Motorway rules
On a smart motorway a speed limit inside a red ring is shown on the overhead gantry. What does it mean?
- It is only advice you can ignore if the road looks clear
- It applies only to lorries and buses
- It is a compulsory speed limit you must not exceedCorrect
- It shows the minimum speed you must drive at
Why?
A speed shown in a red ring on the gantry is a mandatory limit, often lowered to manage congestion or a hazard ahead. Rule 261 of The Highway Code says you must not exceed the limit, and rule 258 explains that these overhead signals control the motorway lane by lane.
Highway Code rules 261, 258