Australian speed limits compared to the world

How fast is too fast?

Authorities around the world, especially in Australia, argue that speed kills and as a result speed limits – and their enforcement – are always a hot topic.

There’s been several calls for Australian speed limits to be increased given the long distances regularly travelled, while others argue that speed limits should be reduced in an attempt to cut the annual road toll.

But Australia does not have the lowest speed limits in the world – that honour goes to Gibraltar and Bhutan where the maximum legal speeds on highways is 50km/h.

This comes as no real surprise. Gibraltar is that little slice of Britain on the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula in Europe, bordered by Spain and usually jam-packed with sun-starved Poms on holiday, while Bhutan is a tiny country in South Asia surrounded by the Himalayas.

The wide, brown land of Australia ranks equal fifth with a huge number of other countries that have a 130km/h top speed – although this is only the case in certain areas of the Northern Territory.

Most Aussie highways are limited to 100km/h or 110km/h, in which case the ranking would drop to eighth place.

Four countries top the list with unrestricted speed limits where drivers can really flex their vehicles’ muscles. They are, of course, Germany with its autobahns, along with Andorra, Angola and Nepal.

Australia would have been at the top of the table with those four countries if the list was compiled in 2016, when several sections of the Stuart Highway in the Northern Territory had no speed limits at all.

Recent data gathered by Redex shows that five countries have a 140km/h speed limit ceiling, including Poland, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates.

The USA has an upper speed limit of 137km/h or 85mph, while the UK is set at 113km/h or 70mph. But as anyone who has driven in those countries knows, the traffic often moves much faster.

To enable high speed limits, freeway infrastructure must be carefully engineered and built. Safety experts have said that Australian speed limits could be raised safely and effectively… but not cheaply.

Looking at urban speed limits, Australia is placed much further down the list with the 50km/h urban limit – 40km/h in many places – on par with countries like Croatia, France and Italy.

Top of the list? USA, all the way! There are some states in America that have urban speed limits set at 120km/h, or 75mph…

Nepal and Bahrain round out the urban speed limit podium with an 80km/h legal limit, or 50mph.

When it comes to speed limits in Australia, there are generally two sides to the story.

There are those who advocate better driver training – Bathurst 1000 winner Geoff Brabham even said Aussie drivers need an attitude adjustment! – and others who say speed limits are too high and should accommodate the lowest common denominator.

What’s your take on the speed limit debate?

Does speed kill or should Australia consider increasing speed limits as road infrastructure and vehicle technology improve?

Have your say in the comments section below.