The A12 Chelmsford to A120 Widening Development Consent Order 2024

Speed limits

15.—(1) On and after the date on which the roads specified in the table in Part 6 (speed limits) of Schedule 3 (classification or roads etc) are open for traffic, no person is to drive any motor vehicle at a speed exceeding the limit in miles per hour specified in column (3) of that table (or the national speed limit where so specified) along the lengths of road identified in the corresponding row of column (2) of that table.

(2) Where the words “national speed limit” appear in column (3) of the table in Part 6 of Schedule 3, on and after the date on which the lengths of road identified in the corresponding row of column (2) of that table are open to traffic the national speed limit will apply to those lengths of roads.

(3) On and after the date on which the roads specified in Part 7 (variable speed limits) of Schedule 3 are open for traffic no person is to drive any motor vehicle on the lengths of road identified in column (2) of that Part at a speed exceeding the lesser of—

(a) the national speed limit (if no limit in miles per hour is indicated by a variable message sign); or

(b) the limit in miles per hour indicated by a speed limit sign displayed on a variable message sign, if one is so indicated.

(4) A section of road is subject to a variable speed limit in relation to a vehicle being driven along it if—

(a) the section of road is identified in column (2) of Part 7 (speed limits) of Schedule 3 as being subject to a variable speed limit in column (3) of that Part;

(b) the vehicle has passed a speed limit sign displayed on a variable message sign; and

(c) the vehicle has not subsequently passed—

(i) another speed limit sign indicating a different speed limit; or

(ii) a traffic sign which indicates that the national speed limit is in force.

(5) For the purposes of paragraph (3)—

(a) the speed limit indicated by a variable message sign is the speed shown at the time the vehicle passes the sign, or, if higher, the speed limit shown by the sign ten seconds before the vehicle passed the sign;

(b) if, ten seconds before the vehicle passed it, no speed limit in miles per hour is indicated by a variable message sign, the national speed limit applies.

(6) On and after the date on which the roads specified in the tables in Parts 6 (speed limits) and 7 (variable speed limits) of Schedule 3 are open for traffic, where the words “Removal of restricted road status” appear in column (3) of those tables, those lengths of road will cease to be restricted roads as if, on that date, a direction had been made under section 82(2)(a) (what roads are restricted roads) of the 1984 Act.

(7) No speed limit imposed by or under this Order applies to vehicles falling within regulation 3(4) of the Road Traffic Exemptions (Special Forces) (Variation and Amendment) Regulations 2011(1) when used in accordance with regulation 3(5) of those Regulations.

(8) The application of paragraphs (1) to (6) may be varied or revoked by any instrument under any enactment which provides for the variation or revocation of such matters, including by an instrument made under the 1984 Act where the matter in question could have been included in an order made under that Act.

(9) In this article—

“national speed limit” has the same meaning as in Schedule 1 to the 2016 Regulations and Directions and a traffic sign which indicates that the national speed limit applies means a traffic sign of the type shown in diagram 671 in Part 2 of Schedule 10 to the 2016 Regulations and Directions which is—

(a)

placed on or near a road; and

(b)

directed at traffic on the carriageway on which the vehicle is being driven,

where “road” includes the adjacent hard shoulder and verge and any lay by;

“speed limit sign” in relation to a vehicle, means a traffic sign of the type shown in diagram 670 in Part 2 of Schedule 10 to the 2016 Regulations and Directions which is—

(a)

situated on or near any part of a road specified in column (2) of the table in Part 1 (speed limits) of Schedule 10 to this Order as being subject to a variable speed in limit in column (3) of that table; and

(b)

directed at traffic on the carriageway on which the vehicle is being driven;

“variable message sign” has the meaning given by Schedule 1 (definitions) to the 2016 Regulations and Directions;

(1)

S.I. 2011/935.