Minimum speed limit sign: what it means

Minimum speed limit sign: a blue circle with the number 30 in white
Image: Crown copyright, OGL

The minimum speed limit sign means you must travel at least the speed shown, unless that is unsafe or not practical. The blue circle shows it is something you must do.

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Last checked against the sources: · Report a mistake

What it means

Blue circles with no red border generally give a positive instruction. Here the instruction is a minimum speed in miles per hour, which Know your traffic signs says applies unless keeping to it is unsafe or not practical.

The requirement lasts until an end of minimum speed sign.

Where you see it

On lengths of road where a minimum speed applies, from this sign to the end of minimum speed sign.

A common mistake

Reading it as a maximum. Colour is the clue: a red ring sets the most you may do, a blue circle sets the least.

Quick quiz

A blue circular sign shows the number 30. What does it mean?

  1. Maximum speed 30 mph
  2. Minimum speed 30 mph
  3. Advised speed 30 mph
Show answer

B. Minimum speed 30 mph. A blue circle gives a positive instruction: travel at no less than 30 mph unless that is unsafe or not practical. Source: The Highway Code, rule 109, GOV.UK; Know your traffic signs: speed limit signs, GOV.UK; Know your traffic signs: regulatory signs, GOV.UK; The Highway Code: traffic signs, GOV.UK; Traffic sign images, Department for Transport, GOV.UK

Compare with

Next in regulatory signs: No U-turns sign. See all regulatory signs or the full road signs list.

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Sources

  1. The Highway Code, rule 109, GOV.UK
  2. Know your traffic signs: speed limit signs, GOV.UK
  3. Know your traffic signs: regulatory signs, GOV.UK
  4. The Highway Code: traffic signs, GOV.UK
  5. Traffic sign images, Department for Transport, GOV.UK

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Traffic sign images are Crown copyright, from the Department for Transport. Sources and image credits.