MT 95/205

TRAFFIC SIGNS (Authorisation) : 40mph speed limit signs

Date range	1956 - 1961
Location	National Archives (see all files stored here)
Catalogue	See entry
File base	Series MT, subseries MT 95

Contents of note

This file documents the introduction of the 40mph speed limit zone in 1957, which provided an alternative to just signing roads as 30 or NSL. Don't be fooled by the "signs" in the title - this file is basically a complete list of every proposed 40 limit in the Greater London area, of which they are many.

One interesting item to note is that it was seriously considered to drop the whole of the Kingston Bypass to 40, but it was saved its NSL status (which it retained until around 1995) by engineering improvements and access roads to properties.

The introduction to the file mentions "It was proposed that rather more mileage of road should be raised from 30mph to 40mph, that should be reduced from unrestricted status to 40mph". Oh, now times change.

People with camera copies

Ritchie Swann has a few pages.