A sign that gives orders
30 mph limit
A red circle with '30' means a 30 mph limit - the usual maximum in a built-up area in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
01
What it means
30 mph is the standard limit for a built-up area (a road with street lighting) unless signs show otherwise. The number in the red ring is the maximum. In Wales the default built-up limit is 20 mph.
02
Where you'll see it
Most town and city roads with street lights. On a lit road the 30 limit applies even without repeater signs.
03
On your driving test
Speed is marked all the way through. Drifting over 30, or well under it without reason, both cost you marks.
Often confused with
Quick answers
What does a 30 sign mean?
A 30 mph maximum from that point. It's the usual built-up-area limit (20 in Wales) unless a sign shows a different number.
Are there repeater signs in a 30 zone?
On a street-lit road the 30 applies without repeaters. Repeater signs appear where the limit isn't the default.
Sign artwork is Crown copyright, reproduced under the Open Government Licence v3.0; meanings from the Highway Code (gov.uk).
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