Section 81 General speed limit for restricted roads.C1

England, Wales and Scotland

It shall not be lawful for a person to drive a motor vehicle on a restricted road at a speed exceeding 30 miles per hour.

C5(2)

The F1national authority may by order F2... increase or reduce the rate of speed fixed by subsection (1) above, either as originally enacted or as varied under this subsection.

F3(3)

An order under subsection (2)—

(a)

if made by the Secretary of State, is to be made by statutory instrument and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament;

(F4aa)

if made by the Welsh Ministers, is to be made by statutory instrument and approved by a resolution of the National Assembly for Wales;

(b)

if made by the Scottish Ministers, is subject to the affirmative procedure.

(4)

Before making an order under subsection (2) the Secretary of State must consult with F5 the Welsh Ministers and the Scottish Ministers.

(5)

Before F6the Welsh Ministers or the Scottish Ministers make an order under subsection (2) they must consult with the Secretary of State.

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1: Words in s. 81(2) substituted (23.5.2016) by Scotland Act 2016 (c. 11), ss. 42(3)(a), 72(7) (with Sch. 2 paras. 34(2), 35(2))
F2: Words in s. 81(2) omitted (23.5.2016) by virtue of Scotland Act 2016 (c. 11), ss. 42(3)(b), 72(7) (with Sch. 2 paras. 34(2), 35(2))
F3: S. 81(3)-(5) inserted (23.5.2016) by Scotland Act 2016 (c. 11), ss. 42(4), 72(7) (with Sch. 2 paras. 34(2), 35(2))
F4: S. 81(3)(aa) inserted (1.4.2018) by Wales Act 2017 (c. 4), s. 71(4), Sch. 6 para. 39(2) (with Sch. 7 paras. 1, 6, 9); S.I. 2017/1179, reg. 3(r)
F5: Words in s. 81(4) inserted (1.4.2018) by Wales Act 2017 (c. 4), s. 71(4), Sch. 6 para. 39(3) (with Sch. 7 paras. 1, 6, 9); S.I. 2017/1179, reg. 3(r)
F6: Words in s. 81(5) substituted (1.4.2018) by Wales Act 2017 (c. 4), s. 71(4), Sch. 6 para. 39(4) (with Sch. 7 paras. 1, 6, 9); S.I. 2017/1179, reg. 3(r)

Modifications

C1

S. 81 modified (1.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/672, art. 5, Sch. 2

C2

S. 81(1) excluded by 1988 c. 52, s. 12E (as inserted (10.3.2017) by Deregulation Act 2015 (c. 20), ss. 73(3), 115(7); S.I. 2017/273, art. 2(a))

C3

S. 81(1) excluded (S.) (17.4.2019) by The Motor Sport on Public Roads (Scotland) Regulations 2019 (S.S.I. 2019/138), regs. 1, 6, sch. 2

C4

S. 81(1) modified (W.) (17.9.2023) by The Restricted Roads (20 mph Speed Limit) (Wales) Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/800), arts. 1(3), 2

C5

S. 81(2) amended (1.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/1750, art. 4, Sch. 3; S.I. 1998/3178, art. 3

S. 81(2): transfer of functions (27.12.1999) by S.I. 1999/3143, art. 2(1)