What is the penalty for exceeding the speed limit by 4 km/h on the highway?
3 Answers
Generally, exceeding the speed limit by 4 km/h will not result in a fine. Drivers who exceed the speed limit by less than 10% are usually given a warning. Drivers on roads with a speed limit below 50 km/h who exceed the speed limit by more than 10% but less than 20% will be fined. Exceeding the speed limit by more than 70% will result in a fine. The more severe the speeding, the harsher the penalty. Log in to the external service website of the local public security traffic management bureau, find the vehicle violation inquiry section, enter the license plate number and vehicle engine number, and proceed with the processing.
Last time I drove at 124 km/h on the Shanghai-Chengdu Expressway, ignored the navigation's speeding alert, and got pulled over at the toll booth. The traffic police said the speed limit was 120 km/h, and driving at 124 km/h was treated as speeding within 10%—resulting in a warning with no points deducted or fine issued, but I had to sign the penalty form. Current traffic policies are quite humane; first-time minor speeding usually just warrants an educational warning. However, don’t assume it’s okay to do this often, as speed cameras record violations, and after three warnings, fines kick in. Those extra few km/h may seem insignificant, but in an emergency stop, you might not brake in time—especially dangerous on wet roads during rain.
The matter of exceeding the speed limit by 4 km/h on highways is something we veteran freight drivers know all too well. The handling varies by region. For instance, in Jiangsu, going over by less than 10% usually just gets you a verbal warning, but for trucks, it means an additional violation record. If a car is caught, you typically just get a reminder text on the 12123 app. My advice is to proactively ask the toll collector when exiting the highway—sometimes you get caught without even realizing it. Nowadays, highways use average speed checks over sections, so don’t think you can speed for just a few seconds without consequences. The system calculates your average speed over the entire stretch, so maintaining 124 km/h will definitely get you recorded. Honestly, the fuel consumption difference between 120 km/h and 124 km/h in a gasoline car is negligible—hardly worth the risk.
