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  Q. What is the speed limit for motorways?
Q. What are matrix signs?
Q. Are the speed limits on matrix signs obligatory?
Q. I often travel on the motorway and see these signs illuminated but when I travel further they are cancelled without there having been a cause for them being on.
Q. What if I break down on the motorway?
Q. How long can I leave my car on the motorway while I arrange a breakdown?
Q. Can I be towed off by a friend or relative?
Q. Can I tow in the right-hand lane?
Q. What vehicles are banned from using the 3rd lane of a 3 lane motorway?
Q. Are there any exceptions to this rule?
Q. Can I stop on the hard-shoulder to answer my mobile?
Q. I rarely see signs banning pedestrians. Are they allowed on motorways?
 
   
   
       
 

 

Q. What is the speed limit for motorways?

A. The motorways of England and Wales have unique laws which are designed specifically for them. The national speed limit for all motorways is 70 mph for cars but this can be decreased if it is deemed appropriate. In this case, signs will be clearly displayed with the lower speed limit shown. When drivers see the national speed limit sign, a white circle with a black diagonal line crossing it, the speed limit would revert to 70 mph. The speed limits for other vehicles are shown on the speeding page.

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Q. What are matrix signs?

A. Matrix signs are the electronic signs you see in the central reservation or on over-head gantries. They warn drivers of hazards ahead or of reduced speed limits etc.

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Q. Are the speed limits on matrix signs obligatory?

A. The speed limit signs on these boards are normally advisory but they would be put there for a reason. If you ignore them and are caught doing so, you could possibly be committing an offence of driving without due care and attention or, depending on the circumstances, dangerous driving. In some areas, the local legislation is such that they have now become mandatory and you could, therefore, be prosecuted for exceeding the speed limit.

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Q. I often travel on the motorway and see these signs illuminated but when I travel further they are cancelled without there having been a cause for them being on.

A. There is always a cause for them even if it doesn't become apparent. If the police receive a report of an obstruction in the carriageway they would normally illuminate the matrix with a reduced speed limit. This is simply to err on the side of safety until a police patrol can search the area and, if necessary, remove the obstruction. You may not have noticed the obstruction or it may have been thrown off the carriageway by a passing vehicle so it would appear that the matrix have been left on for no good reason. Similarly, if the matrix are showing a right hand lane closure it could be because there is an accident in that lane ahead or it could be that the police are assisting the Highways Department with putting out what is called a Chapter 8 lane closure. This is where the lane is closed for maintenance work etc to be carried out. The matrix are placed approximately every 2 miles and so you may have to travel a considerable distance before you actually arrive at this scene. Don't take it for granted that because you may often pass these matrix signs with no obvious cause for them being on, that it will be safe to ignore them in the future. There is always a reason for them.

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Q. What if I break down on the motorway?

A. If you break down on the motorway, you should attempt to drive your vehicle onto the hard shoulder as far to the left as possible. If the vehicle starts to stutter, try to stop near a Police SOS emergency telephone. This telephone is free to use and connects you directly to the Police control room. They would then contact a breakdown service for you or would contact a friend or relative etc to ask them to come out and tow you off. Switch on your hazard warning lights and sidelights if it is dark or in poor visibility. Leave the vehicle by the left-hand door and leave animals in the car. Try not to come to a stop in the carriageway itself. If you do, get out of the car, making sure it is as safe as possible to do so, and , if possible, cross to the hard-shoulder. Make sure the Police are contacted and keep children or animals under close control.

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Q. How long can I leave my car on the motorway while I arrange a breakdown?

A. You can leave a car on the motorway for a maximum of 2 hours. After this time the Police will contact a breakdown service to attend and remove your vehicle. You would be liable for the full cost of this call-out. If you don't inform the police that your car is temporarily on the hard-shoulder when you make your own arrangements to have it removed, any passing patrol car will note the registration number and will normally allow 2 hours from that time for it to be cleared. It will then be subject to the same call-out as mentioned above. The time limit has fallen in some areas to only 30 minutes so beware.

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Q. Can I be towed off by a friend or relative?

A. If your vehicle is capable of being towed safely then you can arrange for a friend or relative to come and tow you with a normal towrope. There is no law against towing on the motorway as long as it is done safely and within the 60 mph speed limit for cars and trailers.

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Q. Can I tow in the right-hand lane?

A. On a motorway with 3 or more lanes, vehicles towing a trailer are not allowed in the right-hand lane. This applies to all trailers, no matter how small, and include such things as jet-skis etc.

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Q. What vehicles are banned from using the 3rd lane of a 3 lane motorway?

A. As I've mentioned above, you are not allowed to tow anything in the right-hand lane of a motorway which has 3 or more lanes in each carriageway. Goods vehicles with a maximum gross weight in excess of 7500kgs are also banned from this lane, as are coaches which have more than 8 seats, apart from the driver's, and have a maximum gross weight in excess of 7500kgs.

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Q. Are there any exceptions to this rule?

A. These vehicles are allowed into the 3rd lane if:
they need to pass an abnormally wide load, which would usually be under Police escort;
if one of the lanes is closed; or
where a 2-lane motorway carriageway merges with another, or with a slip-road, and creates a 3-lane carriageway. In this case the exempted vehicles can stay in the 3rd lane until it is safe and practical for them to cross to Lane 1 or Lane 2.

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Q. Can I stop on the hard-shoulder to answer my mobile?

A. You can only stop on the hard-shoulder of the motorway in emergencies. This does not include having to answer a mobile phone or, strictly speaking, allowing a child to go to the toilet etc. There are service stations quite regularly placed along the motorway and these should be utilised. The reason for this is that a number of serious accidents have occurred when vehicles have collided with stationary vehicles on the hard-shoulder and the consequences are almost always dire. In the night-time your rear lights may give the driver of a vehicle approaching from behind the impression that you are actually on the carriageway and he would naturally follow your path.

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Q. I rarely see signs banning pedestrians. Are they allowed on motorways?

A. On many motorways now the signs prohibiting pedestrians have been removed from the slip-roads but the law is still valid and pedestrians commit an offence if they walk on a motorway. The signs are deemed to be unnecessary because it a standard rule of motorways that pedestrians aren't allowed onto them. How someone who doesn't drive and has therefore not looked at the Highway Code would know this is a minor mystery. Obvious exceptions to this rule are if your vehicle has broken down and you need to walk to a Police SOS telephone, in other such emergencies or if you need to recover an obstruction from the carriageway. If possible, the latter should be left to the Police. They have been properly trained and are covered by insurance!

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