What is the minimum speed limit on highways when the maximum is 120 km/h?
2 Answers
According to the "Regulations for the Implementation of the Road Traffic Safety Law" in China, the speed limits on highways are standardized. The minimum speed limit on highways must not be less than 60 kilometers per hour, and the maximum speed must not exceed 120 kilometers per hour, which is an internationally accepted standard. When driving on highways, it is essential to pay attention to the speed and avoid going too fast. Reasons for the 120 km/h speed limit on highways: 1. Road factors: The limit of 120 km/h is set based on China's road design standards. The friction coefficient of the road surface, the strength of guardrails, lane width, gradient, curvature radius, and sign size are all designed according to the 120 km/h standard. If the speed limit is increased recklessly, all related designs would need to be revised, and existing highways would require reconstruction, which would be extremely costly. 2. Driver factors: The 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 deteriorate. 3. Vehicle factors: Vehicles can handle speeds of 120 km/h without any issues. In the event of a tire blowout at this speed, there is still a chance of survival. However, at 200 km/h, the chances of survival are virtually zero. 4. Environmental factors: Environmental factors include various aspects, such as adverse weather conditions, poor road conditions, diverse vehicle types, overall poor vehicle condition, speeding, fatigue driving, and overloaded transportation. When adverse weather conditions like rain, snow, fog, or ice occur, the safety coefficient of road traffic significantly decreases. In such cases, drivers need to proactively reduce their speed to ensure safety.
It depends on the specific road signs. Generally speaking, the minimum speed limit for the leftmost lane on highways is 100 km/h, the middle lane at least 80 km/h, and the rightmost emergency lane is strictly prohibited. However, experienced drivers know that driving safely means keeping up with the traffic flow. For example, if everyone is driving at 90 km/h on a rainy day, driving at 60 km/h would be particularly dangerous. Last time on the Shenhai Expressway, I saw a new driver going 70 km/h getting aggressively flashed by the car behind, nearly causing an accident. Remember, the minimum speed limit isn't a rigid target to barely meet—the key is maintaining a safe distance and steady speed. If your vehicle condition isn't great and you need to drive at 80 km/h, remember to turn on your hazard lights and stay to the right.
