Speed limitSweden

An introduction to the traffic rules and road signs of Sweden. 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.


5. 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.

50 km/h speed-limit sign at Vissvass. (Tyresö Municipality, Sweden)
Wikimedia.org • Holger.Ellgaard • CC BY-SA
Which general speed limits should car drivers know in Sweden?

The statutory base limits are 50 km/h in built-up areas and 70 km/h outside them, unless another limit has been established. Many roads have different signed limits, including lower urban limits and higher main-road limits. Motorways generally have a 110 km/h maximum; specifically designated sections may permit 120 km/h.

🔗 data.riksdagen.se • Sweden: Traffic Ordinance chapter 3 sections 14-17, chapter 9 section 1(6) and 120 km/h authorisation

🔗 riksdagen.se • Sweden: Road Signs Ordinance 2007:90

Does Sweden have a universal 90 km/h rural-road default?

No. The statutory base outside built-up areas is 70 km/h. Many roads have higher established and signed limits, but a rural location or a main-road number alone does not mean the maximum is 90 km/h.

🔗 data.riksdagen.se • Sweden: Traffic Ordinance chapter 3 sections 14-17, chapter 9 section 1(6) and 120 km/h authorisation

🔗 riksdagen.se • Sweden: Road Signs Ordinance 2007:90

May I use 120 km/h on every Swedish motorway?

No. The general motorway maximum is 110 km/h; 120 km/h applies only on specifically designated sections. Lower limits are also used. Follow the signs on the actual motorway section.

🔗 data.riksdagen.se • Sweden: Traffic Ordinance chapter 3 sections 14-17, chapter 9 section 1(6) and 120 km/h authorisation

🔗 riksdagen.se • Sweden: Road Signs Ordinance 2007:90

Start of a speed limit. Start of a speed limit.

English • Traffic sign C31 • Speed limit. Driving faster than indicated is prohibited. Applies until another speed limit sign, C32 end of temporary speed limit, E7 pedestrian street or E9 residential area. Need not be repeated after a junction if the intersecting road has the same maximum speed.

Svenska • Vägmärke C31 • Hastighetsbegränsning. Märket anger förbud mot att föra fordon med högre hastighet än den som anges på märket. Angivelsen gäller till den plats där en annan hastighetsbegränsning anges med märket, eller där märke C32, tillfällig hastighetsbegränsning upphör, E7, gågata, eller E9, gångfartsområde, satts upp. Märket behöver inte vara upprepat efter en vägkorsning om samma högsta tillåtna hastighet gäller på den korsande vägen.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Transportstyrelsen.se • Transportstyrelsen • C31 (SV)

SVG source: Transportstyrelsen • Public domain • Original revision 2017-11-07. Wikimedia original unmodified.

1 Sweden 2 Motorway 3 Residential area 4 Built-up area 5 Speed limit 6 Bike path 7 Shared-use path 8 Toll road 9 Quay 10 Slope 11 Bus stop 12 Stop sign 13 Give way 14 Roundabout 15 Pedestrian crossing 16 Railway crossing 17 Crossing animals 18 Roadworks 19 Height limit 20 Selective barriers 21 Traffic lights 22 Pedestrian lights 23 Traffic mirror 24 Cycling route 25 Parking 26 No parking 27 No stopping 28 Reversing 29 Licence plate 30 Charging station 31 Dangers 32 Bus 33 Police 34 Ambulance 35 European emission standard 36 Pothole 37 Path 38 Particulates 39 Air pollution 40 Rush hour 41 Road code 42 2+1 Road 43 2-1 Road 44 Street gutter 45 Cargo bike 46 Forestry vehicle 47 Construction vehicle 48 Semi-trailer truck 49 Trolleybus 50 Speed pedelec 51 Delivery vehicle 52 Idling 53 Tow truck 54 Four-wheel drive 55 Bicycle 56 Motorcycle equipment 57 Rail track 58 Caravan 59 Trailer 60 Tow hitch 61 Fire truck 62 Siren 63 Convoy 64 Emergency vehicle lighting 65 Agricultural machinery 66 Electric bicycle 67 Electric vehicle 68 Pedelec 69 Quadricycle 70 Microcar 71 All-terrain vehicle 72 Van 73 Recreational vehicle 74 Scooter 75 Trikke 76 Personal mobility device 77 Skateboard 78 Segway 79 Kick scooter 80 Roller skates 81 Mailman 82 Hitchhiker 83 Toddler 84 Child 85 Disability 86 Motorail 87 km/h 88 mph 89 Speedometer 90 Ride height 91 Dirt road 92 Driving 93 Start-stop system 94 Manual transmission 95 Automatic transmission 96 Throttle 97 Tachometer 98 Steering wheel 99 Power steering 100 Visual scanning ...