Citation and commencement

1. These Regulations may be cited as the M20 Motorway (Junctions 4 to 7) (Variable Speed Limits) Regulations 2010 and they come into force on 16th April 2010.

Interpretation

2. In these Regulations—

“the 1982 Regulations” means the Motorways Traffic (England and Wales) Regulations 1982 ( 2 );

“the 2002 Regulations” means the Traffic Signs Regulations 2002 ( 3 ); and

“carriageway”, “hard shoulder”, “motorway” and “verge” have the same meanings as in the 1982 Regulations.

Variable Speed Limits

3. —(1) No person shall drive a vehicle on a section of a road which is subject to a variable speed limit at a speed exceeding that indicated by a speed limit sign.

(2) A section of road is subject to a variable speed limit in relation to a vehicle being driven on it if—

(a) the road is specified in the Schedule;

(b) the vehicle has passed a speed limit sign; and

(c) the vehicle has not passed—

(i) another speed limit sign indicating a different speed limit; or

(ii) a traffic sign which indicates that the national speed limit is in force.

(3) In relation to a vehicle, the speed limit indicated by a speed limit sign is the speed shown at the time the vehicle passes the sign, or, if higher, the speed limit shown by the sign ten seconds before the vehicle passed the sign.

(4) For the purpose of this regulation a speed limit sign is to be taken as not indicating any speed limit if, ten seconds before the vehicle passed it, the sign had indicated no speed limit or that the national speed limit was in force.

(5) In this regulation—

“national speed limit” has the meaning given by regulation 5(2) of the 2002 Regulations and a traffic sign which indicates that the national speed limit is in force means a traffic sign of the type shown in diagram 671 in Schedule 2 to the 2002 Regulations which is—

“road” includes the adjacent hard shoulder and verge;

“speed limit sign”, in relation to a vehicle, means a traffic sign of the type shown in diagram 670 in Schedule 2 to the 2002 Regulations which is—

Regulation 3(2)

SCHEDULE SPECIFIED ROADS

1. The specified roads are—

(a) the eastbound carriageway of the M20 beginning at a point which is 71 metres after marker post 49/9 and 29 metres before marker post 50/0, and ending at a point which is 27 metres after marker post 59/5 and 73 metres before marker post 59/6;

(b) the carriageways of the eastbound slip roads;

(c) the westbound carriageway of the M20 beginning at a point which is 67 metres after marker post 59/6 and 33 metres before marker post 59/5, and ending at a point which is 70 metres after marker post 50/0 and 30 metres before marker post 49/9; and

(d) the carriageways of the westbound slip roads.

2. Any reference in this Schedule to—

(a) the letter “M” followed by a number is a reference to the motorway known by that name;

(b) the letter “A” followed by a number is a reference to the road known by that name; and

(c) a junction followed by a number is a reference to the junction of the M20 of that number.

3. In this Schedule—

“eastbound slip roads” is a reference to the lengths of carriageway specified in paragraph 4;

“off-slip road” means a slip road intended for the use of traffic exiting the M20;

“on-slip road” means a slip-road intended for the use of traffic entering the M20; and

“westbound slip roads” is a reference to the lengths of carriageway specified in paragraph 5.

4. The eastbound slip roads are as follows—

(a) the on-slip roads which connects the eastbound carriageway of the M20 with—

(i) the A228 at junction 4;

(ii) the A20 at junction 5; and

(iii) the A229 at junction 6.

(b) the off-slip roads which connects the eastbound carriageway of the M20 with—

(i) the A20 at junction 5;

(ii) the A229 at junction 6; and

(iii) the A249 at junction 7;

5. The westbound slip roads are as follows—

(a) the on-slip roads which connects the westbound carriageway of the M20 with—

(i) the A249 at junction 7;

(ii) the A229 at junction 6; and

(iii) the A20 at junction 5;

(b) the off-slip-roads which connect the westbound carriageway of the M20 with—

(i) the A228 at junction 4;

(ii) the A20 at junction 5; and

(iii) the A229 at junction 6.