Is driving at 125 km/h in a 120 km/h speed limit considered speeding?
4 Answers
Driving at 125 km/h in a 120 km/h speed limit is considered speeding, but generally, no fine or penalty points will be issued, and a warning may be given instead. The penalties for speeding are as follows: 1. Exceeding the speed limit by less than 10% will result in a warning with no immediate penalty; 2. Exceeding the speed limit by 10% to less than 20% will result in 3 penalty points; 3. Exceeding the speed limit by 20% to less than 50% will result in 6 penalty points; 4. Exceeding the speed limit by 50% or more will result in 12 penalty points. Generally, the speed displayed on the dashboard is calibrated to be higher than the actual speed when the car leaves the factory. The difference between the actual speed and the displayed speed is usually between 5 to 10 km/h. However, if the owner modifies the tires, increasing the tire diameter, the actual speed may be very close to or even exceed the speed displayed on the dashboard.
I've been driving on highways for over 20 years. This situation where the speed limit is 120 but you're going 125 is actually speeding. However, in reality, it depends on the specific circumstances. For example, your car's speedometer usually has some error—showing 125 might mean you're actually only doing around 120. Traffic police enforce with a 10% tolerance, so typically no penalty under 132. But don't think this is okay—speeding is extremely dangerous. Increasing speed from 120 to 125 can add over ten meters to your braking distance. If there's a sudden accident ahead, you simply won't be able to stop in time. My advice is to use cruise control on highways, setting it 2-3 km/h below the speed limit—it's the safest, most fuel-efficient, and smoothest way to drive.
From a legal perspective, speeding is not determined by specific numbers; exceeding the posted speed limit constitutes a violation. Driving at 125 km/h in a 120 km/h zone is definitely speeding. I've handled numerous speeding accident cases where many thought being slightly over the limit was harmless, yet it was precisely this minor deviation that led to major disasters. It's common for vehicle speedometers to display 5-8 km/h higher than the actual speed, meaning the real speed is approximately 122 km/h. The new traffic law stipulates a fine of 200 yuan and 3 demerit points for speeding less than 20% over the limit, and 125 km/h is already approaching this penalty threshold. More importantly, safety factors come into play: when speed increases from 120 to 125 km/h, tire grip decreases by 30%, making the vehicle particularly prone to skidding on wet roads.
As someone who frequently drives long distances, I have personal experience with this. Going 125 in a 120 speed limit zone definitely counts as speeding, but in reality, you won't get caught. This is because the speedometer shows about 5% higher than the actual speed, and there's also measurement error in traffic police equipment. However, two important reminders: first, average speed cameras calculate your mean speed over a distance, so consistent speeding will get you fined; second, in emergency situations, braking distance at 125 km/h is about half a car length longer than at 120. Last year, I nearly rear-ended someone in a similar situation. Now I always use my phone's navigation speed limit alerts and keep it around 118 for maximum safety.
