limit. Does anyone know if this is true? and wether she should fight this or just pay the fine? i would have thought it was a 50 as well, i think most people would and the council not being able to afford to put up speed signs seems a poor excuse to me

Thanks for any advice

Mac

sarahg1969

If the speed limit were 50, signage would be required. In a 30, there will be no signage. In fact, repeater signs are prohibited by law. There must, however, be terminal signs at the beginning of the limit.

auroan

+1. No signage and street lights means a 30

WestonDave

Lampposts are a known indicator of a 30mph limit. As above it can't be a 50 limit without regular speed limit signs as 50 is a non standard limit. No signage either means national speed limit (60 or 70) or 30mph - anything else has to have signs. 30mph is the normal speed limit within a built up area with lampposts (presumably there is a spacing requirement) so unless there is signage to say otherwise, this road is automatically a 30. This used to be a nasty trap on driving tests where I live - there used to be a short section of steep downhill dual carriageway with no signage but within the built up area making it a 30 limit. The numbers of people getting done for doing 60 down it was unbelievable.

Incidentally if you get offered a road safety course, this is one of the things they go over to make sure you understand it.

Meepster

I know the road you are talking about, as I was there every week for around 4 months. So i'm presuming you are talking about either Robroyston Road, or Saughs Road.

There is signage when you come off the motorway, stating that it is 30mph. All the other roads that join up with it are either in, or come from residential areas, and are limited to 30mph.

interstellaflyer

sarahg1969 wrote: »

If the speed limit were 50, signage would be required. In a 30, there will be no signage. In fact, repeater signs are prohibited by law. There must, however, be terminal signs at the beginning of the limit.

Nearly true but not quite, there will be no repeater signs in a 30mph where there are street lights, in non lit areas you will find repeater signs, any other speed limit ie 40 or 50 will be backed up by repeater signs regardless of whether there are street lights or not. Basically, if you are within an urban area and there are no signs assume it's a 30mph unless of coarse you are on a motorway.

fivetide

Pay the fine and read the Highway Code + be a bit more observant when driving. Sorry but she's lucky. Speedo hitting 50 in a 30 limit - just daft.

If they do offer a course take it, sounds like she needs it.

5t.

sarahg1969

interstellaflyer wrote: »

Nearly true but not quite, there will be no repeater signs in a 30mph where there are street lights, in non lit areas you will find repeater signs, any other speed limit ie 40 or 50 will be backed up by repeater signs regardless of whether there are street lights or not. Basically, if you are within an urban area and there are no signs assume it's a 30mph unless of coarse you are on a motorway.

Sorry, yes, I meant where there are lights.

Looks like the OP's wife was handed a FPN by the police, so there'll be no SAC.

johnfarquhar74

I know that area rather well and in defence to the OP's wife, it does 'look' like it could be a faster road. Dual carriageway, nice wide pavements with pedestrians well clear of the road and in my experience, the locals regularly drive faster the the 30 limit.
However, if in any doubt with regards to speed limits and town driving, best stick to 30!

pendulum

Wide dual carriageway, big pavements, excellent visibility, 30mph limit... your turn to pay the stealth tax I'm afraid.

Strider590

That's pretty bad actually, the only speed limit signs are as you exit the M way......