Advisory speed limit?

AdrianC

Supersonos wrote: »

Can anyone help AdrianC with his question?

Was that a rhetorical question, because...?

SHAFT

Supersonos wrote: »

But if in a red circle, it's mandatory.

I figured, as I was driving along there at about 11pm, it was pretty unlikely the school would be open, so I drove at 30mph.

But I have no idea if I was breaking the limit as I didn't really know what the limit was. If 20 is advisory, what is the mandatory limit?

Only if there's a TRO in place.

Supersonos

SHAFT wrote: »

Only if there's a TRO in place.

I've Googled "TRO" but it's not offering anything that would be in reference to a 20 limit. Unless "temporary restraining order" somehow has something to do with speed limits?

Car_54

Supersonos wrote: »

I've Googled "TRO" but it's not offering anything that would be in reference to a 20 limit. Unless "temporary restraining order" somehow has something to do with speed limits?

Traffic Regulation Order. Needed for any change from the default limits.

Supersonos

Car_54 wrote: »

Traffic Regulation Order. Needed for any change from the default limits.

So I always thought a speed limit in a red circle was a mandatory limit, but you're telling me that 20 in a red circle is not mandatory unless there is also a "traffic regulation order" in place? How am I supposed to know this?

All I can find in the highway code is:

Local councils can set their own speed limits in certain areas, and these must be clearly signed. For example: 20 mph zone in a built-up area near a school

I can't see any mention of the need for a "TRO".

And how are drivers meant to know that 20mph is not mandatory unless it is mandatory?

molerat

Supersonos wrote: »

So I always thought a speed limit in a red circle was a mandatory limit, but you're telling me that 20 in a red circle is not mandatory unless there is also a "traffic regulation order" in place? How am I supposed to know this?

All I can find in the highway code is:

Local councils can set their own speed limits in certain areas, and these must be clearly signed. For example: 20 mph zone in a built-up area near a school

I can't see any mention of the need for a "TRO".

And how are drivers meant to know that 20mph is not mandatory unless it is mandatory?

That is the whole problem. Councils cannot just go round sticking up random speed limit signs on a whim, they need the legal framework of a TRO to enforce them. The problem is that many council departments think they can do what they please.

Scrapit

Still_Dave wrote: »

The advisory on that bend tells you something important if you are in an old transit on cross-ply tyres and it’s a bit damp.

If you are in a mid-engined 800kg sports car on warm modern rubber and you can stop in the distance that you can see to be clear then they are an irrelevance.

I honestly can’t understand drivers that don’t understand how the car and the conditions matter. They tend to be the ones that drive at 70mph in fog in my experience.

You got away with it, no more, no less. You wouldn't be the first to loose it there, sadly there isn't much room for mistakes the other slip is immediately adjacent to that. I know I've put all sorts of plant over that section of road, let's hope people like me make a good job of taking the mud off the road afterwards otherwise people like you get to explore the limits of their grip on clay.

Scrapit

Supersonos wrote: »

So I always thought a speed limit in a red circle was a mandatory limit, but you're telling me that 20 in a red circle is not mandatory unless there is also a "traffic regulation order" in place? How am I supposed to know this?

All I can find in the highway code is:

Local councils can set their own speed limits in certain areas, and these must be clearly signed. For example: 20 mph zone in a built-up area near a school

I can't see any mention of the need for a "TRO".

And how are drivers meant to know that 20mph is not mandatory unless it is mandatory?

Stick to the limit posted and it's never ever gonna be a problem. Or you can continue to decide what limits you feel are appropriate. See how that pans out.

Car_54

Supersonos wrote: »

So I always thought a speed limit in a red circle was a mandatory limit, but you're telling me that 20 in a red circle is not mandatory unless there is also a "traffic regulation order" in place? How am I supposed to know this?

You can't: at least not when you come across such a sign at the roadside, so you have to obey it. In practice, it would be very unusual for a council to put up speed limit signs without a TRO, but mistakes do happen.


The sign which puzzled the OP is bizarre. I suspect it is indeed advisory and the sign is just a c**k-up.

unforeseen

https://mocktheorytest.com/resources/school-safety-zones/ explains this sign and variations.

The speed limit is ADVISORY.

I am guessing that they are relying on people's ignorance of these signs and acting on a speed with a red border being mandatory.