# UK Speed Limits - Editing Guidelines and Tips
**URL:** https://www.waze.com/discuss/t/uk-speed-limits-editing-guidelines-and-tips/201730
**Category:** United Kingdom
**Created:** [February 1, 2016, 11:53pm UTC](https://www.waze.com/discuss/t/uk-speed-limits-editing-guidelines-and-tips/201730 "2016-02-01T23:53:13Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Timbones](https://www.waze.com/discuss/u/Timbones)
#### Post date: [February 1, 2016, 11:53pm UTC](https://www.waze.com/discuss/t/uk-speed-limits-editing-guidelines-and-tips/201730/1 "2016-02-01T23:53:13Z")
```auto
:!: [b]These guidelines are superseded by the Wazeopedia page on [url=https://wazeopedia.waze.com/wiki/UnitedKingdom/Places/Speed_Limits]Speed Limits[/url][/b] since 11 Nov 2017.
```
Guidelines for Speed Limits:
- Make sure you have the correct units set! Having metric selected does not work well with mph
- Split segments at the exact point the speed limit comes into force
(unless it’s within a few hundred yards of a T junction where traffic will be slowing down anyway)
- Roundabouts don’t need to have limits, but do set them if they are clearly marked on approach
- Ramps should be left without any speed limit, unless explicitly signed with one
- Advisory limits on sharp bends should not be mapped. Only legal signs with red borders (or NSL)
- Also, speed limits on private roads and car parks (e.g. 10 or 15 mph) do not need to be set
- Do keep an eye out for other mapping issues along the way, and fix those too!
If there are some stretches of highway that need limits setting, but are locked above your level, then we will consider doing a bulk unlock of those highways. Simply post a zoom=2 permalink via the usual channel. I still don’t think we’ll be unlocking ordinary Streets at this time, unless they have incorrect verified speed limits. Special dispensations may be given within London.
Tips for Finding Speed Limits:
- Look on aerial view for speed limit signs painted on the road: red band with white numbers
- Schools are easy to spot from the air, and are often surrounded by 20 mph zones
- Use the integrated Street View feature to look for where speed limits start/stop
- If all the side roads are posted at 30 mph, then the main road is going to be 40 mph or higher
If you can get to see the back of those signs, you’ll usually see what the limit is for the main road
- Look out for those tiny repeater speed limit signs on poles of street lights
- For dual-carriageways, look for speed limits posted at the end of exit/entry ramps
- Existing speed cameras can be used as reference points
Bonus Tips:
- Browser extensions like [Colour Highlights](http://www.waze.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=40705) will help you see which segments have not yet been set
- The [WME Speedhelper](https://greasyfork.org/en/scripts/13774-wme-speedhelper) script provides fast 1-click buttons for our common speeds
- Report speed limits whilst out driving with this [mobile web app](https://www.waze.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=819&t=182751) or this [Android app](https://www.waze.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=819&t=184699)
---
### Author:  [@Timbones](https://www.waze.com/discuss/u/Timbones)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2016, 12:09am UTC](https://www.waze.com/discuss/t/uk-speed-limits-editing-guidelines-and-tips/201730/2 "2016-02-02T00:09:13Z")
[table][tr][td]Road Type[/td][td]Segments[/td][td]Verified[/td][td]Percent[/td][/tr][tr][td]Motorway[/td][td]3,803[/td][td]3,803[/td][td]100%[/td][/tr][tr][td]Major Highway[/td][td]108,367[/td][td]85,023[/td][td]79%[/td][/tr][tr][td]Minor Highway[/td][td]162,993[/td][td]110,253[/td][td]68%[/td][/tr][tr][td]Primary Street[/td][td]344,507[/td][td]141,172[/td][td]41%[/td][/tr][tr][td]Streets[/td][td]2,181,041[/td][td]489,168[/td][td]22%[/td][/tr][/table]
Here’s a recent heatmap showing segments with verified segments (Motorways and A Roads)
compared to where we were at nearly 3 months ago.
Our current focus is on Major and Minor Highways, and later on Primary Streets and ordinary Streets. Reminder: we need 70% of our A Roads with verified speed limits before HQ will enable this feature for all users.
---
### Author:  [@woodvale](https://www.waze.com/discuss/u/woodvale)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2016, 11:31am UTC](https://www.waze.com/discuss/t/uk-speed-limits-editing-guidelines-and-tips/201730/3 "2016-02-02T11:31:27Z")
Would it be worth adding a link to this post from the [Editing Best Practice](https://wiki.waze.com/wiki/index.php/United_Kingdom#Editing_Best_Practice) section of the UK wiki?
