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Speed limits in India: Some figures enforced are completely illogical

19th July 2024, 14:55 by Utkarsh Chaudhary

I once did an experiment in light traffic where I gently slowed down to 30 km/h after moving to the slow lane and felt so unsafe that I went back up to 60 to stay with the flow of traffic.

BHPian Mustang Sammy recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Is it just me or are some of the speed limits posted on our roads completely illogical? In what reality are people expected to travel at speeds of 30kmph and 50kmph on major roads?

Below 3 images are of the Thane-Belapur road, which is a massive arterial road that leads to the Mumbai-Pune highways.

At multiple locations, the posted speed limit is 30kmph, followed by 50 kmph within 500 meters and then again 30 kmph a short distance later. Of course, there is no one who drives at these limits, including the slowest possible trucks.

I once did an experiment in light traffic where I gently slowed down to 30kmph after moving to the slow lane and felt so unsafe that I went back up to 60 to stay with the flow of traffic.

The Mankhurd flyover heading towards Powai & Vikhroli has a speed limit of 20 kmph.

Below speed sign was captured on State Highway 111 outside Malkapur while returning from a Konkan trip. It is a HIGHWAY between 2 small towns, and a 20kmph limit is beyond laughable.

I tried contacting the Maharashtra & Mumbai road transport authorities to post realistic speed limits, to no avail.

Is the situation similar in other states as well?

Here's what BHPian varunswnt had to say about the matter:

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Here's what BHPian madhukarmohan had to say about the matter:

In Bengaluru, it's a common sight where the speeds are as low as 30 kmph on many stretches, and in some places; speed limits are as low as 10, 15, or 20 kmph. The maximum speed limit on the six-lane Outer Ring Road (and the four-lane service road) is currently set at 60 kmph for cars, which seems inadequate.
Additionally, I've observed conflicting speed limit signboards in the same areas (60 kmph and 50 kmph at the same place in ORR). It appears that while the unit was changed from mph to kmph after independence, the numerical values were not adjusted accordingly.
I believe the current speed limits on roads in India are often unrealistic and should be increased by at least 20 kmph.

Here's what BHPian Karthik1100 had to say about the matter:

On Bangalore International airport road, a new speed limit and designated lane has been set. Which is so illogical.
Most of the two-wheelers who travel on this road are above 250cc. They have put the two-wheelers in the bus lane with a speed limit of 50kmph, this is not at all fair.