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A speed limit is the limit of speed allowed by law for road vehicles, usually the maximum speed allowed. Occasionally, there is a minimum speed limit. [1] Advisory speed limits also exist, which are recommended but not mandatory speeds. Speed limits are commonly set by the legislative bodies of national or local governments.
The following tables show various jurisdictions' default speed limits (where applicable) that apply to different types of vehicles travelling on three different types of road. Actual speed limits may range beyond these values. Speeds are listed in kilometres per hour unless otherwise stated. The enforcement tolerance is specified in km/h or percentage above the stated limit. For the United Kingdom and the United States, the speed limit is still listed in miles per hour. [fn 1]
Germany is the only country where some motorways do not have a maximum speed limit. The 130 km/h is sign-posted as a general advisory speed limit for motorways in the entry of the country. Due to those Autobahns, Germany is considered a country without a general speed limit on its highways. [2] The Isle of Man is the only jurisdiction without a general speed limit on rural two-lane roads.
Numerous countries have a different general speed limit for urban roads than on remaining roads. Such differences exist since the beginning of the 20th century, in countries such as United Kingdom and France. This concept is formally defined as road within built-up area in various regulations, including Vienna convention, even if UK has re-branded them as street lighted or restricted area. More informally they are known as urban road. In 2017, most of all IRTAD countries have a default speed limit in urban roads of 50 km/h, with various lower speeds, for instance, in the Netherlands, 70% of the urban roads are limited to 30 km/h. [3]
Some countries, for instance the US, India or China, do not have a specific urban road maximum speed.
Different speed limits exist for heavy goods vehicles (HGV) but the limit for HGV is country dependent: while most Eurasian and American countries might use the Vienna convention's 3.5-tonne limit, other countries in North America, China, India, Australia or Ireland might use different weight limits.
(Speed limits are indicated in kilometers per hour (km/h), except as noted.)
| Country | Within towns | Controlled-access highway/ motorway/freeway/expressway | Interurban roads outside built-up areas/regional highways | Automobiles & motorcycles | Lorries or automobiles with trailer | Enforcement tolerance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Albania [4] [5] | 40 | 110 | 80 | 80–90 | 60–70 | |
 Argentina | 40–60 | 100–130 | 80 | 80–110 | 80 | |
 Australia [6] | 40–60 | 100-110 [fn 2] | 100-130 [fn 3] | 100–110 [fn 2] | 100 [fn 3] | 2 km/h in Victoria, [fn 4] 10% over speed limit in other states[ citation needed ] |
 Austria [7] | 50 | 130 | 100 | 100 | 70/80 | |
 Azerbaijan [8] | 40–60 | 110 | 90 | Up to 10 km/h | ||
 Bahrain | 50 | 100–120 [9] | 70 | |||
 Belarus | 60 | 120 (  90) [10] | 90 | 90 | 70 | |
 Belgium [11] | 20–50 | 90–120 | 90 70 (Flemish Region) | 70–90 | 70–90 | 6 km/h up to 100 km/h, 6% over |
 Bosnia and Herzegovina [12] | 50 [13] | 130 (motorways) 100 (expressways) | 80 | 80 | 80 | 10 km/h [14] |
 Brazil | 40–70 | 80–120 | 80–100 | 80–110 | 80 (90 for buses) | 7 km/h up to 107 km/h, 7% over, rounded to nearest integer [15] |
 Brunei | 50 | 100 | 80 | 80 | 80 | |
 Bulgaria [16] | 50 | 140 ( 100) | 100 | 90 ( 80) | 80 | |
 Canada [17] | 30-50 | 100–120 [18] | 60–100 | depends on province | Officially 0 (fines specified for 1 km/h over in Alberta [19] ), unofficially 20%–40% depending on officer | |
