Length limitUnited Kingdom
Traffic rules
United Kingdom
1. Length limit
A length limit is a restriction that prohibits vehicles or vehicle combinations longer than a specified maximum length from entering a road or area. The stated length normally includes the complete vehicle combination and any load where national rules specify this.
Length restrictions are commonly used where long vehicles cannot safely negotiate narrow streets, tight bends, bridges, tunnels or other constrained road layouts. Drivers whose vehicle exceeds the indicated limit must use another permitted route.
Why might a road have a vehicle-length restriction in the United Kingdom?
A British regulatory sign may prohibit vehicles or combinations longer than the displayed length. Restrictions can keep long vehicles out of roads with difficult bends, bridges or residential streets. Read any supplementary plate or signed exception.
🔗 gov.uk • Great Britain Highway Code: Rule 109; length limits for vehicles and combinations
🔗 gov.uk • DfT Know Your Traffic Signs: regulatory signs (Great Britain)
Vehicles longer than indicated prohibited.
English • GB diagram 629.1 • Maximum length. Vehicles or combinations longer than 32 ft 6 in must not proceed. This imperial-only artwork is an older sign type; current new signs display both metric and imperial dimensions.
Sources
🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Legislation.gov.uk • Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions • Great Britain
🔗 Gov.uk • Department for Transport • Know your traffic signs
🔗 Legislation.gov.uk • Retention of existing signs • regulation 14
🔗 Legislation.gov.uk • Earlier prescribed signs • TSRGD 2002
Image via Commons.wikimedia.org
UK Government • Public domain • Source revision 2014-09-30. Wikimedia original unmodified.
Is a trailer included in the signed length restriction in the United Kingdom?
Where the sign restricts the length of a vehicle combination, measure the complete combination rather than just the towing vehicle. Any protruding load may also matter under the local legal measurement rules. Check the wording and vehicle class covered by the sign.
🔗 gov.uk • Great Britain Highway Code: Rule 109; length limits for vehicles and combinations
🔗 gov.uk • DfT Know Your Traffic Signs: regulatory signs (Great Britain)
What if your vehicle combination exceeds a signed length limit in the United Kingdom?
Choose another permitted route before entering the restricted section. Do not assume a wide carriageway is suitable: long vehicles need room for their swept path, particularly at sharp bends, junctions and roundabouts.
🔗 gov.uk • Great Britain Highway Code: Rule 109; length limits for vehicles and combinations
🔗 gov.uk • DfT Know Your Traffic Signs: regulatory signs (Great Britain)
