Govt presses ahead with speed limit hike

The Ministry of Transport is preparing to raise the maximum speed allowed for passenger cars on highways from 90kph to 120kph.

The ministerial regulation is currently at the drafting stage and all relevant agencies are finalising the details before its publication in the Royal Gazette, expected in early April, said Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob.

Safety must remain a priority, while roads and environmental conditions would also be considered for the announcement.

The areas where cars would be allowed to legally reach 120kph must at least have four traffic lanes with median barriers and the road must be straight, without junctions or U-turns, he said. In that case, the minimum speed for the right lane would have to be 100kph to prevent crashes, he said.

New speed limit signs will be put up in areas so drivers can see clearly where they must slow down or can…