 Chile | 30-50 | 120 (automobiles & motorcycle) 100 (interurban bus only) | 90 | 90 | 90 | 5 km/h |
 China | 30–60 | 100–120 | 80 | 60–80 | 80–100 (80–110 for buses) [20] | 20% of speed limit in highways and 50% of speed limit within towns and outside built up area |
— Hong Kong [21] | 50 | 100–110 [22] | 70 | 50–80 | 50–70 | 10 km/h |
— Macau | 20–60 | 60–80 | N/A | 50–80 | N/A | |
— Taiwan | 40–60 | 100–110 | 80–90 | 50–80 | 60–80 | 10 km/h |
 Costa Rica | 45 | 80–100 | 80 | 60 | 60 | |
 Croatia | 50 | 130 (motorways) 110 (expressways) | 80 | 90 | 80 | 10 km/h up to 100 km/h; 10% over |
 Cyprus [23] | 30–50 | 100 | 100 | 80 | 80 | |
 Czech Republic [24] | 50 | 130 or 150 on some parts(motorways) 110 (expressways) 80 (urban expressways & motorways) | 90 | 90 | 80 | 3 km/h up to 100 km/h; 3% over |
 Denmark [25] | 50 | 130 [fn 5] | 80 | 80 | 80 | 3 km/h up to 100 km/h; 3% over (Only for lasers and cameras) |
— Faroe Islands | 50 | 80 | ||||
— Greenland | 50 | 80 | ||||
 Estonia | 50 | 110–120 [26] [27] | 90-100 | 90–120 | 90 | |
 Egypt | 60 | 100-120 | 90 | 90–120 (for automobiles) 90-100 (for motorcycles) | 60-70 (for trucks) 80-100 (for buses) | |
 Finland [28] | 50 | 80–120 [fn 6] | 80 | 80 | 80 | |
— Åland | 50 | 70–90 | ||||
 France [29] | 50 | 110 (100 in rain) (expressways) 130 (110 in rain) (motorways) | 80–90 | 80–90 | 60 [fn 7] –90 | 5 km/h up to 100 km/h; 5% above 100 km/h |
 Georgia [30] | 60 (20 in residential areas) | 110 | 80 | 90 | 70 | |
 Germany [31] | 50 | None, recommended speed 130 km/h. [fn 8] | 80–100 [fn 9] | 100 | 60 (trucks) 80 | 3 km/h up to 100 km/h; 3% over |
 Greece [32] | 50 | 110 (expressways) 130 (motorways) | 80 | 90 | 70 | |
 Hungary [33] | 50 (in general) 30 (residential areas) 60–70 (main roads) | 110 (expressways) 130 (motorways) | 90 | 90–110 | 70 | 15 km/h up to (and including) 100 km/h; 20 km/h over |
 Iceland | 50 | 90 [fn 10] | 90 | 90 (paved roads) / 80 (gravel roads) [34] | 80 | |
 India | 50 | up to 120, often lower | 60 | 80 | 65 | |
 Indonesia | 40-60 | 80-100 | 80 | 50-80 | 60–80 | 10% of speed limit within towns 20% of speed limit in toll roads. |
 Iran | 50 | 70–120 | 70–110 | 70–110 | 70–110 | |
 Ireland [35] | 30–50 | 120 | 90 | 80–100 | 80 | |
 Israel [36] | 50 | 100–120 | 90 | 80–90 | 80 | 20 km/h |
 Italy | 50 | 130 (110 in adverse weather) (motorways) 110 (expressways) | 90 | 90 | 70 | 5 km/h |
 Japan | 30–60 | 100–120 70–80 (single-lane expressways) | 80 | 30 (~50cc), 30–60 (50cc~) | 50–80 | |
 Jordan | 60 or less | 120 | 80 | 80-120 | 80-100 | |
 Kazakhstan [37] | 60 | 140 | 110 | |||
 South Korea | 30–60 [38] | 80–120 | 80 | 80–90 | 40–60 | |
 Latvia [39] | 50 | 90–120 | 80–90 | 80–90 | 80 | |
 Lebanon | 50 | 100 | ||||
 Liechtenstein [40] | 50 | N/A | N/A | 80 | 80 | |
 Lithuania [41] | 50 | 110–130 | 90 | 70–90 | 70–90 | |
 Luxembourg [42] | 50 | 130 (110 in rain) | 90 | 90 | 75 | 3 km/h below 100 km/h; 3% above 100 km/h [43] |
 North Macedonia | 50 | 120 | 80–100 | |||
 Malaysia | 30–60 | 90-110 | 80–90 | 70–90 [fn 11] | 70–80 80–90 (in expressway) | |
 Malta [44] | 30–50 | 80 | 60 | |||
 Mexico [45] | 20–50 | 100–110 | 80–95 [46] | 70–90 | 80–95 | |
 Moldova | 50 | No such highways | 90 (110 in certain areas only) | 90–110 | 70 | 9 |
 Netherlands [47] | 50 (30 in residential areas, in 70% or urban streets [48] ) | 80–130 [fn 12] [fn 13] (motorways) 100 (expressways) | 80 | 80 | 80 | 7 km/h |
 New Zealand [49] | 30–50 | 100–110 | 60–100 | 100 (30–90 when towing, depending on vehicle) [50] | 90 (80 school buses) | 10 (school zones, 4) [51] |
 Norway [52] | 50 | 100–110 | 80 | 80 | 80 | |
 Pakistan | 40 | 100–120 | 100 | 50–80 | 100 | |
 Peru | 30–50 | 80–100 | 100 (90 buses) | 60–100 | 70–80 | |
 Philippines [53] [54] | 20–60 | 100 [55] | 40–80 | 40–80 | 30–50 | |
