What is the maximum speed limit for cars on highways in kilometers per hour?
2 Answers
Highway speed limits are set with a maximum of 120 kilometers per hour and a minimum of 60 kilometers per hour. According to Article 78 of the "Regulations for the Implementation of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China": Highways must indicate the speed limits for each lane. On highways, the maximum speed for small passenger vehicles must not exceed 120 kilometers per hour, other motor vehicles must not exceed 100 kilometers per hour, and motorcycles must not exceed 80 kilometers per hour. For roads with two lanes in the same direction, the minimum speed for the left lane is 100 kilometers per hour; for roads with three or more lanes in the same direction, the minimum speed for the leftmost lane is 110 kilometers per hour, and the middle lane's minimum speed is 90 kilometers per hour. If the speed limit indicated by road signs conflicts with the above lane speed regulations, drivers must adhere to the speed limit indicated by the road signs. Penalties for speeding violations on highways are determined based on relevant laws and regulations, actual traffic conditions, and the functionality of speed monitoring equipment. The Traffic Police Corps of the Public Security Department stipulates that speed monitoring devices capture violations according to vehicle-specific speed limits, as follows: For vehicles other than small passenger cars, if their speed exceeds 100 kilometers per hour (excluding 100 km/h), the speed monitoring devices will automatically capture the violation. For small passenger cars, if their speed exceeds 120 kilometers per hour (excluding 120 km/h), the speed monitoring devices will automatically capture the violation. For vehicles other than small passenger cars, speeding up to 50% (150 km/h) will result in fines, while severe violations exceeding 50% (over 150 km/h) may lead to fines and possible license revocation. For small passenger cars, speeding up to 50% (180 km/h) will result in fines, while severe violations exceeding 50% (over 180 km/h) may lead to fines and possible license revocation. Reasons for highway speed limits: Road factors: Road surface friction coefficient, guardrail strength, lane width, slope, curve radius, and sign sizes are all designed based on a 120 km/h standard. Increasing the speed limit would require redesigning all these elements, leading to costly reconstruction of existing highways. Driver factors: A driver's vision, field of view, and reaction time are the three most critical elements affecting traffic safety. Generally, as speed increases, a driver's vision and field of view decrease. Vehicle factors: In China, vehicles can handle speeds of 120 km/h without issues. However, if speeds continue to rise and a traffic accident occurs, the chances of survival become very slim. Environmental factors: Environmental factors include adverse weather conditions, poor road conditions, mixed vehicle types, overall poor vehicle conditions, speeding, fatigue driving, and overloading. During rain, snow, fog, or ice, road safety significantly decreases, requiring drivers to reduce speed to ensure safety.
Having driven for over a decade, never exceed 120 km/h on highways—it's a nationwide standard. I once got a ticket for driving at 130 km/h, which was truly heartbreaking. Different lanes have varying speed limits: the leftmost overtaking lane maxes at 120 km/h, the middle lane at 100-110 km/h, and the rightmost lane with mostly trucks around 80 km/h. Speeding offers no real benefits; a sudden brake could lead to a rollover, especially dangerous on wet roads during rain. My neighbor Lao Wang had an accident from speeding on the highway—even the safety seat was deformed. Remember, when your speedometer shows 120 km/h, the actual speed might only be 115 km/h; GPS navigation displays more accurate speeds. Extra caution is needed when entering or exiting tunnels, as sudden 80 km/h speed limit signs are often overlooked.
