PassDGTChapter 3 of 17 · 24 questions
Generic speed limits by road type and vehicle, urban limits of 20, 30 and 50 km/h, and when you must slow down. The numbers are the part people forget, so drill this chapter until they stick.
On freeways (autopistas) and divided highways (autovías), a car towing a trailer has a speed limit of 90 km/h. Under current rules this applies whether the trailer's maximum authorized mass is under or over 750 kg. 70 and 80 km/h are too low for these roads.
A suitable speed lets you keep full control of your vehicle if an obstacle or something unexpected appears. Posted limits are only part of it. You also have to factor in the road, your vehicle, and your own condition. Staying under the limit or crawling along doesn't guarantee a suitable speed.
GPS navigation systems can show your current speed and help you monitor it. Still, the speedometer should always be your primary source. Road signs and road conditions take priority over whatever the GPS says, so saying it can't help at all is wrong.
Maximum limits are based on several criteria, such as the road's design speed, its level of congestion, or whether it is newly built. They aren't random, and urban vs. rural is not the only factor.
The limit for passenger cars and motorcycles on conventional roads is 90 km/h. You used to be allowed to go 20 km/h over the limit while passing, but that has been banned since 2022. So 100 or 110 km/h is never allowed, even when passing.
At high speed, your eyes lock onto one central point for long periods. As a result, only the center of the road stays sharp while the sides blur. It doesn't sharpen your side vision, and glare sensitivity is a separate issue.
On unpaved roads, a passenger car may not go over 30 km/h. Loose, uneven surfaces reduce tire grip, lengthen braking distances, and raise dust that hides hazards. 50 and 90 km/h are far too high for these conditions.
A cross-town route (travesía) is treated as an urban road (vía urbana). That puts the maximum speed for motorcycles at 50 km/h. 80 km/h is a rural road figure, and 45 km/h isn't the limit here.
An appropriate speed is one that lets you keep control of your vehicle when faced with an obstacle or surprise. It depends on posted limits plus the road, your vehicle, and your own condition. It reduces crashes and helps traffic flow, not the opposite.
The traffic authority sets minimum and maximum speed limits to keep all road users safe while keeping traffic moving smoothly. The goal is both at once, not one at the expense of the other.
Cars towing a light trailer (up to 750 kg MMA) may go up to 90 km/h on freeways (autopistas) and divided highways. A 700 kg trailer is light, so 90 km/h applies. The 80 km/h limit is for trailers over 750 kg, and 100 km/h is not allowed when towing.
Crash studies show that the higher your speed, the more severe the injuries when a crash happens. This applies to everyone involved, not just pedestrians. That's why you should never drive at an inappropriate or excessive speed.
Excessive speed raises your risk of a crash. The share of fatal crashes is 60% higher when excessive speed is involved, and the chance of death or serious permanent injury rises sharply. It doesn't ease congestion, and losing control isn't guaranteed every time.
You're driving at an abnormally reduced speed when you go slower than the minimum set for that road. On freeways (autopistas) and divided highways (autovías), that means below 60 km/h. On other roads, it means below half the general speed limit for your type of vehicle. Driving below the maximum or above the minimum is normal.
An inappropriate speed is one that doesn't suit the traffic or road conditions. At that speed, you may be unable to control your vehicle in an unexpected or emergency situation. It doesn't shorten your reaction time or improve your control.
The general limit on urban roads depends on the road type. It is 20 km/h on single-level roads where the roadway and sidewalk share one surface, 30 km/h on roads with one lane in each direction, and 50 km/h on roads with two or more lanes in each direction. It isn't 50 km/h everywhere, and it's never 80 km/h. Always follow any posted sign with a different limit.
This sign (R-411) sets a minimum speed. From this point, you must drive at 30 km/h or more. It is a legal obligation, not advice, and it lasts until another minimum speed sign or an end-of-minimum-speed sign.
Spanish law never lets you exceed the speed limit on freeways (autopistas), divided highways, or in towns, not even to pass another vehicle. There's no 20 km/h allowance on either road type.
High speed makes your vehicle harder to control in a dangerous situation. Over time, it can also lower your concentration and slow your reactions. That's true on good roads too, and a modern car doesn't change it, so always drive at the right speed for the road.
The general limit on through-town roads (travesías), as on urban roads, is 50 km/h. That limit applies when passing too, and you can't go over it. 70 and 90 km/h are above the legal limit.
Speed has a strong effect on anticipation, whatever the road conditions. The faster you drive, the less able you are to spot and react to possible dangers in time. So it doesn't depend only on the road, and it's wrong to say speed has no effect.
The faster you go, the less control you have over your vehicle. That makes driving more dangerous, not less. An excessive or inappropriate speed can keep you from handling problem situations.
For cars and motorcycles on freeways (autopistas) and divided highways, the maximum is 120 km/h and the minimum is 60 km/h. You can't exceed 120 km/h to pass, and no extra 20 km/h is allowed. Since March 2022, that extra allowance doesn't exist on any road.
Since March 2022, you can't exceed the speed limit to pass on any road. Before that, cars and motorcycles could go 20 km/h over the limit on conventional roads, but that rule was removed. It was never allowed on freeways, divided highways, or in towns.