Bangladesh introduces new maximum speed limits to enhance road safety

To achieve the Sustainable Development Goal of halving the death rate in road accidents by 2030, the BRTA has created the rules

Bangladesh has implemented new speed limits for vehicles across city corporations, municipalities, and district towns.

Trucks and motorcycles are now restricted to a maximum speed of 30 kilometres per hour or kph, while other vehicles can travel up to 40kph.

The Road Transport and Highways Division approved these regulations on Sunday.

Bangladesh Road Transport Authority has issued guidelines under the Road Transport Act-2018 to govern vehicle speeds on highways, it said.

BRTA Chairman Nur Mohammad Majumdar confirmed that these rules became effective on Wednesday.

Violators could face imprisonment for up to three months, a Tk 10,000 fine, or both, he said.

These measures aim to improve road safety and reduce accidents on Bangladesh's highways, he added.

When questioned about the practicality of the directive in Bangladesh, Majumder replied, "No road here is safe for driving faster than this limit. The speed has been set accordingly. Enforcing this rule is essential to maintain order on the roads. Everyone, including law enforcement, must cooperate."

According to the regulations, private cars, buses, and minibuses on four- or six-lane national highways (excluding expressways and service lanes) will have a speed limit of 80kph. Motorcycles will be restricted to a maximum speed of 60kph, and trucks to 50kph.

Three-wheelers are prohibited on expressways and national highways. With the expansion of the country's road network, there has been a significant increase in the number of fast vehicles transporting passengers and goods, leading to a rise in road accidents.

In line with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) to halve the death rate in road accidents by 2030, BRTA has formulated these rules.

VEHICLE SPEED LIMITS DEFINED

The guideline specifies speed limits for various types of vehicles on different types of roads.

Expressways, which include four or six-lane roads with service lanes, have a maximum speed limit of 80kph for motorcars, jeeps, microbuses, buses, minibuses, and heavy passenger vehicles.

Trucks, small trucks, covered vans, and goods vehicles are limited to 50kph, motorcycles to 60kph, and articulated vehicles with trailers to 50kph on these roads.

On four-lane or six-lane roads without service lanes, classified as national highways (category A) by the BRTA, the same maximum speed limit of 80kph applies to motorcars, jeeps, microbuses, buses, minibuses, and heavy passenger vehicles.

Trucks, small trucks, covered vans, and goods vehicles are restricted to a maximum speed of 50kph, while motorcycles and articulated vehicles with trailers also have a speed limit of 50kph. Additionally, three-wheelers are banned on these roads.

On national highways (category B) and regional highways without a two-lane two-way divider, motorcars, jeeps, microbuses, buses, minibuses, and heavy passenger vehicles are limited to 70kph.

Freight vehicles like trucks, minitrucks, and covered vans have a speed limit of 45kph, while motorcycles and articulated motor vehicles are restricted to 50kph.

District roads have a speed limit of 60kph for cars, buses, and minibuses, while motorcycles have a limit of 50kph, and trucks and articulated lorries have a limit of 45kph. If three-wheelers are allowed on such roads, their maximum speed will be 30kph.

Inside city corporations, municipalities, and district towns, cars, buses, and minibuses are limited to a speed of 40kph, while trucks, motorcycles, and articulated lorries have a maximum speed of 30kph.

The guidelines also specify speed limits for Upazila and village roads, where the maximum speed is set at 40kph and the minimum speed at 30kph.

Local administrations have the authority to establish speed limits near educational institutions, religious institutions, hospitals, markets, and residential areas.

However, these limits cannot exceed 40kph on national highways and 30kph on regional highways.

Exceptions to the speed limit rule may be made for vehicles providing emergency services such as ambulances and fire services, according to the guidelines.