Europe

See following table for the speed limits in European states:

Unit: km/h (mph in parenthesis)

^*Motor routes: Roads with two or more lanes (dual carriageway), a median, and a minimum speed of 60 km/h (40 mph).

Remarks:
¹ 130 (80) is the recommended maximum speed on motorways as indicated by a blue sign. Many sections of the German motorway network are now also covered by enforcable speed limits, usually ranging from 80 to 120 km/h depending on local conditions. It is usual for drivers involved in crashes who were exceeding the 'recommended' speed limit to be held to be at least partly at fault, regardless of the circumstances of the crash.
² For motorcycles 110 (70).
³ Two-lane expressways: 130 (80); three-lane expressway: 150 (95) (since 2003, the speed limit of 150 km/h (95 mph) is only valid when signed).
⁴ Automobile with weighty trailer: 80 (50); Truck with weighty trailer: 70 (45).
⁵ Automobile with weighty trailer: 100 (65); Truck with weighty trailer: 80 (50).
⁶ During the winter months, when conditions are often bad, all Finnish motorways have a speed limit of 100 km/h (65 mph) or less.
⁷ Need to be licensed from the German Technical Inspection Authority (TÜV).
⁸ Effective January 20, 2005
⁹ A provisional increase of the speed limit on motorways from 90 to 100 km/h was made permanent when it turned out the number of accidents decreased.
¹⁰Signs are posted in miles per hour, a situation unlikely to change in the near future.

In most European states there is a general speed limit of 50 km/h (30 mph) inside towns.

Comments

The first British motorways did not have imposed speed limits. However, after a series of horrendous crashes, a supposedly temporary speed limit of 70 miles per hour (110 km/h) was enforced. The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland and the Association of British Drivers have called for the limit to be increased. The Conservative Party are now proposing to raise the limit to 80 miles per hour (130 km/h), but it remains unclear whether this proposal will eventually become law.

On French autoroutes, there is a variable speed limit. In dry weather an autoroute has a speed limit of 130 km/h (80 mph), where when raining the speed limit is reduced to 110 km/h (70 mph). In 2005, a governmental report advised lowering this speed to 115 km/h in order to save fuel and reduce accident risks, but this proposal was badly received. Since 2002, the French government has installed a number of automatic radar guns on freeways, highways and other major thoroughfare, in addition to radars manned by the Police or Gendarmerie.

The German Autobahns are famous for not having speed limits for cars except where indicated by traffic signs. Blanket speed limits do apply for trucks, buses and cars pulling trailers. Speeds over 200 km/h (125 mph) are not uncommon, but there is a recommended speed (in German: "Richtgeschwindigkeit") of 130 km/h (80 mph). In case of a crash, insurance payments can be dropped by exceeding the recommended speed. Some areas have compulsory speed limits to reduce the noise cars produce when driving through residential areas. Many car manufacturers (including Mercedes, BMW and Audi) limit the speed of their cars electronically to 250 km/h (155 mph); this is only a gentlemen's agreement, not a legal requirement.

The Italian Autostradas have a 130 km/h (80 mph) speed limit, with 110 km/h (70 mph) limits on curvy roads and in rainy conditions and 150 km/h (95 mph) limits on newer and straighter roads.

Swiss Autobahns are limited to 120 km/h (75 mph) as a maximum speed limit. Semi-motorways, known as "motor roads" or Autostrasse, have a generally lower speed limit of 100 km/h (65 mph).