Speed limitSouth Africa
3. 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.
Wikimedia.org • South African Tourism • CC BY
Which general speed limits should car drivers know in South Africa?
For an ordinary car, the general maxima are 60 km/h on public roads within urban areas, 100 km/h outside urban areas on roads other than freeways, and 120 km/h on freeways. Follow different signed limits and any lower vehicle-specific ceiling. Conditions can require a speed below the legal maximum.
🔗 rtmc.co.za • RTMC, State of Road Safety Report 2025, section 4.1
🔗 tourism.gov.za • South African Department of Tourism, posted limits and road safety
Is South Africa’s 120 km/h figure the general limit on every rural road?
No. It is the general freeway maximum for an ordinary car. Public roads outside urban areas that are not freeways generally have a 100 km/h maximum. Different signed restrictions and lower vehicle-specific ceilings can apply.
🔗 rtmc.co.za • RTMC, State of Road Safety Report 2025, section 4.1
🔗 tourism.gov.za • South African Department of Tourism, posted limits and road safety

Traffic rules
South Africa