The national speed limit on a single carriageway road in the UK for a car or motorcycle is 60 mph, unless signs say otherwise.

Quick Scoop

Core rule

  • For cars, motorcycles, car‑derived vans and dual‑purpose vehicles on a single carriageway, the national speed limit is 60 mph.
  • A single carriageway means traffic in opposite directions is not separated by a physical central reservation.

When it’s lower than 60

  • If you are towing a caravan or trailer, the limit on a national‑speed‑limit single carriageway drops to 50 mph.
  • Vans (not car‑derived), buses, coaches and many goods vehicles also have a 50 mph limit on national‑speed‑limit single carriageways.
  • Local authorities can post lower limits (for example 40 mph or 50 mph) with signs if the road is considered higher risk.

How to spot it on the road

  • The national speed limit is shown by the white circular sign with a single black diagonal stripe ; on a single carriageway, that normally means 60 mph for cars and motorcycles.
  • In built‑up areas with street lighting , the usual default is 30 mph (20 mph in many parts of Wales and some English/Scottish city zones), even if you previously left a national‑speed‑limit stretch.

Forum / “latest news” angle

Online driving forums and learner communities still regularly get questions from new drivers confused about whether a single carriageway NSL is 60 or 70, and the community consistently answers “60 mph” for cars.

Recent learner‑focused guides and insurer blogs published in 2024–2025 continue to explain 60 mph as the correct national speed limit on single carriageway roads, with reminders to only treat it as an upper limit and to slow down for weather, traffic and hazards.

Handy memory hook

Many UK learners use little rhymes or tricks discussed on forums to remember: 60 for single , 70 for separator (dual or motorway) , then think “drop 10” if you’re towing (50 on a single, 60 on a dual).

Bottom line: on a normal single carriageway with the national‑speed‑limit sign, think 60 mph for cars and bikes , then check your vehicle type, load and local signs before deciding what’s actually safe.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.