Road Traffic Act 1961 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 4 · General Provisions Relating to Road Traffic
63. Rate of speed
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No one may drive a motor vehicle on a road above the maximum speed for its class. The minister may, by published notice, ban driving above a set speed on a road. While a ban lasts, the minister may put up signs telling drivers about it. Driving above a speed limit set under the Act is an offence.
Summary · Drafted with AI, checked against the official text on 30 Sep 2026.
Last amended by an amending law of 2017.
Except as otherwise provided by this Act or the rules, it is not lawful for any person to drive a motor vehicle of any class or description on a road at a speed greater than any speed which may be prescribed as the maximum speed in relation to a vehicle of that class or description.
The Minister may, by notification in the Gazette, prohibit the driving of motor vehicles generally or of particular classes of motor vehicles above a specified speed over any specified road or part of a specified road either generally or for a specified time or times.
Minister
“Minister” means —(a)except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c), the Minister charged with the responsibility for land transport;(b)for the purposes of the whole of Parts 2 and 3 and sections 75(1), 82, 112(1), (3) and (4), 113(1) and (2), 114(1), 116(2), 121(2) and 143(3) and (11), the Minister charged with the responsibility for law and order; and(c)for the purposes of sections 131B(7), 135(2), 140(1) and (2), 142 and 142A(1), the Minister charged with the responsibility for land transport or the Minister charged with the responsibility for law and order, as appropriate;
So long as any prohibition made under subsection (2) remains in force, the Minister may cause or permit to be placed or erected and maintained traffic signs which state the substance of the notification in the Gazette containing the prohibition and which are placed in positions that give adequate notice thereof to drivers of motor vehicles.
A person who drives a motor vehicle on a road at a speed exceeding any speed limit imposed by or in exercise of powers conferred by this Act shall be guilty of an offence.
motor vehicle
“motor vehicle” means a vehicle that —(a)is propelled wholly or partly by a motor or by any means other than human or animal power; and(b)is used or intended to be used on any road;