Temporary 20mph speed limit outside schools?

Hi all,

I have my practical test tomorrow morning at 8.40am :/

I have been told that the temp 20mph speed limit outside schools at this time are not compulsory, and only recommended if there are children on the pavements? I have also heard that people have failed their tests for driving at 20mph in these zones when there are no pedestrians around..

Can someone clear this up for me please? thanks :smile:

Reply 1

mountainmetman

14

If the signs are round "normal" speed limit signs with time/useage restrictions on them, treat them as a full speed limit during the times stated, eg 7-10 am, 2-4 pm, or "when lights flash". You shouldn't be failed for driving below the limit, especially if you say something like "school ahead, temporary limit sign in force X, no children visible but I'm expecting one to run out." That should make it difficult for the assessor to find fault.
HtH

Reply 2

warranty-ideal

12

If its not got a red circle around it then its not illegal to disobey it... however... I doubt you'd fail your test for slowing down to 20, and being cautious, you may however fail if you are going too fast for the conditions. A speed limit doesnt mean to travel at that speed, it means travel at a speed factoring all conditions, not exceeding the stated limit.

Reply 3

Ryan

10

Do 20 IMO, outside schools speed is one place that is not suitable.

Reply 4

JC.

19

I suppose you only do 58 past schools then, Ryan. :wink:

Reply 5

Steeps

11

JC.

I suppose you only do 58 past schools then, Ryan. :wink:

back on subject, if there are kids about, slow down and make sure you are being observant, if the limit is enforced (red circle around the number) then you have to stay under it (probably best to check highway code i believe the 20 signs without the circle are just advisory)

the best outcome you should hope for is follow the car in front if they slow down, if there's no one around just be cautious.

if your test doesn't start until 8.40, you'll probably have to do the "show me/tell me" things first, and probably a reverse bay park in the car park if they have one (routine at the letchworth test centre) so most of the kids will probably be in school by the time you get to a zone.

edit: and you shouldn't really be reading this at 3am when you have a practical, but i typed it anyway :p:

Reply 6

Lara C.

3

fragreaper

If its not got a red circle around it then its not illegal to disobey it...

like the national speed limit sign? so its ok to do 895784mph because it doesnt have a red circle round it? :eek:

Reply 7

mountainmetman

14

Ahh, sarcasm. Tell you what, give a go and see what the coppers say...

NEWay, wanted to say good luck to the OP and don't do what I did on my test and almost forget to unlock the door for the examiner (bl00dy remote locking on corsas)

Reply 8

Lara C.

3

mountainmetman

Ahh, sarcasm. Tell you what, give a go and see what the coppers say...

NEWay, wanted to say good luck to the OP and don't do what I did on my test and almost forget to unlock the door for the examiner (bl00dy remote locking on corsas)

but my car only does 108mph :confused:

Reply 9

Minardi

12

I forgot to lock the car before we went into the test centre on my first (of two) go's. Oops.

Good luck though mate. :biggrin:

Reply 10

NickiM

14

Good luck for the test :biggrin:

Mine's next week :eek:

Reply 11

Minthumbug

OP

thanks for all the replies guys, i passed!! :biggrin:

Reply 12

gbduo

15

well done!

Reply 13

NickiM

14

Yayyy, go you :biggrin:

Reply 14

Olyy

Congratulations!
I've got my first attempt booked for 20th of June,
I would've booked sooner, but i've got exams until June 7th, and that was the soonest one after,
I can't wait!

Reply 15

Ryan

10

Nice one

Reply 16

tehwabbit

Your in the UK right?

in that case if its a red circled sign saying 20 then do 20 at all times, if its one of those crappy "twenty's plenty" signs you see in villaged etc, ignore them n do whatever the speed limit is (eg. 30)

ive never known a school have a 20mph limit if its a main road :s-smilie:

edit: didnt read ahead, well done :P now u can run school children over and ignore all speed signs... nah really.. i dont reccomend it.... may damage the car or something :biggrin:

??

Reply 17

gbduo

15

I have, my previous school was right next to to a primary school and that had a 20mph advisory limit.

I think you are fairly foolish to ignore it...could you live with yourself if you killed a little kid!? I couldn't

I would actually go slower than 20 if i thought the risk deemed it.

Reply 18

mountainmetman

14

Big congrats Minthumpug! Wlecome to the world of driving on your own with just the stereo and the road for company!
Re: tehwabbit: My old senior school was on an A road that came off the M-5. The 20 limit they put in (after I left) is a god-send, people have just been doing *cough* 70 *cough* so going even 40 feels far too slow.
The advisory limits aren't legal, that's true, but as gbduo said, you'd be a numpty to ignore it. If it's likely that there are kids around, heck, even if not, do the appropriate speed, which isn't always the limit.
I know I keep harking on about this but if we, as drivers, can show that we're sensible enough to moderate our own speeds safely, there's less chance of the government legislating us to 40 mph limits in the country, enforced by GPS computer control.

Reply 19

tehwabbit

gbduo

I have, my previous school was right next to to a primary school and that had a 20mph advisory limit.

I think you are fairly foolish to ignore it...could you live with yourself if you killed a little kid!? I couldn't

I would actually go slower than 20 if i thought the risk deemed it.

I didnt ignore it, its just not a legal sign, they keep popping up all over the place i live, mainly put up by residents illegally. My local council has stopped taking them down now as they keep reappearing..

heres an example i found on google images... http://www.rampantscotland.com/graphics/20_plenty03282a.jpg

not a legal roadsign.. and the stupid thing is.. they have put it infront of a 40sign so it doesnt work...

i know people that have failed their tests for adhering to the signs rules when they werent supposed to :P

and @ mountainmetman, woah, i bet that was a bit of a difference, a motorway to a 20!! and i must admit, i do speed at times - not drasticly, but always do just under the limit in school areas, i know from friends that people drive daft around schools... not worth the points on the license!

Temporary 20mph speed limit outside schools?

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