What does the national speed limit sign mean?
The national speed limit applies from this point. For a car that is 60 mph on a single carriageway and 70 mph on a dual carriageway or motorway.
A white circle with a single black diagonal stripe.
What you must do
Do not exceed the national limit for the type of road and your vehicle. It does not mean there is no limit, and it does not mean you must drive at that speed.
Where you will see it
Leaving a town or village onto a faster rural road, and at the end of a lower speed-limit zone.
Easy to confuse with: Speed limit
A numbered red-ring circle sets a specific limit; the diagonal-stripe sign hands you back to the national limit. See the speed limit sign.
Test yourself
The theory test asks you to recognise signs like this one. Try the road and traffic signs quiz (with an easy and a hard set), or read the signs revision notes. Source: Know Your Traffic Signs.
Other common road signs
Meaning based on Know Your Traffic Signs and The Highway Code under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The sign image is our own simplified rendering for learning. Always check the current Highway Code on gov.uk. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the DVSA.