 | This article needs additional citations for verification .(October 2021) |
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. The enforcement tolerance is specified in km/h or percentage above the stated limit.
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 | 10 km/h |
 Argentina | 40–60 | 100–130 | 80 | 80–110 | 80 | 10 km/h |
 Australia [6] | 40–60 | 100-110 [fn 1] | 100-130 [fn 2] | 100–110 [fn 1] | 100 [fn 2] | 10 km/h in Victoria, [fn 3] 10% over speed limit in other states[ citation needed ] |
 Austria [7] | 50 | 130 | 100 | 100 | 70/80 | 10 km/h |
 Azerbaijan [8] | 40–60 | 110 | 90 | Up to 10 km/h | ||
 Bangladesh | 40 | 110 | 80 | 80 (Automobiles) 50 (Motorcycles) | 50 | 10 |
 Bahrain | 50 | 100–120 [9] | 90 | 80 | 70 | 10 |
 Belarus | 60 | 120 (  90) [10] | 90 | 90 | 70 | N/A |
 Belgium [11] | 20–50 | 90–120 | 90 70 (Flemish Region) | 70–90 | 70–90 | 10 km/h up to 100 km/h, 10% 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) | 10 km/h up to 110 km/h, 10% over, rounded to nearest integer [15] |
 Brunei | 50 | 100 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 10 km/h |
 Bulgaria [16] | 50 | 140 ( 100) | 90 | 90 ( 80) | 80 | 10 km/h |
 Canada [17] | 30-50 | 100–120 [18] | 60–100 | depends on province | Officially 0 (fines specified for 10 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 | 10 km/h |
 China | 30–60 | 100–120 | 80 | 60–80 | 80–100 [20] | 10% of speed limit |
— 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 | 10 km/h |
— Taiwan | 40–60 | 100–110 | 80–90 | 50–80 | 60–80 | 10 km/h |
 Costa Rica | 45 | 80–100 | 80 | 60 | 60 | 10 km/h |
 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 | 10 km/h |
 Czech Republic [24] | 50 | 130 (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 4] | 80 | 80 | 80 | 10 km/h up to 100 km/h; 10% over (Only for lasers and cameras) |
— Faroe Islands | 50 | 80 | 10 km/h | |||
— Greenland | 50 | 80 | 10 km/h | |||
 Estonia | 50 | 110–120 [26] [27] | 90-100 | 90–120 | 90 | 10 km/h |
 Egypt | 60 | 100-120 | 90 | 90–120 (for automobiles) 90-100 (for motorcycles) | 60-70 (for trucks) 80-100 (for buses) | 20 km/h |
 Finland [28] | 50 | 80–120 [fn 5] | 80 | 80 | 80 | 10 km/h |
— Åland | 50 | 70–90 | 10 km/h | |||
 France [29] | 50 | 110 (100 in rain) (expressways) 130 (110 in rain) (motorways) | 80–90 | 80–90 | 60 [fn 6] –90 | 10 km/h up to 100 km/h; 10% above 100 km/h |
 Georgia [30] | 60 (20 in residential areas) | 110 | 80 | 90 | 70 | 10 |
 Germany [31] | 50 | None, recommended speed 130 km/h. [fn 7] | 80–100 [fn 8] | 100 | 60 (trucks) 80 | 10 km/h up to 100 km/h; 10% over |
 Greece [32] | 50 | 110 (expressways) 130 (motorways) | 80 | 90 | 70 | 10 |
 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 9] | 90 | 90 (paved roads) / 80 (gravel roads) [34] | 80 | 10 |
 India | 50 | up to 120, often lower | 60 | 80 | 65 | 20 |
 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 | 20 km/h |
 Ireland [35] | 30–50 | 120 | 80 (default but up to 100 where stated) | 80 | Trucks 90 Trailers 80 | Not defined. |
 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 | 10 km/h |
 Japan [37] | 30–60 | 80–120 (national expressways) 70–80 (single-lane expressways) | 60 | 30 (~50cc) 100-120 | 80 (trailers) 90 (trucks) | 14 km/h with very few expection [38] |
 Jordan | 60 or less | 120 | 80 | 80-120 | 80-100 | 20 km/h |
 Kazakhstan [39] | 60 | 140 | 110 | 20 km/h | ||
 South Korea | 30–60 [40] | 80–120 | 80 | 80–90 | 40–60 | 15 km/h |
 Latvia [41] | 50 | 90–120 | 80–90 | 80–90 | 80 | 10 km/h |
 Lebanon | 50 | 100 | 20 km/h | |||
 Liechtenstein [42] | 50 | N/A | N/A | 80 | 80 | 10 km/h |
 Lithuania [43] | 50 | 110–130 | 90 | 70–90 | 70–90 | 10 km/h |
 Luxembourg [44] | 50 | 130 (110 in rain) | 90 | 90 | 75 | 10 km/h below 100 km/h; 10% above 100 km/h [45] |
 North Macedonia | 50 | 120 | 80–100 | 10 | ||
 Malaysia | 30–60 | 90-110 | 80–90 | 70–90 [fn 10] | 70–80 80–90 (in expressway) | 20 |
 Malta [46] | 30–50 | 80 | 60 | 10 | ||
 Mexico [47] | 20–50 | 100–110 | 80–95 [48] | 70–90 | 80–95 | 20 |
 Moldova | 50 | No such highways | 90 (110 in certain areas only) | 90–110 | 70 | 20 |
 Morocco | 40-60 | 120 | 100 | 100 | 85-90 | 10% up to 70 km/h, 7km/h |
 Netherlands [49] | 50 (30 in residential areas, ca. 70% of urban streets (2008) [50] ) | 130 (motorways 19–6 h) [fn 11] 100 (motorways 6–19 h) 100 (expressways) | 80 | 80 | 80 [fn 12] [fn 13] | 10 km/h |
 New Zealand [51] | 30–50 | 100–110 | 60–100 | 100 (30–90 when towing, depending on vehicle) [52] | 90 (80 school buses) | 10 (school zones, 10) [53] |
 Norway [54] | 50 | 100–110 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 10 |
 Pakistan | 40 | 100–120 | 100 | 50–80 | 100 | 20 |
 Peru | 30–50 | 80–100 | 100 (90 buses) | 60–100 | 70–80 | 15 |
