How do I know when do the restrictions on smart motorways end?
I regularly drive on a 20 mile stretch of smart motorway, often late at night. When do "restrictions" end? For example, if two left lanes show red X and right two lanes show 40 limit ( X X 40 40) and I therefore move to lane 3 and proceed at 40 mph. The next gantry shows X X 40 40, so I carry on at 40 in lane 3. Then the gantries do not show anything. But I've not had any notification that lanes 1 and 2 are open or that national speed limit applies.... Do I carry on in lane 3 at 40 mph until the national speed limit fixed sign at the end of the "smart" motorway? Do I accelerate and move left to lane 1 when the overhead gantries are blank? What do you think?
Asked on 18 April 2025 by ds797
Answered by
David Ross
If a temporary speed limit or X has been displayed in a lane, it is advisable to assume its continuation until contrary information is provided, in the same way that you should obey a fixed speed limit sign even in the absence of further signs. Potentially you could continue at normal motorway speeds if no temporary speed limit is displayed on an overhead gantry, but there is always the potential for the gantry to be inoperative and in the event of a speed camera being triggered or being stopped by the police you would need to defend your actions on the basis of there being no posted limit.
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