Minimum speedChina
Traffic rules
China
1. Minimum speed
A minimum speed is the lowest speed that vehicles are required to maintain on a particular road or under specified conditions. Minimum-speed rules are intended to prevent vehicles travelling unnecessarily slowly from disrupting traffic or creating large speed differences between road users.
A minimum speed does not require drivers to maintain that speed when traffic, weather, visibility, road conditions or safety require them to slow down. The way minimum speeds are indicated and enforced varies between countries.
What is mainland China’s general expressway minimum speed?
The implementing regulations set 60 km/h as the general expressway minimum. Higher lane-specific minima and applicable signs must also be considered. Weather and traffic rules can require a lower safe speed.
🔗 xzfg.moj.gov.cn • Mainland China — Regulations 78 and 81, lane minima and adverse visibility
🔗 jtgl.beijing.gov.cn • Beijing Traffic Police — full Road Traffic Safety Law, 2021 amended text
🔗 samr.gov.cn • SAMR — full implementing Regulations, 2017 amended text
Start of a minimum speed.
English • Traffic sign 示14 (symbol category) • Minimum speed: 50 km/h. Motor vehicles entering must observe the 50 km/h minimum without exceeding the applicable maximum. Identified by sign category or symbol meaning; an exact match between this complete drawing and the current standard layout has not been confirmed.
中文 • 示14图形类别 • 最低限速：50 km/h。 驶入前方道路的机动车应按50 km/h最低限速行驶，同时不得超过适用最高限速。 已按标志类别或图形含义识别；此完整图形与现行标准版式的精确对应尚未确认。
Sources
🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Openstd.samr.gov.cn • 国家标准全文公开 • GB 5768.2-2022（含第1号修改单）
🔗 Upload.wikimedia.org • 标准原文镜像 • PDF第58页
SVG source: Beijing Traffic Management Bureau มองโกเลีย๔๔ • Public domain • Original revision 2022-02-27. Wikimedia original unmodified.
Do mainland Chinese expressway lanes have different minimum speeds?
Yes. With two lanes in the same direction, the left lane’s minimum is 100 km/h. With three or more, the leftmost lane’s minimum is 110 km/h and the middle lane’s is 90 km/h. Where posted speeds differ from these rules, follow the signs for the actual lane.
🔗 xzfg.moj.gov.cn • Mainland China — Regulations 78 and 81, lane minima and adverse visibility
🔗 jtgl.beijing.gov.cn • Beijing Traffic Police — full Road Traffic Safety Law, 2021 amended text
🔗 samr.gov.cn • SAMR — full implementing Regulations, 2017 amended text
Must I maintain a Chinese expressway minimum in fog or a queue?
No. The adverse-weather rules impose lower maximum speeds where visibility is reduced, and traffic or danger can require slowing or stopping. The minimum-speed rules do not require accelerating into a hazard or stationary traffic.
🔗 xzfg.moj.gov.cn • Mainland China — Regulations 78 and 81, lane minima and adverse visibility
🔗 jtgl.beijing.gov.cn • Beijing Traffic Police — full Road Traffic Safety Law, 2021 amended text
🔗 samr.gov.cn • SAMR — full implementing Regulations, 2017 amended text
