Speed limitAustralia

An introduction to the traffic rules and road signs of Australia. Learn about driving, road safety and much more in our illustrated book, with answers to frequently asked questions.

For informational purposes only. Always follow official regulations. Some content and images were created with AI assistance.


4. Speed limit

A speed limit is the maximum legal speed permitted on a road, lane or within a designated area. It may be established by general traffic law or indicated by fixed, variable or temporary traffic signs.

A speed limit is a maximum, not a target speed. Drivers must travel more slowly whenever traffic, visibility, weather, road conditions, vulnerable road users or the condition of the vehicle make the maximum permitted speed unsafe.

30 km/h speed-limit sign on Oxford Street. (Leederville, Western Australia)
Wikimedia.org • Shinjiman • CC0
Which general speed limits should car drivers know in Australia?

Australia has state and territory rules. For example, unsigned defaults in New South Wales are generally 50 km/h in built-up areas and 100 km/h elsewhere. In the Northern Territory they are generally 60 and 110 km/h, with lower gazetted town defaults possible. Follow the jurisdiction’s rules and any different signed limit.

🔗 nsw.gov.au • Australia, NSW official road-user guidance — speed-limit

🔗 nt.gov.au • Australia, official supporting guidance — speed-limit

🔗 nsw.gov.au • Transport for NSW — Road User Handbook, relevant topic

Can I carry a remembered Australian state default into another state or territory?

No. Defaults and special speed rules depend on the jurisdiction. The New South Wales and Northern Territory examples already differ. On crossing a border, use the destination’s road rules and actual signs rather than assuming one nationwide default.

🔗 nsw.gov.au • Australia, NSW official road-user guidance — speed-limit

🔗 nt.gov.au • Australia, official supporting guidance — speed-limit

🔗 nsw.gov.au • Transport for NSW — Road User Handbook, relevant topic

Start of a speed limit. Start of a speed limit.

English • Model rules 20–21 • speed-limit sign • Maximum speed 60 km/h. Do not exceed 60 km/h where this sign applies. Drive more slowly when road, traffic or weather conditions require it. State and territory rules and exceptions apply.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Pcc.gov.au • Australian Road Rules • model law • rules20–21; Schedule2p316
🔗 Legislation.qld.gov.au • Queensland Road Rules • local legislation example

SVG source: Standards Australia • Public domain • Original revision 2025-09-12. Wikimedia original unmodified.

End of the speed limit. End of the speed limit.

English • Model rule 21 • end speed-limit sign • End of 60 km/h limit. The signed 60 km/h limit ends here. Follow any other applicable speed restriction or the default limit under the local rules. State and territory rules and exceptions apply.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Pcc.gov.au • Australian Road Rules • model law • rule21; Schedule2p307
🔗 Legislation.qld.gov.au • Queensland Road Rules • local legislation example

SVG source: Standards Australia • Public domain • Original revision 2020-03-21. Wikimedia original unmodified.

What happens when a New South Wales school-zone sign has operating times?

In New South Wales, the school-zone maximum applies on school days during the times shown on the sign. School days are published by the NSW Department of Education. Do not infer whether the limit applies from whether children are visible. Outside those periods, follow the other limit governing the road.

🔗 nsw.gov.au • Australia, NSW official road-user guidance — speed-limit

🔗 nt.gov.au • Australia, official supporting guidance — speed-limit

🔗 nsw.gov.au • Transport for NSW — Road User Handbook, relevant topic

1 Australia 2 Motorway 3 Residential area 4 Speed limit 5 Advisory speed 6 Bike path 7 Pedestrian warning 8 Bridge 9 Speed bump 10 Toll road 11 One-way traffic 12 Slope 13 Bus stop 14 Stop sign 15 Give way 16 Roundabout 17 Pedestrian crossing 18 Railway crossing 19 Mandatory direction 20 Turn prohibition 21 School area 22 Crossing animals 23 Slippery road 24 Curve 25 Chevron 26 Wrong-way driving 27 Height limit 28 Radar speed sign 29 Selective barriers 30 Traffic lights 31 Traffic lights warning 32 Pedestrian lights 33 Road markings 34 Left-hand traffic 35 Driver licence 36 Location marker 37 Emergency telephone 38 No parking 39 No stopping 40 Disabled parking 41 Traffic management 42 Reversing 43 U-turn 44 Uncontrolled intersection 45 Oversize load 46 Licence plate 47 Charging station 48 Local traffic 49 Moped 50 Truck 51 Bus 52 Police 53 Ambulance 54 Pothole 55 Path 56 Particulates 57 Air pollution 58 Rush hour 59 Road code 60 Two-way traffic 61 Street gutter 62 Cargo bike 63 Forestry vehicle 64 Construction vehicle 65 Semi-trailer truck 66 Trolleybus 67 Speed pedelec 68 Delivery vehicle 69 Idling 70 Tow truck 71 Four-wheel drive 72 Bicycle 73 Motorcycle equipment 74 Tram 75 Rail track 76 Caravan 77 Trailer 78 Tow hitch 79 Fire truck 80 Siren 81 Convoy 82 Emergency vehicle lighting 83 Agricultural machinery 84 Electric bicycle 85 Electric vehicle 86 Pedelec 87 Quadricycle 88 Microcar 89 All-terrain vehicle 90 Van 91 Recreational vehicle 92 Scooter 93 Trikke 94 Personal mobility device 95 Skateboard 96 Segway 97 Kick scooter 98 Roller skates 99 Mailman 100 Hitchhiker ...