Highest speed limit in Europe?

[philc285]

Now obviously the answer to ‘where are the highest speed limits in Europe’ cannot be Germany, because infinity is not a limit. But we were impressed driving westwards in Austria along the long-established Westautobahn towards Linz earlier this month to see a decent stretch posted as 140km/h rather than their more usual 130km/h. It was news to me that this has been trialled for the past year as an initiative by the right-wing Freedom Party, until recently a coalition partner in Government. There’s another general election this weekend, so we’ll have to see whether it stands any chance being made permanent (it seemed to work well in light midweek traffic). But my question then is: is there anywhere in Europe with a higher limit? I gather some new stretches of motorway in Poland and Bulgaria are also set at 140km/h; anything even higher?

https://www.ft.com/content/81bfabbc-8f4 ... a2f7bca546

[c2R]

Wikipedia says this about Italy:

Italy's autostrade have a standard speed limit of 130 km/h (81 mph) for cars. Limits for other vehicles (or during foul weather and/or low visibility) are lower. Legal provisions allow operators to set the limit to 150 km/h (93 mph) on their concessions on a voluntary basis if the following conditions are met: three lanes in each direction and a working SICVE, or Safety Tutor, speed-camera system that measure the average speed. In 2016, no road was utilizing this possibility.

The first speed limit, to 120 km/h (75 mph), was enacted in November 1973 as a result of the 1973 oil crisis.[5] In October 1977, a graduated system was introduced: cars of above 1,300 cc (79 cu in) had a 140 km/h (87 mph) speed limit, cars of 900-1299 cc had a limit of 130 km/h (81 mph), those of 600-899 cc could drive at 110 km/h (68 mph), and those of 599 cc (36.6 cu in) or less had a maximum speed of 90 km/h (56 mph).[5] In July 1988 a blanket speed limit of 110 km/h (68 mph) was imposed on all cars above 600 cc (the lower limit was kept for smaller cars) by the short lived PSDI government. In September 1989 this was increased to 130 km/h (81 mph) for cars above 1,100 cc (67 cu in) and 110 km/h (68 mph) for smaller ones

[Octaviadriver]

......I gather some new stretches of motorway in Poland and Bulgaria are also set at 140km/h; anything even higher?

Most of the motorways in Poland are 140 kph. I drove from the German border to Warsaw last week and it was mostly 140 kph with a few lower limits, such as approaching the till booths and passing near Poznan with frequent junctions.

[KeithW]

Wikipedia says this about Italy:

Italy's autostrade have a standard speed limit of 130 km/h (81 mph) for cars. Limits for other vehicles (or during foul weather and/or low visibility) are lower. Legal provisions allow operators to set the limit to 150 km/h (93 mph) on their concessions on a voluntary basis if the following conditions are met: three lanes in each direction and a working SICVE, or Safety Tutor, speed-camera system that measure the average speed. In 2016, no road was utilizing this possibility.

The first speed limit, to 120 km/h (75 mph), was enacted in November 1973 as a result of the 1973 oil crisis.[5] In October 1977, a graduated system was introduced: cars of above 1,300 cc (79 cu in) had a 140 km/h (87 mph) speed limit, cars of 900-1299 cc had a limit of 130 km/h (81 mph), those of 600-899 cc could drive at 110 km/h (68 mph), and those of 599 cc (36.6 cu in) or less had a maximum speed of 90 km/h (56 mph).[5] In July 1988 a blanket speed limit of 110 km/h (68 mph) was imposed on all cars above 600 cc (the lower limit was kept for smaller cars) by the short lived PSDI government. In September 1989 this was increased to 130 km/h (81 mph) for cars above 1,100 cc (67 cu in) and 110 km/h (68 mph) for smaller ones

From what I saw on Autostrada in Italy the limit was treated as a minimum not a maximum.

[Owain]

From what I saw on Autostrada in Italy the limit was treated as a minimum not a maximum.

Yep ... even in fog.

[exiled]

From what I saw on Autostrada in Italy the limit was treated as a minimum not a maximum.

Yep ... even in fog.

I drove across the Po planes on the autostrada del Sol in torrential rain. The nutters were Swiss. The Italians sane as sane could be.

[Micro The Maniac]

Now obviously the answer to ‘where are the highest speed limits in Europe’ cannot be Germany, because infinity is not a limit

Contrary to popular belief, the "unlimited" limit does not apply to all Autobahns.

Certainly in the north west there are stretches signed 140 (km/h)

[roadtester]

Now obviously the answer to ‘where are the highest speed limits in Europe’ cannot be Germany, because infinity is not a limit

Contrary to popular belief, the "unlimited" limit does not apply to all Autobahns.

