When setting maximum speed limits, most states and territories in Australia follow the model national road rules. Under these rules: Posted speed limits are capped at 110km/h. Where there is a no speed limit posted, default speed limits are 50km/h in built-up areas, and 100km/h in rural areas.
In Australia, we have various speed limits depending on the type of road and level of pedestrian activity. The maximum legal speed a car can travel at is 130km/hour, which exists in a section of a highway in the Northern Territory. Speed is the number one killer on Australian roads.
As of 2018 the highest posted speed limit in the world is 160 km/h (99 mph), applied on two motorways in the UAE.
Speed limits apply everywhere in Australia with rare exceptions. These speed limits are measured in “kilometres per hour” and are enforced through use of mobile police units, speed cameras, and highway patrol, especially over peak holiday and travel seasons like Christmas and Easter.
This means that the police are lawfully allowed to speed, drive through red lights and do other acts which would ordinarily be a traffic offence. They can also use mobile phones while driving and not wear a seat-belt. Importantly, however, they can only drive like this if they are performing their duties.
Due to those Autobahns, Germany is considered a country without a general speed limit on its highways. The Isle of Man is the only jurisdiction without a general speed limit on rural two-lane roads.
For those of you stressing out about your speeding ticket, it could be worse. The fastest known speeding ticket was issued in May 2003 in Texas. The driver was operating a Koenigseggs CCR, a super sports car made in Sweden, and was allegedly going 242 mph (389 km/hr) in a 75 mph zone.
Only one state, Montana, is left unspoiled with no daytime speed limit. At night, speeds are restricted to 65 mph on interstate highways and 55 mph on two-lanes.
Under normal operation, cameras will flash when a vehicle is detected speeding, running a red light or a red arrow.
“You must not exceed 40km/h when passing the vehicle and not increase your speed until a safe distance from the scene,” the law states.
It's a rule which very few Australians seem to have heard of. No matter where you drive here, the right hand lane will almost always be your slowest route and the left, the quickest.
If everyone drove the speed limit, governments would lose a major revenue stream. If governments couldn't save enough from police and EMS layoffs, governments might need to raise taxes to compensate. Slower speeds mean safer roads.
What is the speed limit in the USA? The maximum speed limit on rural interstate highways is 70mph, with a 45mph minimum. On four-lane divided highways, the limit is 65mph, and on all other highways it's 55mph.
Speed limits
Let's start with the reality: even if you drive just 1 mph over the limit, you're still breaking the law. Speed limits are there for a reason, so don't ignore them!
There are only 12 people in the world who can say that they've gone over 400 mph in a piston-powered car.
The 'rule' itself is quite straightforward: if the speed limit is (for example) 30mph, the rule states that you won't get a speeding ticket unless you are going 10% plus 2 mph faster than the limit.
The lowest maximum speed limit in the country is 30 miles per hour (48 km/h) in American Samoa.
Legal speed limits in Japan are “60km/h on normal roads” and “100km/h on expressways.” It is prohibited to drive a car at the speed exceeding the legal limit even if there is no traffic sign for speed regulation. Yellow solid line in center means “No Crossing.”
The ambulance crew are trained to negotiate traffic and may look to use the bus lane to pass, and you could get in their way or even get a ticket. Do not go through a red light to try to get out of the way as you may commit an offence. If it is safe to pass the ambulance will do so.
Extreme speed is classed as 55km/h or more above the limit in a 60 or less zone, or 80km/h or more above the limit in a zone marked 60 and above. Police will be able to immediately disqualify the licences of drivers and those convicted will face penalties of up to three years jail from Monday.
As can be seen from the list above, the courts cannot send you to prison for a speeding offence alone. The maximum penalty for speeding is a fine and penalty points or a driving disqualification.
The police driver cannot exceed the speed limit or contravene road signs – no exemption should be permitted. Holders of a BASIC driving authority are allowed to drive police vehicles on enquiries only.