Speed limits and penalties worldwide: Europe, US, Asia

Overview of speed limits and traffic fines in Europe, USA, Asia and Middle East. Recent updates from Germany, UK, Ireland, Netherlands and beyond.

Across Europe, speed limits remain a subject of debate, and recent legal changes highlight just how differently countries handle the issue. The variations are striking, not only in the limits themselves but also in the penalties imposed for breaking them.

Germany stands out with its unique approach: there is no general speed limit on the autobahn, only a recommended 130 km/h guideline. While exceeding it is not directly punishable, it can affect liability in the event of a crash. Elsewhere, the rules are clear—50 km/h in towns, 100 km/h outside. Penalties in 2025 include fines, demerit points, and even temporary license suspensions. At the same time, the Transport Ministry has released new research on how a nationwide limit could reduce CO₂ emissions, fueling ongoing political debate.

In the United Kingdom, the Highway Code sets the standard: 30 mph in built-up areas, 60 mph on single carriageways, and 70 mph on motorways. Yet, practice is shifting. Local councils are rolling out more 20 mph zones, especially in urban centers. According to new Department for Transport data, these measures are reducing average speeds, and by the end of 2025 Birmingham will see further expansions of such zones.

Ireland, meanwhile, took a decisive step in February 2025, lowering the default limit on many rural local roads from 80 to 60 km/h. This is the first phase of a broader reform designed to improve safety and cut accident rates, according to the Road Safety Authority.

Switzerland enforces perhaps the strictest system. Default limits are 50/80/100/120 km/h depending on road type, and serious violations can result in mandatory license suspensions of at least one month. The official government portal ch.ch provides detailed tables showing when fixed fines apply and when cases are sent to court.

Austria regulates through ASFINAG, the highway operator, which sets variable limits on motorways that adapt to weather and traffic. The major automobile club ÖAMTC emphasizes that exceeding the limit by 40–50 km/h can trigger severe sanctions, including loss of driving privileges.

The Netherlands introduced a 100 km/h daytime limit in 2020, but in 2025 some stretches have returned to 130 km/h during the day. The full official list is not yet published in English, but the trend is clear: the country is balancing ecological concerns with driver convenience. Enforcement remains strict, particularly with “trajectcontrole” systems that calculate average speed over long distances.

Scandinavia also upholds tight discipline. In Sweden, the Transport Agency provides rules in English, though detailed fine tables for 2025 are available mainly in Swedish. In Norway, official English pages explaining speed rules and average speed control systems have not been updated within the last year, yet the fundamental regulations remain in force.

Beyond Europe, the picture is equally varied. In the United States, each state sets its own limits, most highways ranging between 65 and 75 mph, with Texas hosting stretches of 85 mph—the highest in the country. In Canada, provincial differences prevail, with 100–120 km/h typical on major highways. Australia sets 50 km/h in towns and 100–110 km/h on open roads, though parts of the Northern Territory allow up to 130 km/h. Japan keeps strict rules with 40 km/h in cities and 100 km/h on expressways. China enforces 50 km/h in urban areas and 120 km/h on motorways. In the Middle East, rules are more flexible: in the UAE, motorways near Dubai allow speeds up to 140 km/h, though fines for violations are severe.

Taken together, the picture is one of both convergence and divergence. Europe is moving toward safer and greener roads, but each country maintains its own path—some prioritizing safety, others ecology, and Germany still holding onto its tradition of freedom on the autobahn. Elsewhere in the world, the contrasts are just as sharp: the U.S. and Australia lean liberal, Asia enforces tighter control, and the Gulf states combine high limits with strict sanctions. The challenge ahead will be whether these differences can persist in an era of global mobility and growing traffic volumes.