 Philippines [55] [56] | 20–60 | 100 [57] | 40–80 | 40–80 | 30–50 | 20 |
 Poland | 50-60 | 100 (single-lane expressways) 120 (dual-lane expressways) 140 (motorways) | 90 | 90 (single-lane) 100 (dual-lane) | 70 / 80 | 10 |
 Portugal | 50 | 120 | 90 | 90–100 | 70–80 | 10 |
 Romania [58] | 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 | 30 |
 Russia | 60 (20 in residential areas) | 110–130 | 90 | 90 | 70–90 | 20 |
 Saudi Arabia | 120–140 | 4 - 10 km/h on highways [59] | ||||
 Serbia | 50 | 100 (expressways) 130 [60] (motorways) | 80 | 80 | 80 | 0 km/h (No tolerance) |
 Singapore | 50 | 90 | 60 | 80–90 | 60 | 10-20 |
 Slovakia [61] | 50 | 130 (100 in built-up areas) 100 (Single line expressways) | 90 | 90 | 90 | 10 |
 Slovenia [62] | 50 | 130 | 80–100 | 90 | 80 | 10 |
 South Africa | 60 | 120 | 80–100 | 80–100 | 80–100 | 20 |
 Spain [63] | 30–50 | 120 [fn 14] | 80–90 | 90 | 80 | 10 km/h up to 100 km/h; 10% over |
 Sweden [64] | 50 | 110–120 | 70–90 | 70–100 | 70–80 | 10 |
 Switzerland [65] | 50, 30, 20 | 100 (expressways), 120 (motorways) | 80 | 80 | 80 | Only measurment tolerance: 3-14 km/h, depending on measurement method and speed limit [66] |
 Thailand | 60–80 | 80–120 | 100 | 90 | 80 | 25 |
 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 16] [69] | 20 mph (32 km/h) some urban/residential areas and built up areas in Wales 30 mph (48 km/h) built up areas 40 mph on some roads in built up areas. | 70 mph (112 km/h) <for both motorways and dual-carriageways) [fn 17] | 60/70 mph (96/112 km/h) [fn 18] dependent on class (motorways) 50/60/70 mph (80/96/112 km/h), ditto (trunk dual-carriageways) | 60 mph (96 km/h) | 40/50/60 mph (64/80/96 km/h) dependent on class. [fn 18] | Legally 5 mph. 5–9 mph dependent on limit and jurisdiction. [fn 19] Patrol officers use own discretion. |
 Gibraltar [70] | 30–50 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 35 for registered goods vehicles and buses | 10 |
 Isle of Man [fn 16] | 30 mph (48 km/h) | N/A | No limit [71] | N/A | 5 mph (8 km/h) | |
 United States [fn 16] | 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 | 5 mph (8 km/h) |
 Vietnam [72] | 50–60 | 120 ( 100) | 60–90 | 60–80 | 60–80 | 20 km/h |
 Zimbabwe | 60 kilometres per hour (37 mph) | 80–120 kilometres per hour (50–75 mph) | 80–120 kilometres per hour (50–75 mph) | 10 mph (16 km/h) |
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.
The road hierarchy categorizes roads according to their functions and capacities. While sources differ on the exact nomenclature, the basic hierarchy comprises freeways, arterials, collectors, and local roads. Generally, the functional hierarchy can more or less correspond to the hierarchy of roads by their owner or administrator.
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.
The expressways of Japan make up a large network of controlled-access toll expressways.
The Autobahn is the federal controlled-access highway system in Germany. The official 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.
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.
Speed limits in Australia range from 5 km/h (3.1 mph) shared zones to 130 km/h (81 mph). Speed limit signage is in km/h since metrication on 1 July 1974. All speed limits, with the sole exception of the South Australian school and roadworks zones, which are signposted at 25 km/h, are multiples of 10 km/h – the last digit in all speed signs is zero. Speed limits are set by state and territory legislation albeit with co-ordination and discussion between governments.
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 for some classes of vehicles. 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 Croatia are regulated by the Road Traffic Safety Act.
French roads have a variable maximum speed limit that depends on weather conditions. In dry weather, roads in urban areas have a default speed limit of 50 km/h, and outside urban areas have the following limits:
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).
Norway has two general speed limits:
The highest speed limit in Japan is 120 km/h, which applies on sections of Shin-Tōmei Expressway (E1A) and Tōhoku Expressway (E4), and expressways in the Kantō Plain leading to Tokyo, although a speed limit of 120 km/h is planned to be introduced on some more expressways.
Speed limits in Pakistan are similar to most European countries on newer roads with most highways at 120 km/h (75 mph), and somewhat higher in the western areas of the country. There are some areas of the country with no enforced speed limit.
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).
Four general speed limits apply on roads in Serbia:
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.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .