What is the speed limit on provincial highways in general?
3 Answers
Provincial highways generally have a speed limit between 60 to 80 km/h. Here is some extended information regarding speed limits: Speed regulations: The speed limit for small passenger vehicles on highways is 120 km/h, while for trucks it is 100 km/h. In China, pickup trucks are classified under the truck category, with a maximum speed limit of 100 km/h on highways. Penalties for speeding: For small vehicles exceeding the speed limit by less than 20%, a warning will be issued. Speeding between 20-50% will result in a fine of 200 RMB and 3 demerit points. Speeding between 50-70% will incur a fine of 1,000 RMB, 6 demerit points, and may also lead to revocation of the driver's license. Exceeding the speed limit by more than 70% will result in immediate revocation of the driver's license and a fine of 2,000 RMB.
Having driven so many provincial highways, speed limits really depend on the specific road conditions. First-class provincial highways are designed for higher speeds, with most flat sections limited to 80 km/h, but it suddenly drops to 60 when passing through villages or towns. Mountainous provincial highways are even more complex—when I drove on Highway 318, I encountered continuous curves with a 40 km/h limit. The most common trap for beginners is school zones, where the limit suddenly drops from 80 to 30, leaving no time to brake. It's best to get into the habit of checking road signs. Nowadays, navigation apps also announce speed limit changes in advance, so don’t just rely on radar detectors.
Seasoned long-haul truckers are all too familiar with the tricks of provincial highway speed limits. Most standard two-way four-lane provincial roads are capped at 80km/h, but sections with severely worn markings require voluntary speed reduction. The most deceptive are those downhill stretches right after toll booths - while displaying 80 signs, speed cameras lurk just 200 meters away. Our fleet learned this the hard way on Provincial Highway 107 last year - a posted 70 limit actually dropped to 50 near livestock farms, with mobile speed traps hidden between guardrail gaps. Extra caution is needed during rain or fog, as some provinces automatically reduce limits by 20% during severe weather.
