Minimum speedUnited Kingdom
Traffic rules
United Kingdom
1. Minimum speed
A minimum speed is the lowest speed that vehicles are required to maintain on a particular road or under specified conditions. Minimum-speed rules are intended to prevent vehicles travelling unnecessarily slowly from disrupting traffic or creating large speed differences between road users.
A minimum speed does not require drivers to maintain that speed when traffic, weather, visibility, road conditions or safety require them to slow down. The way minimum speeds are indicated and enforced varies between countries.
What does a blue circular minimum-speed sign mean in the United Kingdom?
It prescribes the displayed minimum in mph. It is different from a red-bordered maximum-speed sign. Follow the minimum unless maintaining it would be impracticable or unsafe.
🔗 gov.uk • Great Britain Highway Code: Rules 109,124–126; signed minima and exceptions
🔗 gov.uk • DfT Know Your Traffic Signs: speed limit signs (Great Britain)
Start of a minimum speed.
English • GB diagram 672 • Minimum speed limit. The minimum speed is 30 mph, subject to circumstances requiring a lower speed for safety.
Sources
🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Legislation.gov.uk • Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions • Great Britain
🔗 Gov.uk • Department for Transport • Know your traffic signs
SVG source: UK Government • Public domain • Original revision 2011-01-24. Wikimedia original unmodified.
End of the minimum speed.
English • GB diagram 673 • End of minimum speed limit. The 30 mph minimum speed restriction ends here. Other speed limits continue to apply.
Sources
🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Legislation.gov.uk • Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions • Great Britain
🔗 Gov.uk • Department for Transport • Know your traffic signs
SVG source: UK Government • Public domain • Original revision 2011-01-24. Wikimedia original unmodified.
Must I maintain a signed UK minimum in a traffic queue?
No. Official sign guidance allows a lower speed where maintaining the minimum is impracticable or unsafe. Slow or stop as the traffic requires and leave a safe gap.
🔗 gov.uk • Great Britain Highway Code: Rules 109,124–126; signed minima and exceptions
🔗 gov.uk • DfT Know Your Traffic Signs: speed limit signs (Great Britain)
What does the crossed-out UK minimum-speed sign cancel?
It ends the particular signed minimum-speed requirement. It does not remove a maximum-speed limit or establish unlimited speed. Continue to follow the applicable maximum and road conditions.
🔗 gov.uk • Great Britain Highway Code: Rules 109,124–126; signed minima and exceptions
🔗 gov.uk • DfT Know Your Traffic Signs: speed limit signs (Great Britain)
