What is the minimum speed limit for the overtaking lane?
4 Answers
The minimum speed limit for the overtaking lane is 110 kilometers per hour. Below are relevant extended details: Relevant laws: (1) Article 10 of the former "Highway Traffic Management Regulations" stipulated: On highways, counting from the left side along the direction of motor vehicle travel, the first lane is the overtaking lane, while the second, third, and other lanes are driving lanes. It also specified that the leftmost lane can only be used for overtaking, hence it is called the "overtaking lane". (2) Section 5 of the "Implementation Regulations of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China" on special provisions for highways: Highways shall indicate the speed limits for each lane, with the maximum speed not exceeding 120 kilometers per hour and the minimum speed not less than 60 kilometers per hour. On highways, the maximum speed for small passenger vehicles shall not exceed 120 kilometers per hour, for other motor vehicles not exceeding 100 kilometers per hour, and for motorcycles not exceeding 80 kilometers per hour.
The minimum speed limit for the overtaking lane on China's highways is quite specific. As someone who enjoys studying traffic regulations, according to the "Regulations for the Implementation of the Road Traffic Safety Law," on a two-way two-lane highway, the minimum speed for the left overtaking lane is 100 km/h; if it's a highway with three or more lanes, the leftmost overtaking lane must maintain a minimum speed of 110 km/h. Of course, actual speeds should follow road signs, as temporary adjustments may apply during downhill sections, curves, or in rainy/foggy conditions. The overtaking lane isn't for slow driving—you need sufficient speed to overtake safely, otherwise you risk blocking traffic behind. I recommend maintaining at least 110 km/h in the overtaking lane for both safety and compliance. After overtaking, don't linger—promptly return to the middle lane to allow others to pass, which benefits everyone.
After driving for so many years, I believe the speed limit in the passing lane is to prevent slow-moving vehicles from blocking traffic. According to traffic regulations, on a standard two-lane bidirectional highway, the minimum speed in the passing lane is 100 mph; for roads with three or more lanes, the leftmost passing lane requires a minimum speed of 110 mph. Large speed differentials on highways are particularly dangerous—last year, I witnessed a slow car in the passing lane getting rear-ended. When overtaking, you must be 10-20 km/h faster than the adjacent lane to ensure safety, so the minimum speed limit is a strict safeguard. Don’t think driving at 90 mph in the passing lane is fine—not only will you get flashed by trailing cars, but cameras can also ticket you with fines and demerit points. Remembering this rule can save you a lot of trouble.
I usually maintain a speed between 110 and 120 km/h in the overtaking lane. Domestic highways have set speed thresholds for overtaking lanes: the minimum speed for the overtaking lane on a two-lane highway is 100 km/h, and for highways with three or more lanes, it's 110 km/h. This standard isn't arbitrary—driving below these speeds defeats the purpose of overtaking and instead increases the risk of accidents. Last time I was on the highway, a truck going only 80 km/h was hogging the overtaking lane, causing a line of cars behind it to dangerously overtake on the right. When there's road construction ahead or bad weather, temporary speed limit signs are posted by road authorities, and we must adjust our speed accordingly.