---
### Author:  [@AigarsABCD](https://www.waze.com/discuss/u/AigarsABCD)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2016, 12:05pm UTC](https://www.waze.com/discuss/t/uk-speed-limits-editing-guidelines-and-tips/201730/4 "2016-02-02T12:05:04Z")
Thanks for the update.
I’ve seen this in several places.
[https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.4111022,-0.8194387,3a,37.5y,276.47h,84.69t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1shg2IlcQeivJGTfjb322Apg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=lv](https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.4111022,-0.8194387,3a,37.5y,276.47h,84.69t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1shg2IlcQeivJGTfjb322Apg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=lv)
Should there be a set speed limit of 30 mph or no limit at all?
---
### Author:  [@AndyPot2](https://www.waze.com/discuss/u/AndyPot2)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2016, 1:03pm UTC](https://www.waze.com/discuss/t/uk-speed-limits-editing-guidelines-and-tips/201730/5 "2016-02-02T13:03:57Z")
> [@AigarsABCD](#):
>
> I’ve seen this in several places.
> [https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.4111022,-0.8194387,3a,37.5y,276.47h,84.69t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1shg2IlcQeivJGTfjb322Apg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=lv](https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.4111022,-0.8194387,3a,37.5y,276.47h,84.69t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1shg2IlcQeivJGTfjb322Apg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=lv)
>
> Should there be a set speed limit of 30 mph or no limit at all?
I believe this is an advisory limit only, if it hasn’t got a red circle around it then it is not a speed limit. See the guidelines in the first post about advisory limits.
If you see this sort of sign then you need to check what the speed limit is in that area, don’t assume 30mph, look back for the previous sign, but in this case (assuming streetview is up to date) I believe it should be 30mph.
---
### Author:  [@seriousarsonist](https://www.waze.com/discuss/u/seriousarsonist)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2016, 12:41am UTC](https://www.waze.com/discuss/t/uk-speed-limits-editing-guidelines-and-tips/201730/6 "2016-02-04T00:41:37Z")
> [@AndyPot2](#):
>
> > [@AigarsABCD](#):
> >
> > I’ve seen this in several places.
> > [https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.4111022,-0.8194387,3a,37.5y,276.47h,84.69t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1shg2IlcQeivJGTfjb322Apg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=lv](https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.4111022,-0.8194387,3a,37.5y,276.47h,84.69t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1shg2IlcQeivJGTfjb322Apg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=lv)
> >
> > Should there be a set speed limit of 30 mph or no limit at all?
>
> I believe this is an advisory limit only, if it hasn’t got a red circle around it then it is not a speed limit. See the guidelines in the first post about advisory limits.
>
> If you see this sort of sign then you need to check what the speed limit is in that area, don’t assume 30mph, look back for the previous sign, but in this case (assuming streetview is up to date) I believe it should be 30mph.
Yup only advisory [https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment\_data/file/491661/dg\_191955.pdf](https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/491661/dg_191955.pdf)
---
### Author:  [@PealRinger](https://www.waze.com/discuss/u/PealRinger)
#### Post date: [February 5, 2016, 1:47am UTC](https://www.waze.com/discuss/t/uk-speed-limits-editing-guidelines-and-tips/201730/7 "2016-02-05T01:47:23Z")
> [@Timbones](#):
>
> If some Country Managers could tackle the Motorways, we’ll be able to reach the 90% we need pretty easily. The main sections that need updating are between Glasgow and Edinburgh, around Liverpool, the M6 by Stafford, the bottom ends of M1 and A1(M) into London, and the M4 into Wales.
M4 done. 😃
---
### Author:  [@hublander](https://www.waze.com/discuss/u/hublander)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2016, 5:46pm UTC](https://www.waze.com/discuss/t/uk-speed-limits-editing-guidelines-and-tips/201730/8 "2016-02-11T17:46:28Z")
> [@PealRinger](#):
>
> > [@Timbones](#):
> >
> > If some Country Managers could tackle the Motorways, we’ll be able to reach the 90% we need pretty easily. The main sections that need updating are between Glasgow and Edinburgh, around Liverpool, the M6 by Stafford, the bottom ends of M1 and A1(M) into London, and the M4 into Wales.
>
> M4 done. 😃
Just requested the bit of the A1(M) I can edit to be unlocked so some of that will be done.
