Restricted Drivers and Motorways

[Wolfe Tone]

I have been asked by a friend to find out some information, I've done a quick search of google but I haven't found what I'm looking for and I'm sure that someone here must know. My friend recently passed his driving test, so he has to display 'R' plates and he is restricted to 45mph. What he needs to know is if he is allowed on the motorway. Also as he lives a few mile down the road for me he needs to know the law for N Ireland which in places is different to other parts of the UK.

 

[Laughing Gull]

Speed Limits? We motorists in Southern California scoff at such trivial things.

I can not help you with your problem.

 

[thestonesfan]

Is 'motorway' an abbreviation of what Amerikaners refer to as a 'road'?

If so, where else would one drive?

 

[Wolfe Tone]

Motorway refers to the wider, faster, multilaned roads. I believe (but could be mistaken) they are refered to as highways in the US.

 

[thestonesfan]

Ah...I see! Yes, they'd be called highways here, but only the major highways are multi-lane. Our standard county highway is two-lane, which makes it enjoyable to be stuck behind a tractor.

 

[Speedo]

I think motorways would be the same as interstates in the US.

Multi (4-10, maybe more some places) lane
High speed limits (55-75 mph, depending on location)
Go long distances in a fairly straight line

My grandmother had a restricted license like that, and she, IIRC, could not drive on interstates. But that's under NC laws....

 

[Shadylookin]

only 45mph on a multi lane highway? that's sad. even on 2 way highways everyone is allowed to go 55mph and that is typically stretch to at least 60

 

[Wolfe Tone]

I've found out the answer my friend needed. Restricted drivers are allowed on the motorway but they can't go over 45. At least he is only restricted for a year.

 

[Mega Tsunami]

45mph is, IMO, a dangerously slow speed to travel at on a Motorway (at least in England). You'll have someone up your arse very quickly here.

 

[Stapel]

I think anyone doing 45 on the M-way, should be arrested immediatly!

 

[Wolfe Tone]

Yeah, but the restricted drivers have to stay in the left hand lane and 'R' Plates are clearly displayed so the drivers behind would have plenty of notice.

 

[Stapel]

Doing 45 mph on a motorway is complete ridiculous. In Holland, it is forbidden to use a vehicle that can't do 70 kph.

45 mph = 72 kph...

Still: too dangerous. R-plate or not!

Another thing: I have never been to Ulster, but visited Eire once. Do they have motorways? Never seen one!

 

[Wolfe Tone]

There are some, but not many.

 

[Speedo]

Originally posted by Stapel
Doing 45 mph on a motorway is complete ridiculous. In Holland, it is forbidden to use a vehicle that can't do 70 kph.

45 mph = 72 kph...

Still: too dangerous. R-plate or not!

The entire point of such restrictions (at least here) is that the driver in question has bad vision, slow reflexes (due to age or etc) so that it is dangerous for them to be driving fast. But then again, most people who get such restrictions are usually older, and aren't usually driving fast anyway.....

Most interstates here have a minimum speed limit (not NC though) of 45 mph IIRC.

 

[Wolfe Tone]

Actually the restriction is because he has only recently passed his test and is restricted to 45mph for the first year of driving