 Poland | 50 | 100 (single-lane expressways) 120 (dual-lane expressways) 140 (motorways) | 90 | 90 (single-lane) 100 (dual-lane) | 70 / 80 | |
 Portugal | 50 | 120 | 90 | 90–100 | 70–80 | |
 Romania [56] | 50 (in certain areas as low as 25) | 130 (motorways) 120 (expressways) 80 (expressways in mountainous areas) | 90 (100 on highways designated as European Roads) | 90–100 | 70–90 | 9 |
 Russia | 60 (20 in residential areas) | 110–130 | 90 | 90 | 70–90 | 20 |
 Saudi Arabia | 120–140 | 4 – 10 km/h on highways [57] | ||||
 Serbia | 50 | 100 (expressways) 130 [58] (motorways) | 80 | 80 | 80 | |
 Singapore | 50 | 90 | 60 | 80–90 | 60 | 10 |
 Slovakia [59] | 50 | 130 (100 in built-up areas) 100 (Single line expressways) | 90 | 90 | 90 | |
 Slovenia [60] | 50 | 130 | 80–100 | 90 | 80 | |
 South Africa | 60 | 120 | 80–100 | 80–100 | 80–100 | |
 Spain [61] | 30–50 | 120 [fn 14] | 80–90 | 90 | 80 | 7 km/h up to 100 km/h; 7% over |
 Sweden [62] | 30–60 | 110–120 | 70–90 | 70–100 | 70–80 | |
 Switzerland [63] | 50 | 100 (expressways) 120 (motorways) | 80 | 80 | 80 | 3--14 km/h, depending on measurement method and speed limit [64] |
 Thailand | 60–80 | 80–120 | 100 | 90 | 80 | |
 Turkey | 50 | 110 (expressways)( 90 if L3) | 85 (expressways) 90 (motorways)[ citation needed ] | 90 ( 80 if L3) | 80 | 10% over the limit |
 Ukraine | 50 (20 in residential areas) | 110–130 | 90 | 90 | 70–90 | 20 |
 United Arab Emirates | 80 | 140–160 | 120–140 | 120 | 80 | |
 United Kingdom [fn 1] [67] | Wales: 20 mph (32 km/h) England/ Scotland/ Northern Ireland: 30 mph (48 km/h) default. 20 mph in some urban/residential areas. 40 mph on some major roads. | 70 mph (113 km/h) (both motorways and dual-carriageways) [fn 16] | 60/70 mph (97/113 km/h) [fn 17] dependent on class (motorways) 50/60/70 mph (80/97/113 km/h), ditto (trunk dual-carriageways) | 60 mph (96 km/h) | 40/50/60 mph (64/80/97 km/h) dependent on class. [fn 17] | Legally 0 mph. 2–9 mph dependent on limit and jurisdiction. [fn 18] Patrol officers use own discretion. |
— Gibraltar [68] | 30–50 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
— Isle of Man [fn 1] | 30 mph (48 km/h) | N/A | No limit [69] | N/A | ||
 United States [fn 19] | 25–35 miles per hour (40–56 km/h) (Varies by State) | 55–85 miles per hour (89–137 km/h) [fn 20] [fn 21] | 40–65 miles per hour (64–105 km/h) [fn 22] | Restrictions only in some states, typically 5–15 mph lower. | None formally, though jurisdiction-dependent | |
 Venezuela | 40–60 kilometres per hour (25–37 mph) | 120 [fn 23] | 60–120 | 80 | 40–60 | |
 Vietnam [70] | 50–60 | 120 ( 100) | 60–90 | 60–80 | 60–80 | |
 Zimbabwe | 60 kilometres per hour (37 mph) | 80–120 kilometres per hour (50–75 mph) | 80–120 kilometres per hour (50–75 mph) |
Usual interurban (non urban) speed limit in the European Union (except Cyprus), Albania, Kosovo, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, outside of motorways and outside of expressways
National speed limits for heavy goods vehicle (HGV) (>3.5 tonnes according to Vienna convention) in the European Union, Kosovo, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, on all roads including motorways
Speed limits on road traffic, as used in most countries, set the legal maximum speed at which vehicles may travel on a given stretch of road. Speed limits are generally indicated on a traffic sign reflecting the maximum permitted speed, expressed as kilometres per hour (km/h) or miles per hour (mph) or both. Speed limits are commonly set by the legislative bodies of national or provincial governments and enforced by national or regional police and judicial authorities. Speed limits may also be variable, or in some places nonexistent, such as on most of the Autobahnen in Germany.
