Speed limitWorldwide

An introduction to the traffic rules and road signs of Worldwide. 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.


7. 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.

Speed limit of 70 km/h. (Mahrenholz, Germany)
Wikimedia.org • Kirchenfan • CC0
What is a speed limit?

A speed limit is the maximum legal speed permitted on a road, lane or within a designated area. It does not require drivers to travel at that speed.

🔗 gov.uk • Great Britain Highway Code, Rules 124–126 and 146, road and vehicle limits and safe speed; 🔗 gesetze-im-internet.de • German federal government, StVO Section 3, speed and conditions

How can you recognise a speed limit?

A speed limit is commonly displayed as a number on a regulatory traffic sign. General limits may also apply automatically because of the country, road category, vehicle type or surrounding area, even when no speed-limit sign is present.

🔗 mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov • US Federal Highway Administration, current MUTCD Revision 1, definitions and speed-sign framework

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

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

Is the speed limit a recommended driving speed?

No. It is the highest speed legally permitted under suitable conditions. Drivers must reduce their speed whenever travelling at the limit would be unsafe.

🔗 gesetze-im-internet.de • German federal government, StVO Section 3, speed and conditions

Can you drive more slowly than the speed limit?

Yes. Drivers should travel more slowly when required by traffic, weather, visibility, road conditions or nearby vulnerable road users. Driving unnecessarily slowly may nevertheless be prohibited when it obstructs normal traffic.

🔗 gesetze-im-internet.de • German federal government, StVO Section 3, speed and conditions; 🔗 law.lis.virginia.gov • Virginia General Assembly, Code Section 46.2-877, minimum speeds and safety exceptions

Does the same speed limit apply to every vehicle?

Not always. Limits can differ for heavy vehicles, buses and vehicles towing trailers. Follow both the road limit and the applicable vehicle limit; a higher road limit does not cancel a lower vehicle limit.

🔗 gov.uk • Great Britain Highway Code, Rules 124–126 and 146, road and vehicle limits and safe speed; 🔗 gesetze-im-internet.de • German federal government, StVO Section 3, speed and conditions

1 Worldwide 2 Motorway 3 Expressway 4 Residential area 5 Built-up area 6 Zone 7 Speed limit 8 Minimum speed 9 Advisory speed 10 Footpath 11 Bike path 12 Shared-use path 13 Separated path 14 Pedestrian warning 15 Tunnel 16 Bridge 17 Cycling street 18 Pedestrian zone 19 Speed bump 20 Toll road 21 Customs 22 One-way traffic 23 Quay 24 Slope 25 Bus lane 26 Bus stop 27 Dead end 28 Stop sign 29 Give way 30 Roundabout 31 Priority road 32 Road narrowing 33 Priority over oncoming traffic 34 Give way to oncoming traffic 35 Pedestrian crossing 36 Railway crossing 37 Mandatory direction 38 Turn prohibition 39 School area 40 Overtaking 41 Crossing animals 42 Slippery road 43 Rockfall 44 Aircraft 45 Curve 46 Chevron 47 Wrong-way driving 48 Roadworks 49 Crosswind 50 Height limit 51 Width limit 52 Length limit 53 Weight limit 54 Radar speed sign 55 Selective barriers 56 Low-emission zone 57 Intersection direction sign 58 Priority at the next junction 59 Traffic lights 60 Traffic lights warning 61 Pedestrian lights 62 Road markings 63 All-way stop 64 Junction layout 65 Climbing lane 66 Bike box 67 Left-hand traffic 68 Speed feedback 69 Driving licence 70 Location marker 71 Road number 72 Countdown markers 73 Public toilet 74 Rest area 75 Traffic mirror 76 Emergency telephone 77 International border 78 Pedestrian underpass 79 Cycling route 80 End of restriction 81 Parking 82 No parking 83 No stopping 84 Parallel parking 85 Park and ride 86 Kiss and ride 87 Alternate-side parking 88 Parking meter 89 Parking disc 90 Disabled parking 91 Traffic management 92 Merging 93 Reversing 94 U-turn 95 Carpool 96 Traffic jam 97 Detour 98 Uncontrolled crossroad 99 Road surface 100 Advisory cycle lane ...