> I find the UK's road sign for "National Speed Limit Applies" to be surely one of the worst designed road signs in history.
No its not my friend.
Because it is only telling you something that you should already know if you have passed your Theory Test.
Namely that the National Speed Limit is the default state.
Anyone who has passed the Theory Test will know what the NSL is based on the road they are on and the vehicle they are driving. Its not difficult, you've only got to be able to tell the pretty darn obvious difference between a built-up area, single carriageway, dual carriageway and motorway (and whether a central reservation is present or not).
Which is why you only (typically) find NSL signs:
- in locations where the context may normally dictate otherwise (e.g. presence of street lights)
- where temporary limits are changing back to NSL (e.g. after motorway roadworks)
Don't overthink it. Its a lot easier to understand and a lot more sensible than you're making it out to be.
Right, but not all drivers operating a vehicle in the UK are required to pass a UK driving theory test. Virtually all foreign drivers can arrive, show up to a rental car place on their foreign documents and just drive out. While in the best case scenario a driver may have a UK licence and passed a corresponding theory test, this is not guaranteed. There's zero requirement to have sat that test for almost all foreign cars entering the UK via train and ferry too.
As a counter example, a UK person visiting the US would have almost zero difficulty understanding any of the speed signage, as they all incorporate the actual speed limits. Similarly, there is zero expectation you have passed the theory element of a US drivers licence. The US has roads with different speed limits for different vehicles too and still manages to get clear signage with numbers.
Good signage can be clear regardless of any tests, virtually all other speed signage in the UK incorporates a number. Speaking from experience, even those who have sat a theory test can often not really understand that sign or forget its meaning. There's not even any guarantee a licenced UK citizen has ever sat a theory test, given those who gained a UK licence before the introduction of the theory test in 1996 have generally never been required to sit one. The pre 1996 "theory" element was some random questions from your tester during the practical.
The standard of driving in the US is also appalling because its basically seen as a god given right that you should be able to have a driving license, and so minimal barriers are put in place to get one.
I also know many UK peeps who learnt to drive before 1996 and never have I heard one of them bitch and moan about "how stupid the NSL sign is".
We all know the US is a bit of a nanny state and everyone is constantly covering their backsides to avoid getting sued, and that's probably why the US has explicit speed limit signs splattered at every opportunity. Because if the US had the NSL system, some smart-alec would have a crash and then open up a lawsuit because they were too dumb to figure out which of the four types of road they were on.
I'm sorry. I'll happily bitch and moan about other aspects of UK roads (e.g. not-so-smart motorways). But NSL ? Nah mate ... it makes sense and you know it. ;-)
As you can see from this link, most European countries use the "NSL" sign in some form. It's expected that drivers find what those limits are when they cross a border. There are signs at all land borders showing the limit, also on that page.
No its not my friend.
Because it is only telling you something that you should already know if you have passed your Theory Test.
Namely that the National Speed Limit is the default state.
Anyone who has passed the Theory Test will know what the NSL is based on the road they are on and the vehicle they are driving. Its not difficult, you've only got to be able to tell the pretty darn obvious difference between a built-up area, single carriageway, dual carriageway and motorway (and whether a central reservation is present or not).
Which is why you only (typically) find NSL signs:
Don't overthink it. Its a lot easier to understand and a lot more sensible than you're making it out to be.