Certainly in the north west there are stretches signed 140 (km/h)

About seventy per cent are unlimited.

[philc285]

To Micro: yes, of course there are many speed-limited sections of Autobahn. But which stretches of Autobahn have ‘Tempo 140’? - I can’t see any reference to them on-line.

[Owain]

From what I saw on Autostrada in Italy the limit was treated as a minimum not a maximum.

Yep ... even in fog.

I drove across the Po planes on the autostrada del Sol in torrential rain. The nutters were Swiss. The Italians sane as sane could be.

The Italians are used to fog, because mist and fog are common in low-lying areas.

They do seem to be far less happy with rain and spray, and Italian roads don't tend to be engineered to disperse standing water in the way that our roads are.

[Octaviadriver]

To Micro: yes, of course there are many speed-limited sections of Autobahn. But which stretches of Autobahn have ‘Tempo 140’? - I can’t see any reference to them on-line.

I've driven on many sections of German autobahn and I've seen limits of 130 kph or lower, but I can't recall ever seeing 140 kph. The signed recommended maximum (shown in blue) on the autobahns is 130 kph, so I can't see them setting a higher enforced maximum.

[Micro The Maniac]

To Micro: yes, of course there are many speed-limited sections of Autobahn. But which stretches of Autobahn have ‘Tempo 140’? - I can’t see any reference to them on-line.

Maybe I'm wrong... but I recall the autobahn from Groningen (in NL) to Bremen was 140 once cross the border?

I'll check next time

[Nwallace]

To Micro: yes, of course there are many speed-limited sections of Autobahn. But which stretches of Autobahn have ‘Tempo 140’? - I can’t see any reference to them on-line.

Maybe I'm wrong... but I recall the autobahn from Groningen (in NL) to Bremen was 140 once cross the border?

I'll check next time

You can just get up to the border in GSV
https://goo.gl/maps/Bgbwth4cKD6tKmAT8

But it's from 2009

[exiled]

To Micro: yes, of course there are many speed-limited sections of Autobahn. But which stretches of Autobahn have ‘Tempo 140’? - I can’t see any reference to them on-line.

Maybe I'm wrong... but I recall the autobahn from Groningen (in NL) to Bremen was 140 once cross the border?

I'll check next time

You can just get up to the border in GSV
https://goo.gl/maps/Bgbwth4cKD6tKmAT8

But it's from 2009

A propos of nothing more than I have a reputation to keep up, the sign beyond shows an emblem that was incorporated on the Royal Arms of England and of Scotland from 1714 to 1837. The White Horse of Hannover.

[Owain]

Maybe I'm wrong... but I recall the autobahn from Groningen (in NL) to Bremen was 140 once cross the border?

I'll check next time

You can just get up to the border in GSV
https://goo.gl/maps/Bgbwth4cKD6tKmAT8

But it's from 2009

A propos of nothing more than I have a reputation to keep up, the sign beyond shows an emblem that was incorporated on the Royal Arms of England and of Scotland from 1714 to 1837. The White Horse of Hannover.

Heading into Germany on the A5 northbound from Basel, the limit is 120 for a few kilometres before the signs appear.

And I don't recall seeing any royal emblems down in that corner of Germany!

[the cheesecake man]

Now obviously the answer to ‘where are the highest speed limits in Europe’ cannot be Germany, because infinity is not a limit.

You could argue they have a limit of 186,000 miles per second!

[philc285]

I think there are some German drivers who don’t feel constrained even by that 186 miles/second limit, given the way they suddenly appear from nowhere in your rear view mirror!

[Burns]

I did alright in Germany, I overtook more than overtook me on the Autobahns. It helped that I was driving a German registered Merc as my hire so I didn't look out of place. Fun times.

[Owain]

I did alright in Germany, I overtook more than overtook me on the Autobahns. It helped that I was driving a German registered Merc as my hire so I didn't look out of place. Fun times.

On the unrestricted sections, I've actually been the fastest for quite long stretches in Germany. I remember one very long stretch when the only thing that passed me was a Lamborghini that must have been doing almost double my speed (110mph).

In Italy, where there is a (notional!) speed limit, I've managed even longer. The day I drove from Bari to Pescara on the A14, I averaged close to 100mph and I can remember being overtaken only twice.

[PhilC]

Now obviously the answer to ‘where are the highest speed limits in Europe’ cannot be Germany, because infinity is not a limit.

You could argue they have a limit of 186,000 miles per second!

Let us not forget the Isle of Man. Although there are now sections of the TT Course with lower limits the derestricted sign actually means derestricted.