Speed Limits

The European default in towns is 50 km/h, with growing adoption of 30 km/h as the city baseline. Spain since 11 May 2021 sets 30 km/h on single-carriageway one-lane-each-way streets, 20 km/h on streets shared with pedestrians, and 50 km/h only on roads with two or more lanes each way (DGT Reglamento General de Circulación Article 50). UK 30 mph (48 km/h) in built-up areas under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. France 50 km/h default, 30 km/h growing in city centres (Paris adopted citywide 30 km/h on 30 August 2021). Germany 50 km/h innerorts (StVO §3(3)) with Tempo-30-Zonen widely signposted in residential streets.

Cars on standard rural roads outside built-up areas: Spain 90 km/h on conventional roads with at least one lane and a 1.5 m hard shoulder, 70 km/h on narrower roads (Reglamento General de Circulación Article 48); France 80 km/h on two-way rural roads without central separator (since the 2018 reform, départements may raise to 90 km/h, currently around 40 have), 90 km/h on roads with a central separator (Code de la route R413-2); Germany 100 km/h on Landstraßen, sometimes 80 km/h on signed routes (StVO §3); UK 60 mph (96 km/h) on single carriageways and 70 mph on dual carriageways. Trucks, buses, and trailers carry separate limits.

Default motorway limits for cars: Spain 120 km/h (Reglamento General de Circulación Article 48); France 130 km/h dry, 110 km/h in rain (Code de la route R413-2); Italy 130 km/h; Netherlands 100 km/h between 06:00 and 19:00, 130 km/h overnight on signed sections (RDW); Germany has no general limit on Autobahnen, with a Richtgeschwindigkeit (recommended speed) of 130 km/h under StVO; UK 70 mph (113 km/h) on motorways and dual carriageways under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. Lower limits apply for new drivers in France (110 km/h on motorways for three years), in poor weather, in roadworks, and on smart-motorway variable signage in the UK.

Variable limits shown on overhead matrix signs or gantry displays are legally enforceable as soon as they appear — the displayed value overrides any printed roadside limit. UK smart motorways operated by National Highways use variable limits to manage congestion and incidents under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. Germany's Streckenbeeinflussungsanlagen on Autobahns adjust limits for fog, traffic density, and incidents (BMDV). The Netherlands switches motorway limits between 100 km/h daytime and 130 km/h overnight using gantries (RDW). France uses variable signage on the A86 Duplex and around major cities. Cameras enforce the currently displayed limit — what was posted yesterday does not protect against today's ticket.

Three main technologies. Fixed radar: roadside Doppler unit — Spain DGT "Cinemómetros" published list, UK Gatso. Laser (LIDAR): handheld TruCam used by police across Europe. Average-speed: section control between two ANPR points, calculating mean speed across the distance (SPECS in the UK, Tutor in Italy under the Codice della Strada and ANAS, tramos in Spain). All record evidence — registration plate plus calibrated speed — that supports a fine under DGT, ANPR, or KBA enforcement. Camera-warning apps are legal in Spain, the UK, and Italy but banned in France (€1,500 fine, Code de la route R413-15) and Germany (€75 plus a point, StVO §23(1c)). Sat-navs that simply show "danger zones" are usually compliant.

Penalties scale with the excess over the limit. Spain (Ley sobre Tráfico Article 76): €100 for up to 20 km/h over a 50 km/h limit, rising to €600 plus 6 points plus a court referral for extreme excess (DGT). UK: £100 fixed penalty plus 3 points, magistrates' court for high-end speeds with fines up to 175% of weekly income under Sentencing Council guidelines and possible disqualification. France: from €68 forfaitaire for under 20 km/h over, up to €1,500 plus six-point loss and licence withdrawal for over 50 km/h over (Code de la route). Germany: €30–€800 plus 1–2 Flensburg points, plus a one-to-three-month Fahrverbot for serious excess (Bußgeldkatalog). Foreign drivers can be pursued through Directive (EU) 2015/413 on cross-border enforcement.

France: new licence holders display the red "A" sticker and obey reduced limits for three years (two years if conduite accompagnée): 110 km/h on motorways instead of 130, 100 km/h on dual carriageways, 80 km/h on rural roads (Code de la route R413-5). Italy: neopatentati limited to 100 km/h on motorways and 90 km/h on main extra-urban roads for the first year, and barred from driving cars over 70 kW power-to-weight ratio (Codice della Strada Article 117). Spain: no special speed limit but a lower 0.3 g/L blood-alcohol limit for two years. UK: no special speed limit but six-point ban under the New Drivers Act 1995 within two years.