Speed limitIndia

An introduction to the traffic rules and road signs of India. Learn about driving, road safety and much more in our illustrated book, with answers to frequently asked questions.

For informational purposes only. Always follow official regulations. Some content and images were created with AI assistance.


2. Speed limit

A speed limit is the maximum legal speed permitted on a road, lane or within a designated area. It may be established by general traffic law or indicated by fixed, variable or temporary traffic signs.

A speed limit is a maximum, not a target speed. Drivers must travel more slowly whenever traffic, visibility, weather, road conditions, vulnerable road users or the condition of the vehicle make the maximum permitted speed unsafe.

Speed-limit sign on the Nedumpoil–Periya road. (India)
Wikimedia.org • Vinayaraj • CC BY-SA
Which general speed limits should car drivers know in India?

For an ordinary M1 passenger car, national ceilings are 120 km/h on access-controlled expressways, 100 km/h on divided roads with four or more lanes, and 70 km/h on roads within municipal limits and other roads. These are central ceilings, not permission to ignore lower state or road-specific restrictions. Other vehicle categories have different ceilings.

🔗 morth.gov.in • India — Act Section 112; S.O.1522/2018; Regulation 16

🔗 morth.gov.in • MoRTH — GSR 38(E), 15 January 2024, clause 12: indirect-vision devices

🔗 simpliance.in • GSR 586(E), 25 September 2020 — full government gazette reproduction, Regulations 37–38

🔗 pib.gov.in • PIB/MoRTH — official confirmation of the 2020 driving-regulation amendment

🔗 indiacode.nic.in • India Code — Motor Vehicles Act, base text; read with subsequent amendments, not represented as a current consolidation

🔗 prsindia.org • Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019 — full enacted gazette reproduction hosted by PRS

🔗 dgma.gov.in • Official government Jan Vishwas Act 2026 — schedule entry 51, relevant amendment text read through web retrieval

🔗 sansad.in • MoRTH parliamentary answer, 22 July 2026 — S.O.1522/2018 full vehicle/road speed table and state restriction powers

Does India’s 70 km/h municipal ceiling mean every city road allows 70 km/h?

No. It is a central maximum for the specified M1 vehicle category. States and competent authorities can impose lower limits for individual roads or areas. Follow those applicable restrictions rather than treating the national ceiling as a universal urban default.

🔗 morth.gov.in • India — Act Section 112; S.O.1522/2018; Regulation 16

🔗 morth.gov.in • MoRTH — GSR 38(E), 15 January 2024, clause 12: indirect-vision devices

🔗 simpliance.in • GSR 586(E), 25 September 2020 — full government gazette reproduction, Regulations 37–38

🔗 pib.gov.in • PIB/MoRTH — official confirmation of the 2020 driving-regulation amendment

🔗 indiacode.nic.in • India Code — Motor Vehicles Act, base text; read with subsequent amendments, not represented as a current consolidation

🔗 prsindia.org • Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019 — full enacted gazette reproduction hosted by PRS

🔗 dgma.gov.in • Official government Jan Vishwas Act 2026 — schedule entry 51, relevant amendment text read through web retrieval

🔗 sansad.in • MoRTH parliamentary answer, 22 July 2026 — S.O.1522/2018 full vehicle/road speed table and state restriction powers

Does India’s passenger-car expressway ceiling also apply to motorcycles?

No. The national table distinguishes vehicle classes. The motorcycle expressway ceiling is 80 km/h only if motorcycles are permitted there; other classes have their own figures. A numerical ceiling does not itself authorise access to an expressway.

🔗 morth.gov.in • India — Act Section 112; S.O.1522/2018; Regulation 16

🔗 morth.gov.in • MoRTH — GSR 38(E), 15 January 2024, clause 12: indirect-vision devices

🔗 simpliance.in • GSR 586(E), 25 September 2020 — full government gazette reproduction, Regulations 37–38

🔗 pib.gov.in • PIB/MoRTH — official confirmation of the 2020 driving-regulation amendment

🔗 indiacode.nic.in • India Code — Motor Vehicles Act, base text; read with subsequent amendments, not represented as a current consolidation

🔗 prsindia.org • Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019 — full enacted gazette reproduction hosted by PRS

🔗 dgma.gov.in • Official government Jan Vishwas Act 2026 — schedule entry 51, relevant amendment text read through web retrieval

🔗 sansad.in • MoRTH parliamentary answer, 22 July 2026 — S.O.1522/2018 full vehicle/road speed table and state restriction powers

1 India 2 Speed limit 3 Toll road 4 Bus stop 5 Stop sign 6 Roundabout 7 Pedestrian crossing 8 Railway crossing 9 School area 10 Crossing animals 11 Curve 12 Roadworks 13 Priority at the next junction 14 Traffic lights 15 Driving licence 16 Traffic mirror 17 No stopping 18 Reversing 19 Licence plate 20 Charging station 21 Bus 22 Police 23 Ambulance 24 Pothole 25 Path 26 Particulates 27 Air pollution 28 Rush hour 29 Road code 30 Street gutter 31 Cargo bike 32 Forestry vehicle 33 Construction vehicle 34 Semi-trailer truck 35 Trolleybus 36 Speed pedelec 37 Delivery vehicle 38 Idling 39 Tow truck 40 Four-wheel drive 41 Bicycle 42 Motorcycle equipment 43 Rail track 44 Caravan 45 Trailer 46 Tow hitch 47 Fire truck 48 Siren 49 Convoy 50 Emergency vehicle lighting 51 Agricultural machinery 52 Electric bicycle 53 Electric vehicle 54 Pedelec 55 Quadricycle 56 Microcar 57 All-terrain vehicle 58 Van 59 Recreational vehicle 60 Scooter 61 Trikke 62 Personal mobility device 63 Skateboard 64 Segway 65 Kick scooter 66 Roller skates 67 Mailman 68 Hitchhiker 69 Toddler 70 Child 71 Disability 72 Handcart 73 Motorail 74 km/h 75 mph 76 Speedometer 77 Ride height 78 Dirt road 79 Driving 80 Start-stop system 81 Manual transmission 82 Automatic transmission 83 Throttle 84 Tachometer 85 Steering wheel 86 Power steering 87 Visual scanning 88 Mirror 89 Fuel 90 Fuel gauge 91 Petrol 92 Diesel 93 Diesel exhaust fluid 94 Car insurance 95 First aid kit 96 Fire extinguisher 97 High-visibility clothing 98 First aid 99 Concrete step barrier 100 Barriers ...