← Motorways
Rule 261: Motorway speed limits
Legal requirement — says MUST
On the motorway (rules 260 to 263)
You MUST NOT exceed
- a speed limit displayed within a red circle on a sign
- the maximum speed limit for the road and for your vehicle (see Rule 124).
Speed limits are enforced by the police (see Rule 124).
Law RTRA sects 17, 86, 89 & sched 6
Why the capitals matter. The Highway Code writes a rule in capitals — MUST or MUST NOT — when it is backed by law, so breaking it is a criminal offence. The rules that do not use capitals are advice.
5 theory test questions on this rule
From the DVSA revision question bank. These are not the questions asked in the real theory test. Each one shows the answer, the explanation, and our own note on why every other option is not it.
Car
Lorry & Bus (LGV/PCV)
- You're driving on a motorway. What's the speed limit when the hard shoulder is being used as a running lane? Road and traffic signs
- You're driving a lorry carrying a load that's 4.5 metres (14 feet 9 inches) wide. What's the maximum speed you're allowed to drive on a motorway? Vehicle weights and dimensions
- You're on a motorway. What do the speed-limit signs inside a red circle indicate? Road and traffic signs