The Secretary of State for Transport exercised powers granted under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to enact the M32 Motorway (Junctions 1 to 3) (40 and 60 Miles Per Hour Speed Limits) Regulations 2025, which came into force on 11th November 2025 and apply across England and Wales; these regulations permanently establish 40 mph and 60 mph speed limits on defined sections of the M32 motorway between Junctions 1 and 3, excluding areas where a temporary speed restriction under section 14 of the Act takes precedence.
Arguments For
The imposition of variable speed limits ensures public safety by restricting speeds on specific, potentially hazardous or complex sections of the motorway, such as the Eastville Viaduct area.
Establishing permanent, defined speed limits provides legal certainty for drivers and traffic enforcement agencies regarding expected driving conditions on this motorway stretch.
The implementation aligns with the Secretary of State for Transport's powers under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, ensuring governmental oversight of national road infrastructure and regulation.
Consulting representative organisations prior to making the regulations suggests consideration was given to affected user groups, aiming for practical and acceptable traffic management.
Arguments Against
Permanent imposition of lower limits (40 mph) might be viewed as unnecessarily restrictive on sections of a motorway, potentially hindering traffic flow during uncongested periods.
The specified geographical markers (e.g., 83 metres north of a join, centre of an overbridge) create technically precise boundaries that could be confusing for drivers not familiar with these exact reference points.
Speed limits are superseded by temporary restrictions made under Section 14 of the 1984 Act, meaning drivers must remain constantly aware that posted limits may change irrespective of these permanent regulations.
The necessity for specific speed limits on an active motorway (M32) implies inherent design or traffic flow issues that might require infrastructural solutions rather than just regulatory speed caps.
The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 17(2), (3) and (3ZB) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.1
The responsible official, the Secretary of State, issued these rules using specific authorities granted by sections 17(2), (3), and (3ZB) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.
The Secretary of State has consulted representative organisations in accordance with section 134(2) of that Act.2
Before creating these rules, the Secretary of State consulted organizations that represent relevant parties, as mandated by section 134(2) of the same Act.
Citation, commencement and extent
- (1) These Regulations may be cited as the M32 Motorway (Junctions 1 to 3) (40 and 60 Miles Per Hour Speed Limits) Regulations 2025.
This provides the official title for the regulations, which permits citation as the M32 Motorway (Junctions 1 to 3) (40 and 60 Miles Per Hour Speed Limits) Regulations 2025.
(2) They come into force on 11th November 2025.
The rules officially become active and legally binding starting on November 11, 2025.
(3) They extend to England and Wales.
The geographical reach of these regulations covers both England and Wales.
Interpretation 2. In these Regulations—
“carriageway” has the same meaning as in regulation 3(1)(b) of the Motorways Traffic (England and Wales) Regulations 1982;3
This section defines key terms used throughout the document. 'Carriageway' uses the definition established in regulation 3(1)(b) of the Motorways Traffic (England and Wales) Regulations 1982.
“Eastville Viaduct” means the elevated 1.1 kilometre section of the M32 at junction 2;
'Eastville Viaduct' specifically refers to the 1.1 kilometre elevated segment of the M32 motorway located at junction 2.
“M32” means the M32 motorway.
The abbreviation 'M32' is confirmed to represent the M32 motorway.
Imposition of 40 miles per hour and 60 miles per hour speed limits 3. (1) Subject to regulation 4, no person may drive any vehicle at a speed exceeding 40 miles per hour on the northbound and southbound carriageways of the M32 between a point 83 metres north of the northern mechanical join of the Eastville Viaduct and a point 22 metres north of the centre of the Severn Beach railway line overbridge.
Unless exempted by regulation 4, driving a vehicle faster than 40 mph is prohibited on both the northbound and southbound lanes of the M32.
This restriction applies between a specific point north of the Eastville Viaduct join and a point near the Severn Beach railway line overbridge.
(2) Subject to regulation 4, no person may drive any vehicle at a speed exceeding 60 miles per hour on the southbound carriageway of the M32 between a point 30 metres south of the centre of Heath House Lane overbridge and a point 83 metres north of the northern mechanical join of the Eastville Viaduct.
Also subject to regulation 4, driving southbound on the M32 faster than 60 mph is forbidden.
This specific limit applies to the section situated between a point south of the Heath House Lane overbridge and a point near the Eastville Viaduct's northern mechanical join.
Exemption 4. Regulation 3 does not apply in relation to a length of road if a speed restriction is in force by virtue of an order or notice under section 14 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.4
The speed limits set in regulation 3 do not apply to any road segment where a temporary speed restriction is actively in place, as authorized by an order or notice issued under section 14 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport Simon Lightwood Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Department for Transport 15th October 2025
This section confirms the legal signing authority for the regulations: Simon Lightwood, acting as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Department for Transport, signed the document on October 15, 2025.
EXPLANATORY NOTE (This note is not part of the Regulations) These Regulations impose permanent speed limits of 40 miles per hour and 60 miles per hour on specified lengths of the M32 motorway between junctions 1 and 3.
This note clarifies that the regulations establish permanent speed limits of 40 mph and 60 mph on designated parts of the M32 between junctions 1 and 3.
It is important to note that this explanatory section does not hold the same legal force as the main regulations.
Contravention of these Regulations is an offence under section 17(4) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.
Breaking the rules established in these regulations constitutes a specific offense under section 17(4) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.
An Explanatory Memorandum and de minimis assessment are published alongside these Regulations at www.legislation.gov.uk.
Additional documentation, including an Explanatory Memorandum and a de minimis assessment (a judgment on the minor extent of impact), is available for review on the official legislation website.