The speed limit for roads with four lanes or more will be raised from 90 kilometres per hour to 120kph, Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob said on Friday.
He said the new speed limit should be announced in the Royal Gazette by April, after a study by the Department of Highways, Department of Rural Roads, Department of Land Transport and Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning.
“The new speed limit aims to help traffic flow under current traffic conditions while ensuring road users’ convenience and safety,” he said.
Saksayam explained the ministry found it was suitable to raise the speed limit for personal vehicles of less than seven seats from 90kph to 120kph on straight sections of roads with more than four lanes and no intersections or U-turns.
“To qualify, the roads must have clear lane markings as well as median barriers to divide traffic,” he said. “Each road will be fitted with speed-limit signs corresponding to the conditions, for example, maximum speeds of 30kph in city or school areas, 60kph on bends, intersections or U-turns, and 120kph on straight stretches.
Meanwhile, the rightmost lane will have a minimum speed of 100kph to prevent rear-ending accidents in the fast lane.”
The ministry will also raise the speed limit for other vehicles on eligible roads.
Vehicles with more than 15 seats or weighing over 2,200 kilograms will be limited to 90kph, tricycles and towing trucks to 65kph, motorcycles to 80kph, big bikes (over 400cc) to 110kph, school buses to 80kph, and passenger vehicles with more than 7 seats but less than 15, to 100kph.
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