Driving Test Tips

  • Learn to Drive
  • Driving Theory Test
  • Driving Test Tutorials
  • Tips for Passing the Driving Test
  • Driving Schools
  • Car Tips
  • Driving Tips
Home Speeding

Speeding

Speeding whether as a qualified driver or a learner driver is easily done, especially if you’re not concentrating on the road.

Excessive or inappropriate use of speed is one of the major causes of accidents in the UK, so it’s little surprise that driving examiners take such driving behavior seriously.

It’s not always an immediate test failure if speed is exceeded or used inappropriately, it depends on the circumstances and if you are actually aware of your actions. Explained is the common forms of speeding during a driving test, what the examiner is looking for and how to reduce or stop speeding.

Insuring a car, especially for young drivers is extremely expensive. This is of course because statistically they are the most likely to have accidents. Usually, this results from excessive or inappropriate use of speed.

Excessive speed

Excessive speed is simply driving over the speed limit. The two main reasons for this as a learner driver is that you are unaware of the current speed limit or that you are aware of what the speed limit is, but your concentration is elsewhere and you are unaware of your current speed.




Speeding in a car

Speeding on a driving test fails many practicals each year

Inappropriate use of speed

Inappropriate use of speed can be for many situations. A very common test failure is learner drivers approaching junctions at inappropriate speeds. Typically this will be a closed junction (see junctions for information on closed junctions), although this can also refer to crossroads and roundabouts as a form of junction. A learner may approach this form of junction too fast for what they can see. Resulting in excessive braking, stopping over the junction line or stopping unnecessarily at a roundabout when it is safe to proceed.

Other examples of inappropriate use of speed could be passing parked cars or cyclists too fast for the conditions due to not being able to see hazards (approaching vehicles) ahead far enough. Weather conditions also play a part. Speed may need to be reduced if wet especially on bends and high speed roads. The 2 second rule will also need to be extended.



How to stop speeding

If you are unaware of the current speed limit, it could be because you have failed to notice speed limit signs. Ask your passenger or driving instructor to ensure that you are aware of each and every road sign you pass and to provide a full explanation of their meaning – not just speed limit signs. Continue to do this until you are looking well ahead and reading road signs as part of the course of natural driving. This will heighten your awareness of road signs.

Alternatively you may enter a new road that does not have speed limit signs. Usually, a new road with a different speed limit to the road you were on previously will have speed limit signs, however, you will need to use your judgement on using the correct speed. Roads that have a 20 mph speed limit will be clearly signed as they are often roads with schools or large numbers of pedestrians.

Most urban roads however have a 30 mph speed limit with the occasional 40 mph limit. If the area is pedestrianized, has pavements, houses, street lighting, it is highly likely to be 30 mph limit. 40 mph roads are often wider, straighter and have less residential areas. The majority of roads where the speed limit changes are usually well signed, so practicing the reading of all road signs is of primary importance, if in doubt however, keep to 30 mph.

Although driving slower than a roads speed limit can be hazardous if the conditions allow you to drive at the actual speed limit safely, it is ultimately safer to drive 10 mph slower than 10 mph faster and exceed the speed limit. An inappropriate use of speed if done unintentionally, generally comes down to a lack of anticipation and planning. Anticipation and planning takes time to learn as it involves understanding the correct speed, actions and forward thinking for any given road or situation.



Speed limits

20 mph speed limit when lights flash road sign

20 mph speed limit when lights flash

20 mph speed limit
Although still relatively infrequent, 20 mph speed limits are often found around highly pedestrianized areas and schools. 20 mph speed limits are however becoming more common place and are likely to be wide spread within a year or two. 20 mph zones are often hazardous areas and exceeding the speed limit in such areas is highly likely to result in a driving test failure.

Other than the typical red circular speed limit signs, another type of sigh associated with 20 mph speed limits is the 20 mph speed limit when lights flash sign. These are usually located around schools and are active at school starting and finishing times. Although they appear easy to understand, a learner can easily see only the 20 mph speed limit and not read the text and drive at 20 mph when they should in fact be driving at 30 mph. Text can vary depending on sign.

