General Rule
Regardless of what speed limits apply, ‘A driver must not drive a vehicle at a speed exceeding that which enables him to stop it within the distance he can see to be clear’.
Stopping Distances
It takes longer to stop in an emergency than you think. An average alert driver will need a minimum of three quarters of a second to react and get his foot to the brake pedal. The distance travelled during this reaction time increases sharply as speed rises.
Braking Distance
Actual Braking Distance is the distance travelled between the time your foot hits the brake pedal and the time your vehicle stops depends on speed, condition of brakes and tyres, condition of road surfaces (dry high grip surface, tyre grip reduced by rain, snow, ice, fallen leaves, mud, etc.).
An important point to remember is that particularly on wet roads tyre grip reduces with speed. At 60k.p.h. for example on a smooth wet road, tyre grip will be only half as good as at 30k.p.h.
Most mechanically propelled vehicles must be fitted with a speedometer, which is maintained in good and efficient working order and so placed that the driver can easily read it all times.
In accordance with S.I 299 of 1993, all goods vehicles which are first registered after 1st January, 1988 and which have a design gross vehicle weight exceeding 12,000 kilograms shall be fitted with a speed limitation device to set the maximum speed at 85 kilometres per hour. This regulation is operative from 1st January, 1994 for new vehicles, and for vehicles first registered between 01/01/88 and 31/12/93 there are two dates – 1st January, 1995 for those engaged in international journeys and 1st January, 1996 for those engaged in national journeys only.
Note: Failure to use speed limiter; failure to have speed limiter plaque affixed correctly in a conspicuous position and failure to have system sealed, can lead to a fine, under the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations 1963-1993.
The use of Speed Meter (Radar) Detectors is illegal.
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