There are many advocates for the concept of increasing the speed limit in Australia, but the fact remains that, in most jurisdictions, the fastest speed you are allowed to drive is 110 km/h.
- The Northern Territory has the highest speed limit
- Most states reach a top speed of 110km/h
- ACT has the lowest maximum speed limit
The rules were implemented decades ago, and while cars have become significantly safer for car occups and other road users in that time, the maximum speed limit is. Most in Australia have yet to keep up with those changes.
Speed limits are not implemented at the national level, so you need to be aware of the differences between states and territories in the country.
In fact, it’s the two territories – the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and the Northern Territory (NT) that have the biggest difference in maximum speed limits.
The ACT has a maximum speed limit of 100km/h. As anyone who has driven through the area will know, the speed limit increases to 110km/h as soon as you cross the Territory border with New South Wales on the Interstate M23. The ACT’s main arterial roads – arguably some of the best-surfaced, best-planned highways in the country – are limited to speeds of 100km/h.
In contrast, the NT has a maximum speed limit of 130km/h in some locations in the area. Indeed, the area is sparsely populated, and the road stretches with the Stuart, Arnhem, Barkly and Victoria motorways stretching at 130 km/h.
NT famously introduced unrestricted speed limits in 2016 as a means of reducing fatigue on more than 330 kilometers of notoriously grueling roads in the Territory, but a change in political leadership later that year has causing those unrestricted sections to return to the 130 km/h zone, although zero deaths were recorded in open speed zones during the test period.
For built-up areas, NT also has a slightly higher limit. Signs will say 60km/h instead of 50km/h, which is the default speed for all other Australian states and territories.
Rural areas in the NT and WA have a maximum speed limit of 110 km/h, while in New South Wales (NSW), Queensland, Victoria, South Australia (SA) and Tasmania, the typical speed limit is in in rural areas is 100 km/h.
The best general rule is to check the signs and if you’re unsure, ask a local or stop by the police station to make sure you’re not accidentally jeopardizing your driver’s license.
It’s also important to note that many states have dynamic speed-limiting processes, so a road that might have been 100 km/ha a few weeks ago may have been reduced or increased during that time period.
Furthermore, speed limits are strictly enforced. Fines and demerit points apply in all states and territories, and there are speed cameras, radar-equipped vehicles and officers in all jurisdictions.
Aside from the mainland and with the exception of Tasmania, there are several other Australian territories that have even lower maximum speed limits.
For example – and in a special case – Lord Howe Island off NSW has a maximum speed limit of 25 km/h for a small number of roads.
Many large offshore localities such as Norfolk Island and the Cocos Keeling Islands have a maximum speed limit of 50 km/h. Christmas Island’s maximum speed limit is 90km/h.
Not intended as legal advice. Check with the relevant road authority in your state or territory.
