Limits of speed
AI Assist
Summary
No person may drive or allow a motor vehicle in a public place faster than the maximum or slower than the minimum speed fixed under this Act or any other law. The Central Government sets the overall upper ceiling for maximum speeds, while State Governments or authorised authorities can fix area-, road- or vehicle-specific speed limits by notification and traffic signs. Short-term restrictions of up to one month can be imposed without formal notification. Vehicles used in officially notified military manoeuvres are exempt during the specified area and period.
Example
Rohan is driving a small truck on a neighbourhood road where the State Government has put up signs and notified a 30 km/h maximum. If he drives at 50 km/h, he will be violating the speed limit fixed for that road and can be stopped and charged under the law. If the limit were temporary for less than one month, the signs alone would be sufficient to enforce it.
Bare Act
Enacted text(1) No person shall drive a motor vehicle or cause or allow a motor vehicle to be driven in any public place at a speed exceeding the maximum speed or below the minimum speed fixed for the vehicle under this Act or by or under any other law for the time being in force:
Provided that such maximum speed shall in no case exceed the maximum fixed for any motor vehicle or class or description of motor vehicles by the Central Government by notification in the Official Gazette.
(2) The State Government or any authority authorised in this behalf by the State Government may, if satisfied that it is necessary to restrict the speed of motor vehicles in the interest of public safety or convenience or because of the nature of any road or bridge, by notification in the Official Gazette, and by causing appropriate traffic signs to be placed or erected under section 116 at suitable places, fix such maximum speed limits or minimum speed limits as it thinks fit for motor vehicles or any specified class or description of motor vehicles or for motor vehicles to which a trailer is attached, either generally or in a particular area or on a particular road or roads:
Provided that no such notification is necessary if any restriction under this section is to remain in force for not more than one month.
(3) Nothing in this section shall apply to any vehicle registered under section 60 while it is being used in the execution of military manoeuvres within the area and during the period specified in the notification under sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Manoeuvres, Field Firing and Artillery Practice Act, 1938 (5 of 1938).
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