Start of motorway sign: what it means

Start of motorway sign: a blue sign with the route number M62 and the white motorway symbol of a road passing under a bridge
Image: Crown copyright, OGL

The start of motorway sign means motorway regulations apply from this point, including the national speed limit unless a different limit is signed.

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What it means

Know your traffic signs describes it as the start of motorway regulations, including the national speed limit unless a different limit is signed. For a car the national limit on a motorway is 70 mph (rule 124).

Some road users must not use motorways, including pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders, holders of provisional motorcycle licences and riders of motorcycles under 50 cc. Learner car drivers may only drive on a motorway with an approved driving instructor, in a dual-control car showing L plates (rule 253).

Where you see it

Where a motorway begins, including on slip roads from ordinary roads. Direction signs on ordinary roads use the same symbol to show a motorway or a motorway slip road (Know your traffic signs).

A common mistake

Not noticing that motorway rules already apply on the slip road. For example, you must not reverse or stop except in an emergency (rule 263 and rule 271).

Quick quiz

Which of these road users must never use a motorway?

  1. Cyclists
  2. Drivers towing caravans
  3. Coach drivers
Show answer

A. Cyclists. Rule 253: motorways must not be used by pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders and some other road users. Source: The Highway Code, rule 124, GOV.UK; The Highway Code, rule 253, GOV.UK; The Highway Code, rule 263, GOV.UK; The Highway Code, rule 271, GOV.UK; Know your traffic signs: motorway signs, signals and road markings, GOV.UK; Know your traffic signs: speed limit signs, GOV.UK; The Highway Code: traffic signs, GOV.UK; Traffic sign images, Department for Transport, GOV.UK

Compare with

Next in information signs: End of motorway sign. See all information signs or the full road signs list.

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Sources

  1. The Highway Code, rule 124, GOV.UK
  2. The Highway Code, rule 253, GOV.UK
  3. The Highway Code, rule 263, GOV.UK
  4. The Highway Code, rule 271, GOV.UK
  5. Know your traffic signs: motorway signs, signals and road markings, GOV.UK
  6. Know your traffic signs: speed limit signs, GOV.UK
  7. The Highway Code: traffic signs, GOV.UK
  8. 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.