speed limit and roadworks

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riku2
Posts: 1088
Joined: Tue Jul 08, 2008 10:13 pm

speed limit and roadworks

Post by riku2 » Fri May 24, 2013 11:21 am

Does anyone know how speed limits apply after roadworks. Several times I have seen roadworks with a lower speed limit (eg 30) but they have forgotten the sign after the roadworks showing the normal speed limit (eg 60).
Locals seem to consider the lower speed limit to end once there is no more sign of construction/workers but I doubt this is the legal definition of when the speed limit changes.
I think I read somewhere that speed limits apply until the next junction with a public road (this is normal round sign speed limits not the square "area speed limit" signs). Unless posted speed limits are 50 in towns and 80 in the countryside.

But based on the limit being in force until the next junction then what of this scenario.

speed limit is posted as 60 (round sign).
roadworks have a 50 sign.
Signs further along which normally say 60 are covered up (since roadworks are in effect).
There are no more 60 signs for a few km even though roadworks have ended and several side roads (public roads) are passed.

what is the limit after the visible end of the roadworks? 50 because there is no sign saying 60? 60 from the next junction? 80 from the next junction (the default speed limit)?



speed limit and roadworks

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CH
Posts: 869
Joined: Fri Nov 11, 2005 10:13 am
Location: Espoo

Re: speed limit and roadworks

Post by CH » Fri May 24, 2013 1:05 pm

riku2 wrote:I think I read somewhere that speed limits apply until the next junction with a public road (this is normal round sign speed limits not the square "area speed limit" signs)
It's this... unless there is another speed limit sign before that, of course. It drives me bonkers when they don't have the speed limit sign after the road work ends (and it seems to be increasingly common), because even though it really looks like it is meant to end as there is no new sign the limit is whatever they had posted before the roadwork. Of course there are lots who will speed up, and I do it myself if it is obvious that there are no more roadwork... but if there is a speed trap you will be in trouble. I especially hate it when the non-roadwork speed is, say, 100 km/h and the roadwork speed is 50 km/h. If I continue driving 50 km/h until the next sign/junction you will have lots of cars passing you at a comparatively high speed, but if I speed up to 100 km/h I might end up losing my driving license for awhile. Not to mention the once-in-a-blue-moon occurrence where there actually is another roadwork site further down the road... they are endangering the workers at these ones where there actually is a (almost) legit reason for having the speed lowered for several km passed the roadwork.

Anyway, what one should do is call whomever is overseeing the roadworks in the municipality and complain about the missing speed limit sign.

riku2
Posts: 1088
Joined: Tue Jul 08, 2008 10:13 pm

Re: speed limit and roadworks

Post by riku2 » Fri May 24, 2013 10:15 pm

I have noticed the same behaviour too - drivers decide for themselves when the roadworks are over, regardless of the signs. If there are two roadworks with some gap between and same low speed limit, then most drivers will speed up in the middle.
If only average speed cameras were introduced like at most UK motorway roadworks then everyone would respect the speed limit based on the signs, not their own evaluation of when to slow down.


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