Speed limits in Slovakia
Speed limits in Slovakia vary by type of vehicle. The common national speed limits are 50 km/h (31 mph) in built-up areas, 90 km/h (56 mph) on country roads that are not in a settlement, and 130 km/h (81 mph) on motorways. From 2020, all expressways that have an R (rýchlostná cesta) number are considered as a motorway. Amendment No. 455/2021, which came into force on July 6, 2022, abolished the speed limit of 90 km/h (56 mph) on motorways in built-up areas.[1][2] Trucks on motorways, expressways or dual carriageways are not allowed to overtake vehicles except for avoiding obstacles or if switching lanes, to exit, or to get into the right lane at a motorway or an expressway intersection. Headlights are also required 24 hours a day for all types of vehicles.
Current speed limits
| Residential, school and pedestrian zones[3] | Built-up areas[4] | Roads outside built-up areas[5] | Motorways[6] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicles under 3.5 tonnes (without or with a trailer under 750 kg) | 20 km/h (12 mph) | 50 km/h (31 mph) | 90 km/h (56 mph) | 130 km/h (81 mph) |
| Buses (without or with a trailer under 750 kg) | 100 km/h (62 mph) | |||
| Vehicles over 3.5 tonnes. | 90 km/h (56 mph) | |||
| Vehicles (including buses) with a trailer over 750 kg |
Minimum speed limits
Vehicles incapable of achieving 80 km/h (50 mph) are forbidden from entering motorways .[7] On roads for motor vehicles , the minimum speed limit is set to 60 km/h (37 mph) and vehicles that are unable to reach the limit are prohibited.[8] There is no specified minimum speed limit on roads within and outside built-up areas.
Enforcement
Speed limits are predominantly enforced by mobile speed cameras found in law enforcement vehicles. While Act No. 8/2009 does not specify any tolerance for exceeding the speed limits[9], the mobile speed cameras have a tolerance of 3 km/h up to 100 km/h and 3% over 100 km/h.[10] As of 2024, there are no operational stationary speed cameras in Slovakia; however, there are plans to introduce them at the beginning of 2026.[11][12] The use of devices that detect or affect speed cameras is illegal[13], but there is no law that prohibits the use of navigation applications that warn about police and speed cameras as of 2025.[14]
Traffic signs
The national speed limits can be altered by traffic signs.[15] The traffic signs also have the ability to set higher limits, but such limits only apply to vehicles under 3.5 tonnes without a trailer.[16] Circular speed limit signs apply until the next intersection, unless they are ended earlier by another speed limit sign, a sign indicating a built-up area or repeated after the intersection.[17] This is subject to change in 2029.[18]
See also
References
- ^ "Amendment No. 455/2021" (in Slovak).
- ^ "Od júla bude jednotná rýchlosť na všetkých úsekoch diaľnic". Správy STVR (in Slovak). 2022-06-25. Retrieved 2025-11-01.
- ^ "Act No. 8/2009". § 59 (3).
- ^ "Act No. 8/2009". § 16 (4).
- ^ "Act No. 8/2009". § 16 (2).
- ^ "Act No. 8/2009". § 16 (2) – (3).
- ^ "Act No. 8/2009". § 35 (1).
- ^ "Act No. 8/2009". § 37 (1).
- ^ "Act No. 8/2009". § 16 (5).
- ^ "Mýty a fakty o polícii: Ako je to naozaj s pokutami pre vodičov a sú meracie radary presné?". AutoBild.sk (in Slovak). 2021-09-22. Retrieved 2025-11-16.
- ^ "Bič na vodičov. Nové stacionárne radary nebudú merať len rýchlosť". TV Noviny (in Slovak). 2024-08-30. Retrieved 2025-11-16.
- ^ "Stacionárne radary na Slovensku budú posielať pokuty poštou. Kam a kedy ich namontujú?". topspeed.sk (in Slovak). 2025-10-30. Retrieved 2025-11-16.
- ^ "Act No. 8/2009". § 3 (3).
- ^ "Pozor! Waze mení pravidlá. Čo to znamená pre vodičov?". topspeed.sk (in Slovak). 2025-05-23. Retrieved 2025-11-27.
- ^ "Act No. 8/2009". § 60 (2).
- ^ "Act No. 8/2009". § 16 (6).
- ^ "Act No. 30/2020". § 30 (2a).
- ^ "Veľké zmeny v doprave odložili až na rok 2029. Podľa analytika tak zachránili plynulosť a bezpečnosť dopravy". Správy STVR. 2024-02-27. Retrieved 2025-11-27.