Vehicle speed
For your own safety and that of other road users, you must respect the speed limit. Drivers who fail to do so are liable to face fines and demerit points.
Speed limits on roads
The speed limit you must respect on a road is indicated on a sign like this one:
Main limits by road type
Some speed limits apply by default if there is no sign, for example:
- on highways: maximum 100 km/h
- on gravel roads: maximum 70 km/h
- on the streets of towns and cities: maximum 50 km/h
Near a dangerous stretch of road or on an exit ramp, signs such as these indicate the recommended safe speed for motor vehicles.
Sign indicating recommended speed near a dangerous curve
Reduction in speed
You must slow down in a number of situations, including when:
- visibility is reduced
- the roadway is slippery
- the roadway is not completely clear
Fines for speeding
Anyone exceeding a speed limit can be fined $30, plus a certain amount depending on the number of kilometres over the limit. The following table shows the amounts added per speeding offence:
| Speeding | Amount added to $30 fine |
|---|---|
| 1 to 20 km/h | $10 per each full increment of 5 km/h over the speed limit |
| 21 to 30 km/h | $15 per each full increment of 5 km/h over the speed limit |
| 31 to 45 km/h | $20 per each full increment of 5 km/h over the speed limit |
| 46 to 60 km/h | $25 per each full increment of 5 km/h over the speed limit |
| 61 km/h or more | $30 per each full increment of 5 km/h over the speed limit |
The following table gives examples of fine amounts for some speeding offences to illustrate this rule.
| Road type | Vehicle speed | Speeding | Fine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Road with limit of 50 km/h | 70 km/h | 20 km/h | $30 + 4 increments of 5 km/h (4 x $10) = $70 |
| Road with limit of 70 km/h | 95 km/h | 25 km/h | $30 + 5 increments of 5 km/h (5 x $15) = $105 |
| Road with limit of 90 km/h | 125 km/h | 35 km/h | $30 + 7 increments of 5 km/h (7 x $20) = $170 |
The greater the speeding offence, the higher the fine. Fines are doubled for excessive speeding.
Fines doubled for some speeding offences
Roadwork and school zones
The fine for speeding is doubled when you exceed the speed limit posted on an orange sign in a roadwork zone or in a school zone during the school year, which is Monday to Friday, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., from September to June.
Excessive speeding
The fine is also doubled if you exceed the speed limit by at least:
- 40 km/h if the maximum permitted speed is 60 km/h or less
- 50 km/h if the maximum permitted speed is greater than 60 km/h and not more than 90 km/h
- 60 km/h if the maximum permitted speed is 100 km/h
Example of how to calculate a doubled fine for this type of speeding offence:
| Road type | Vehicle speed | Speeding | Fine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Road with limit of 50 km/h | 90 km/h | 40 km/h | $30 + 8 increments of 5 km/h (8 x $20) = $190 Doubled fine: $380 |
Fees and demerit points
Some fees and demerit points may be added to fine amounts.
Last update: January 30, 2026