Speed limits in Japan
Encyclopedia
The general limit is 60 km/h except for divided national highways
where the limit is 100 km/h. Urban areas are usually zoned at 30 km/h.
Limits in Japan are different from most countries by:
Expressways of Japan
The expressways of Japan make up a large network of freeway-standard toll roads.- History :Following World War II, Japan's economic revival led to a massive increase in personal automobile use...
where the limit is 100 km/h. Urban areas are usually zoned at 30 km/h.
Limits in Japan are different from most countries by:
- having no separate urban limit, with urban limits being set by zoning rather than statute.
- even outside of urban areas a limit of 40 or 50 is common.
- even for divided highways outside of urban areas a limit of 80 is common.
- emergency vehicleEmergency vehicleAn emergency vehicle is any vehicle that is designated and authorized to respond to an emergency. These vehicles are usually operated by designated agencies, often part of the government, but also run by charities, non-governmental organizations and some commercial companies...
s are not exempt but have a higher speed limit, 80 km/h. - there are many lower limits set for vehicle classes other than ordinary cars and motorcycles.
- power output of Japanese domestic cars was governed by a gentlemen's agreementGentlemen's agreementA gentlemen's agreement is an informal agreement between two or more parties. It may be written, oral, or simply understood as part of an unspoken agreement by convention or through mutually beneficial etiquette. The essence of a gentlemen's agreement is that it relies upon the honor of the parties...
stating that the maximum power output would be 280 PS (276 bhp / 206 kW). This is no longer in place and cars with stated power outputs of more than 280 PS are available.