A dual carriageway (BrE) or a divided highway (AmE) is a class of highway with carriageways for traffic travelling in opposite directions separated by a central reservation (BrE) or median (AmE). Roads with two or more carriageways which are designed to higher standards with controlled access are generally classed as motorways, freeways, etc., rather than dual carriageways.
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A limited-access road, known by various terms worldwide, including limited-access highway, dual-carriageway, expressway, and partial controlled-access highway, is a highway or arterial road for high-speed traffic which has many or most characteristics of a controlled-access highway, including limited or no access to adjacent property, some degree of separation of opposing traffic flow, use of grade separated interchanges to some extent, prohibition of slow modes of transport, such as bicycles, horse-drawn vehicles or ridden horses, or self-propelled agricultural machines; and very few or no intersecting cross-streets or level crossings. The degree of isolation from local traffic allowed varies between countries and regions. The precise definition of these terms varies by jurisdiction.
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The Autobahn is the federal controlled-access highway system in Germany. The official German term is Bundesautobahn, which translates as 'federal motorway'. The literal meaning of the word Bundesautobahn is 'Federal Auto(mobile) Track'.
A controlled-access highway is a type of highway that has been designed for high-speed vehicular traffic, with all traffic flow—ingress and egress—regulated. Common English terms are freeway, motorway, and expressway. Other similar terms include throughway or thruway and parkway. Some of these may be limited-access highways, although this term can also refer to a class of highways with somewhat less isolation from other traffic.
Road speed limits in Ireland apply on all public roads in the state. These are signposted and legislated for in kilometres per hour. Speed limits are demarcated by regulatory road signs. These consist of white circular signs with a red outline. Speed limits are marked in black with "km/h" below the speed limit. Smaller "repeater" speed limit signs are used along stretches of road where there is no change in speed limit, in order to remind motorists currently on the road and to inform traffic merging from junctions that a certain speed limit applies.
A single carriageway or an undivided highway is a road with one, two or more lanes arranged within a one carriageway with no central reservation/median strip to separate opposing flows of traffic. A single-track road has a single lane with passing places for traffic in both directions. Road traffic safety is generally worse for high-speed single carriageways than for dual carriageways due to the lack of separation between traffic moving in opposing directions.
Road signs in Thailand are standardized road signs similar to those used in other nations but much of it resembles road signage systems used in South American countries with certain differences, such as using a blue circle instead of a red-bordered white circle to indicate mandatory actions. Until the early 1980s, Thailand closely followed American, European, Australian, and Japanese practices in road sign design, with diamond-shaped warning signs and circular restrictive signs to regulate traffic. The Department of Railway maintains a standard on the typeface used in the sign, with custom made type for Thai text, unofficially named "Thang Luang" (อักษรทางหลวง) and a small derivation of FHWA Series fonts typeface, which is used on American road signage, for Latin text. In most Bangkok Metropolitan Area's routes, TS Lopburi is still used.
