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.
Overview
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.
Definitions
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.
Countries
(Speed limits are indicated in kilometers per hour (km/h), except as noted.)
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 Legend: = 70 km/h; = 80 km/h, = 90 km/h; = 96 km/h (60 mph); = 100 km/h Source Europa.eu[73]
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 Legend: = 60 km/h; = 70 km/h, = 80 km/h, = 90 km/h; = 100 km/h; = 110 km/h; = 112 km/h (70 mph) source Europa.eu[73]
Footnotes
^ abDefault speed limits in Australia vary between states and territories. See Speed limits in Australia for more details.
^ ab
No special limit applies for automobiles with trailers. A 100 km/h speed limit applies for heavy vehicles with a gross vehicle mass of 12 tonnes or more. A 100 km/h limit applies for buses with a gross vehicle mass of 5 tonnes or more. In some Australian states, Road Trains are limited to 90 km/h. In some cases, over steep descents or other potentially dangerous stretches of road, heavy vehicles may have other special speed limits as indicated by signage.
^
2 km/h for fixed speed cameras, 3 km/h for mobile speed cameras or police radars
^80 for trucks. 100 for buses, 80 for buses with trailers*. 130 for cars, 80 for cars with trailers* (*unless trailer is equipped with a tempo 100 sign. In this case the limit is 100.).
^During winter motorways have a speed limit of 100 km/h or less. Also most roads with 100 km/h speed limit in summer have 80 km/h limit during winter.
^Speed limit is 60 km/h for trailers on 2-lane non-priority roads.
^
Some sections are covered by speed limits, usually ranging from 80 to 130 km/h. It is usual for drivers involved in crashes who were exceeding the 'recommended' speed limit to be held to be at least partly at fault, regardless of the circumstances of the crash, and insurance companies have the right to withhold payment. Vehicles also must be able to go faster than 60 km/h.
^
Additional trailer checkup (TÜV) and special speed plaque required on vehicle.
^Route 41 is controlled-access with middle barrier outside built-up area, but still 90 km/h
^
The speed limit on Malaysian federal and state roads has been reduced to 80 km/h during festive seasons, starting from the 2006 Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
^
130 km/h is the default, but on substantial sections the limit is 120 km/h or 100 km/h in densely populated regions or natural areas or 80 km/h on major city ring roads. Nationally, a 100 km/h speed limit applies between 6:00 and 19:00 as of 1 March 2020.
^Cars or vans pulling a trailer with a total weight of less than 3.5 metric tons with the trailer weighing less than 750 kg are allowed to drive 90 km/h, except where a lower speed limit applies.
^Buses have a speed limit of 80 km/h but T100-buses that have no standing places and in which all seats are equipped with seat belts have a speed limit of 100 km/h, except where a lower speed limit applies.
^100 km/h for vans, 90 km/h for vehicles with a trailer weighing 750 kg or less, 80 km/h for vehicles with a trailer weighing more than 750 kg.
^
In general, non-urban, all-purpose dual carriageways are subject to the same 70 mph limit for light vehicles as motorways, but lower limits (50 and 60 mph) are in place for heavy trucks, buses/minibuses and towing vehicles. For instance, steeper or more winding alignments and less forgiving junctions than would be found on motorways necessitate lower limits for some stretches.
^ ab
Generally in the UK, lorries over a laden weight of 7,500 kg (7.4 long tons) are speed-limited to 56 mph (90 km/h) even where they are legally permitted a higher speed. There are reduced limits for commercial vehicles and larger passenger vehicle. See Road speed limits in the United Kingdom
^
Speed limits are absolute, i.e. a driver could be prosecuted for exceeding them by just 1mph. In practice some allowance may be made.
^The state of Hawaii posts a 55 mph (89 km/h) speed limit on many Interstate highways.
^
The lower speed limit in large inner-cities may be as low as 45 mph (72 km/h) for example on I-90/94 which goes through Chicago. In many urban areas, controlled-access highways typically take 5 – 15 mph off the speed limit. For example, in Cleveland and Cuyahoga county, the speed limit is 60 mph (97 km/h). Once out of the county, the speed limit returns to 65 mph (105 km/h).