I just looked at the heat [map](https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0TVN5WmrlUtOWM2Y1EyTy1zTmU3ZEl6ejlzMzl5ai1mV2lv/view?usp=sharing) I can see the strip I completed from Hunstanton to King’s Lynn. 😉
---
### Author:  [@jonnaz](https://www.waze.com/discuss/u/jonnaz)
#### Post date: [February 13, 2016, 8:14pm UTC](https://www.waze.com/discuss/t/uk-speed-limits-editing-guidelines-and-tips/201730/9 "2016-02-13T20:14:03Z")
Not to brag too much, but I am starting to run out of editable roads in my drive area.
Few thousand segments to do in Gateshead, then I will need to be L3…
---
### Author:  [@cnfw](https://www.waze.com/discuss/u/cnfw)
#### Post date: [February 19, 2016, 12:57pm UTC](https://www.waze.com/discuss/t/uk-speed-limits-editing-guidelines-and-tips/201730/10 "2016-02-19T12:57:31Z")
What’s the best practice for splitting a segment? I spent all of yesterday afternoon adding speed limits, but felt that adding a new road to create a junction, then deleting the road again wasn’t the best method
---
### Author:  [@PropertyGeek](https://www.waze.com/discuss/u/PropertyGeek)
#### Post date: [February 19, 2016, 1:09pm UTC](https://www.waze.com/discuss/t/uk-speed-limits-editing-guidelines-and-tips/201730/11 "2016-02-19T13:09:09Z")
yes - create a road, make the speed change & then remove the road added and save,
---
### Author:  [@Twister-UK](https://www.waze.com/discuss/u/Twister-UK)
#### Post date: [February 21, 2016, 12:14pm UTC](https://www.waze.com/discuss/t/uk-speed-limits-editing-guidelines-and-tips/201730/12 "2016-02-21T12:14:36Z")
> [@Timbones](#):
>
> If all the side roads are posted at 30 mph, then the main road is going to be 40 mph or higher
> If you can get to see the back of those signs, you’ll usually see what the limit is for the main road
The second part of this point is worth paying attention to, as the increasing use of 20MPH zones means it’s no longer safe to assume that in areas where the side roads are all signed as 30MPH, the main road will be 40+.
If the reverse side of the 30MPH sign can’t be seen, and if the front of the sign doesn’t also indicate that you’re leaving a 20MPH zone, then note that 20MPH limits are often expected to be self-enforcing, which means a plethora of traffic calming measures (speed bumps, raised tables, chicanes etc) - seeing these on something that would otherwise look like a 40+MPH road should be taken as a prompt to go look for 20MPH zone entry/exit signage somewhere along the road if there isn’t any obvious signage nearby…
---
### Author:  [@hublander](https://www.waze.com/discuss/u/hublander)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2016, 1:59am UTC](https://www.waze.com/discuss/t/uk-speed-limits-editing-guidelines-and-tips/201730/13 "2016-02-22T01:59:57Z")
In London 20mph zones are easy in the London Boroughs of Islington, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Camden and the City of London. They have set every road they control to 20mph. The only roads that are 30mph in these places are the roads run by TfL (Red Routes) (Look for red lines instead of yellow at the side of the road. ) This does make for some conflicting signs. I have a picture of the roundabout near Billingsgate Fish Market where TfL have a sign saying 30mph and then Tower Hamlets have put up signs all over the Roundabout saying 20mph. [emoji2]
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk
---
### Author:  [@PealRinger](https://www.waze.com/discuss/u/PealRinger)
#### Post date: [February 23, 2016, 8:27pm UTC](https://www.waze.com/discuss/t/uk-speed-limits-editing-guidelines-and-tips/201730/14 "2016-02-23T20:27:05Z")
> [@Twister-UK](#):
>
> > [@Timbones](#):
> >
> > If all the side roads are posted at 30 mph, then the main road is going to be 40 mph or higher
> > If you can get to see the back of those signs, you’ll usually see what the limit is for the main road
>
> The second part of this point is worth paying attention to, as the increasing use of 20MPH zones means it’s no longer safe to assume that in areas where the side roads are all signed as 30MPH, the main road will be 40+.
Note that in some cases there may not be any sign on the reverse, but that does not mean that the speed limits are the same. There is actually no requirement for signs if the main road is a higher speed limit and has repeaters within 100m of the junction, often the case with a 40mph urban road.
If you’re really interested it’s all detailed in the [Traffic Signs Manual - chapter 3](https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/223943/traffic-signs-manual-chapter-03.pdf) (see section 14).
---
### Author:  [@hublander](https://www.waze.com/discuss/u/hublander)
#### Post date: [February 29, 2016, 3:57am UTC](https://www.waze.com/discuss/t/uk-speed-limits-editing-guidelines-and-tips/201730/15 "2016-02-29T03:57:31Z")
When setting speed limits in Norfolk I can see some editors have been using select all. If you do this please make sure that when the named road crosses a Major Road in some places the speed limit changes.
Another problem is that in Some places in Norfolk the Speed limit has changed between streetview pictures. One road which I left a note on [Here](https://www.waze.com/editor/?env=row&lon=1.19829&lat=52.62223&layers=1989&zoom=3&segments=122358215&mapProblemFilter=0&mapUpdateRequestFilter=0&venueFilter=0&update_requestsFilter=false&problemsFilter=false) the 2012 streetview show National Speed limit at the side of the road but when you get to the roundabout the 2015 Streetview shows a 50mph limit. :? So when I hit this confusion it is better to stop there. 😉
---
### Author:  [@cnfw](https://www.waze.com/discuss/u/cnfw)
#### Post date: [February 29, 2016, 10:59pm UTC](https://www.waze.com/discuss/t/uk-speed-limits-editing-guidelines-and-tips/201730/16 "2016-02-29T22:59:17Z")
Would sending in a map issue (General map error or something), be a valid way of reporting positions of speed limit signs, then going back later and adding in the limits in WME? Or would that get classed as means of unfairly accumulating points by closing issues?
---
### Author:  [@ditchi56](https://www.waze.com/discuss/u/ditchi56)
#### Post date: [March 1, 2016, 3:13am UTC](https://www.waze.com/discuss/t/uk-speed-limits-editing-guidelines-and-tips/201730/17 "2016-03-01T03:13:58Z")
“Report to self” UR’s have been used before, and nobody has suggested (so far as I know) that they are inappropriate. Indeed, we have asked for (but show no sign of getting) a specific UR type for speed limit errors. Just make sure that you type something appropriate in the UR conversation field when solving it (and don’t forget to hit “send”), so that everyone can see that you are doing something useful rather than just closing UR’s at random.
Actually, I use a different method. I have GPS co-ordinate display enabled on Waze (see [##@coord](https://wiki.waze.com/wiki/Search_codes)), and I take a phone screen-shot when I want to mark a location. Saves typing, but does mean that I have to remember what the speed limit is.
Ian
---
### Author:  [@EastbourneCabbie](https://www.waze.com/discuss/u/EastbourneCabbie)
#### Post date: [March 1, 2016, 6:12pm UTC](https://www.waze.com/discuss/t/uk-speed-limits-editing-guidelines-and-tips/201730/18 "2016-03-01T18:12:58Z")
Just a quick question,
Managed to completely update all speed limits in my DA and obviously being only a L2 with 2317 edits im unable to correct the errors on L3 routes. Is there a way of getting these sorted??
Pete
---
### Author:  [@seriousarsonist](https://www.waze.com/discuss/u/seriousarsonist)
#### Post date: [March 1, 2016, 6:21pm UTC](https://www.waze.com/discuss/t/uk-speed-limits-editing-guidelines-and-tips/201730/19 "2016-03-01T18:21:09Z")
Hi Pete
You can drop a request for them to be done or get them down locked for you in the UK editor request folder. Good work by the way [emoji1303]
Ian, would it be worth while putting in a centercode request for a #editormode? Either on screen quick buttons or different report buttons/options
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
---
### Author:  [@ditchi56](https://www.waze.com/discuss/u/ditchi56)
#### Post date: [March 1, 2016, 6:48pm UTC](https://www.waze.com/discuss/t/uk-speed-limits-editing-guidelines-and-tips/201730/20 "2016-03-01T18:48:21Z")
> [@seriousarsonist](#):
>
> Ian, would it be worth while putting in a centercode request for a #editormode? Either on screen quick buttons or different report buttons/options
I think you have to be careful not to put too many requests onto centrecode, which is the Waze bug and improvement-suggestion system. Better just to have a few which lots of people support. There is already a request (suggestion) for a quick report option tailored for missing/incorrect speed limits.
Anyone reading this with access to centrecode, please vote for SUG-1035 ! 😃
[Next page](https://www.waze.com/discuss/t/uk-speed-limits-editing-guidelines-and-tips/201730.md?page=2)