Start of motorway regulations, including the national speed limit
A blue rectangle with the M motorway symbol. From this point you're on a motorway: no learners (unless accompanied by a qualified instructor in a dual-controlled car), no L-plates on solo learners, no pedestrians, no horses, no slow-moving vehicles, and the national speed limit (70 mph for cars, less for HGVs and tow vehicles) applies. Stay alert for the marked traffic flows on lane changes.
- Shape
- Rectangular
- Background
- Blue
- Border
- White
- Text type
- Number (Route)
- Primary symbol
- Other
- Diagram reference
- 2901.0
Where you'll see this sign
At the start of every UK motorway and at the points where ordinary A roads upgrade to motorway sections (e.g. the A1(M), the A38(M)).
Test yourself on UK road signs
How well do you really know your road signs? New Driver Hub's free mock theory test pulls from official-style DVSA questions and tells you which signs you keep getting wrong.