30 mph speed limit
A 30 mph speed limit is the standard found in villages, towns and cities. More urban roads will however be lowered to 20 mph speed limits in time.

40 and 50 mph speed limits
The 40 mph limit being more common than the 50 mph, these speed limits are found in less pedestrianized areas such as ring-roads and urban dual carriageways. When entering a 30 mph zone from these higher speed limits, signs are clearly displayed.

National speed limit sign

National speed limit sign

60 mph speed limit
Found on single carriageway roads that connect villages, towns and cities. A 60 mph sign is not usually displayed, instead the national speed limit sign is used. UK national speed limits depend on the type of road. For high speed single carriageways the speed limit is 60 mph.

70 mph speed limit
Dual carriageways and motorways have a maximum of 70 mph speed limit unless otherwise stated by use of signs or light signals.

Driving test speed limits

The practical driving test can be failed, although not always for driving either too fast or too slow depending on the speed limits, conditions or circumstances. Developing your speed awareness is necessary to avoid such predicaments. See speed awareness for possible speed related test failures and developing speed awareness.

DRIVING TEST RELATED INFORMATION

  • Taking driving instructor on test
  • Driving test age
  • Can I book two driving tests?
  • What to wear for driving test
  • What to take to driving test
  • How many manoeuvres in driving test?
  • Crossing hands on driving test
  • When to use handbrake
  • Are driving tests fixed?
  • What happens in a driving test
  • Driving school instructor pass rates
  • Failed driving test



Driving Test Tips
Comments: 2
  1. Gareth Rafferty
    at

    Hello, I just had my driving test and the weather was undecided and it kept raining, sleet, and then sunny. On the road of my test centre when I was returning, the speed limit started at 30mph and I knew the speed. Then on that road it turns to a national speed limit road further up. However because it was raining and I couldn’t see much I was messing around with the window wipers and went above the speed limit by 5mph. I had the examiner and their line manager in the car at the time. When I got to the test centre they told me I had failed due to going over the speed limit by 5mph due to messing with window wipers. Would you say this was fair and that I should have failed? That was all I failed on and I had 3 minors.

    ReplyCancel
  2. Driving Test Tips
    at

    Hello Gareth.
    There is a speed enforcement guidance policy outlined by the government Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) which states that there is an acceptable margin that the limit can be exceeded by. This is 10 percent, plus 2 mph (as of 2013) and would place your speed of 35 mph whilst driving in a 30 mph limit zone as an offence.

    If there was a police officer or camera that caught you, you would be looking at a fine plus penalty points. Based on that, I don’t think the examiner had any other option but to fail you I’m afraid.

    ReplyCancel

Leave a Reply Cancel reply


Driving Test Tips
  • What to Expect on the New Driving Test
  • How to Pass the New Driving Test
  • Show Me Tell Me Questions 2019
  • Driving Test Centres
  • Driving Test Centre Contact Numbers
  • Driving Test Routes
  • Driving Test Routes for Sat Nav
  • Driving Test Centre Reviews
  • Driving Test Pass Rates
  • Will I Pass My Driving Test Quiz
  • Driving Test Eyesight Test
  • New Independent Driving Test Explained
  • Driving Test Report Explained
  • How to Fail the Driving Test
  • Beating Driving Test Nerves
  • Are Driving Tests Fixed?
  • Cars for the Driving Test Requirements Explained
  • Driving Tests in Snow, Fog, Rain or Ice
  • Can’t Pass Driving Test
  • Cheapest Car Insurance Quote
  • Driving Test Questions
  • Best and Worst Driving Test Times
  • Book a Driving Test
  • Mock Driving Test
  • Check Driving Test Date
  • Change Driving Test Date
  • Cancel Driving Test
  • Your Driving Examiner
  • How to Impress the Driving Examiner
  • Passed My Driving Test, Now What?
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • International Drivers Tips
  • Driving Instructor Training Advice
  • About Driving Test Tips
  • Contact Driving Test Tips
2021 © Driving Test Tips
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Reject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

SAVE & ACCEPT