Steer Clear Of Trouble On Holiday
With over eight million motorists taking to the road each year while on holiday abroad,
Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) is helping ‘designated drivers’ this summer by highlighting
the different speed limits in ten of the most popular holiday destinations for 2009.
The table below highlights the speed limits in Australia, Egypt, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom and United States providing essential information for drivers travelling abroad this summer. Spain , the number one destination for Brits, has five different speed limits ranging from 12 mph (20 kph) to 75 mph (120 kph), depending on the type of road – more than any of the others in the top ten.
The research shows that speed limits on major roads such as motorways and highways can vary from 62 mph (100 kph) in the Netherlands to 80 mph (130 kph) in France. However the Netherlands also enforce a minimum speed limit on their motorway of 37 mph (60 kph) whereas the infamous Autobahn in Germany has a no speed limit policy on certain areas of the motorway. In some countries, such as France, limits are also reduced in bad weather or if it is a toll road.
Punishments for speeding abroad can be severe, with on-the-spot fines issued in France and drivers having their licence confiscated when caught driving more than 25 mph over the speed limit. The Netherlands are also very serious about speeding with speed cameras, unmarked police cars and mobile speed traps widely used along the roads with heavy on-the-spot fines issues, or even the car being impounded.
Nick Caunter, managing director of APH says: “With the speed limits varying significantly from country to country, we felt it was important to highlight the differences helping UK drivers to drive safely this summer. The Know Before You Go section of the website aims to provide our customers with a variety of useful information in a one-stop format saving time for holiday makers.”
Comparison of Speed Limits Abroad
|
COUNTRY |
TYPE OF ROAD |
SPEED IN KM/H |
SPEED IN MPH |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Australia |
Major Roads |
100 or 110 kph (dependent on State) |
62 mph or 68 mph |
|
Country Areas |
100 kph |
62 mph |
|
|
Built up areas (towns and villages) |
50 kph |
31 mph |
|
|
Egypt |
Desert motorway ( Cairo – Alexandra Desert Road ) |
100 kph |
62 mph |
|
Motorways/Outside built up areas |
90 kph |
56 mph |
|
|
Built up areas (towns and villages) |
50 kph |
31 mph |
|
|
France |
Motorway |
130 kph (110 kph in wet weather) |
80 mph (68 mph in wet weather) |
|
Dual Carriageway (Major Roads) |
110 kph (100 kph in wet weather) |
68 mph (62 mph in wet weather) |
|
|
Outside built up areas and toll-free motorways |
90 kph (80 kph in wet weather) |
56 mph (50 km/h in wet weather) |
|
|
Built up areas (towns and villages) |
50 kph |
31 mph |
|
|
Germany |
Motorways (Autobahn) |
None unless shown (130 kph suggested maximum speed) |
None unless shown (81 mph suggested maximum speed) |
|
Outside built up areas |
100 kph |
62 |
|
|
Built up areas (towns and villages) |
50 kph |
31 mph |
|
|
Ireland |
Motorway |
120 kph |
75 mph |
|
Outside built up areas |
60 kph - 100 kph (dependent on area) |
37 mph - 62 mph (dependent on area) |
|
|
Built up areas (towns and villages) |
50 kph |
31 mph |
|
|
Netherlands |
Motorway |
100 kph or 120 kph (minimum speed limit of 60 kph) |
62 mph or 75 mph (minimum speed limit of 37 mph) |
|
Outside Built Up Area |
80 kph - 100 kph (dependent on area) |
50 mph - 62 mph (dependent on area) |
|
|
Built up areas (towns and villages) |
50 kph |
31 mph |
|
|
Spain |
Motorway |
120 kph |
75 mph |
|
Major Highways |
100 kph |
62 mph |
|
|
Outside built up areas |
90 kph – 100 kph (dependent on area) |
56 mph – 62 mph (dependent on area) |
|
|
Built up areas (towns and villages) |
50 kph |
31 mph |
|
|
Residential Roads |
20 kph |
12 mph |
|
|
Turkey |
Motorways |
120 kph |
75 mph |
|
Outside built up areas |
90 kph |
56 mph |
|
|
Built up areas (towns and villages) |
50 kph |
31 mph |
|
|
United Kingdom |
Motorway and Dual Carriageway |
113 kph |
70 mph |
|
Outside built up areas |
97 kph |
60 mph (National Speed Limit) |
|
|
Built up areas (town and villages) |
48 kph |
30 mph |
|
|
Residential areas |
32 kph |
20 mph |
|
|
United States (National Limit) |
Motorway |
112 kph |
70 mph |
|
Outside built up area |
104 kph |
65 mph |
|
|
Built up areas (towns and villages) |
48 kph |
30 mph |