Highways in the Czech Republic are managed by the state-owned Directorate of Highways and Motorways of the Czech Republic – ŘSD ČR. The ŘSD currently manages and maintains 1,355 km of motorways (dálnice) and the national speed limit is 130 km/h with an expectation that limit will be increased for some sections to 150 km/h (93 mph). The length of the motorway network is planned to be expanded to 2,000 km by 2030.
This article describes the highway systems available in selected countries.
Road speed limits in the United Kingdom are used to define the maximum legal speed for vehicles using public roads in the UK.
Speed limits in Germany are set by the federal government. All limits are multiples of 10 km/h. There are two default speed limits: 50 km/h (31 mph) inside built-up areas and 100 km/h (62 mph) outside built-up areas. While parts of the autobahns and many other freeway-style highways have posted limits up to 130 km/h (81 mph) based on accident experience, congestion and other factors, many rural sections have no general speed limit. The Road Traffic Regulations (StVO) section on speed begins with the requirement which may be rendered in English:
Any person driving a vehicle may only drive so fast that the car is under control. Speeds must be adapted to the road, traffic, visibility and weather conditions as well as the personal skills and characteristics of the vehicle and load.
Speed limits in the Czech Republic vary depending on the type of road, and whether the road is within a settlement or not. The top speed limit is 130 km/h (81 mph) for motorways outside of settlements, whereas on regular roads within a settlement the speed limit is 50 km/h (31 mph). outside of the settlement and other than motorway the speed limit is 90 km/h. Various other special restrictions are applied for certain types and weight categories of vehicle.
French roads have a variable maximum speed limit that depends on weather conditions. In dry weather rural 2- or 3-lane roads are limited to 80 km/h, 4-lane expressways 110 km/h, and highways 130 km/h. When raining, the limits are respectively lowered to 80, 100, and 110 km/h. Urban speed limit of 50 km/h is unaffected by weather. The general speed limit is lowered to 50 km/h on all roads in the fog or other low-visibility conditions if visibility is under 50 metres.
The default speed limits in the Netherlands are 50 km/h (31 mph) inside built-up areas, 80 km/h (50 mph) outside built-up areas, 100 km/h (62 mph) on expressways (autowegen), and, as of 16 March 2020, 100 km/h from 6:00 to 19:00 and 130 km/h from 19:00 to 6:00 on motorways (autosnelwegen).
General speed limits in New Zealand are set by the New Zealand government. The speed limit in each location is indicated on a nearby traffic sign or by the presence of street lighting. The limits have been posted in kilometres per hour (km/h) since 1974. Before then, when New Zealand used imperial units, maximum speeds were displayed in miles per hour (mph). Today, limits range from 10 km/h (6.2 mph) to 110 km/h (68 mph); in urban areas the default speed limit is 50 km/h (31 mph).
Speed limits in Slovakia vary by type of vehicle. The speed limit is 50 km/h in built up areas, 90 km/h on country roads that are not in a settlement, and 130 km/h on motorways. From 2020, all expressways that have a R number were considered as a motorway, and expressways are considered an expressway, with a speed limit of 100 km/h, or 80 km/h for trucks. Trucks on motorways, expressways or dual carriageways are not allowed to overtake vehicles except for avoiding obstacles or if switching lanes, to exit, or to get into the right lane at a motorway or expressway intersection. Headlights are also required 24 hours a day for all types of vehicles.
Speed limits in Thailand are a set of maximum speeds applicable on any road in Thailand. For small cars that weigh less than 1,200 kg (2,646 lb), the maximum limits within the built-up area and outside are 80 km/h (50 mph) and 90 km/h (56 mph) respectively. The exception applies to motorways, in which small cars can use up to 120 km/h (75 mph). Heavier cars, buses and trailer have more restrictive limits. Despite having the general maximum speed limits, the limits may be altered by a roadside sign.
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