50 km per hour zones
If you drive on Queensland roads, you must know the following at all times:
- Queensland Road Rules
- Road signs and lane markings
The Queensland Road Rules are governed and set by the Queensland State Government – Department of Transport and Main Roads (DTMR). A full list of the current road rules can be found at the DTMR website.
The speed limit in built-up areas in Queensland is 50km/h unless otherwise indicated by signs.
A ‘local street’ or ‘built-up area’ provides access to private/industrial/commercial properties and/or limited neighbourhood traffic movement. Roads that carry traffic through suburbs and across towns have a speed limit of 60km/h or higher and the speed limit on these roads is clearly signed.
The over-provision of 50km/h signage on local streets can result in confusion for motorists as to whether the default speed limit applies in other similar streets. Request for additional signage is not generally supported for this reason.
Usually excessive speeding relates to poor driver behaviour rather than ignorance of the speed limit, and such offences can only be enforced by the Queensland Police Service (QPS). This can be done by reporting this behaviour to the Qld Police via their website Reporting a Traffic Incident or by calling the Hoon Hotline 134666 (13HOON) or the Policelink number 131444.
Speed Limit and Signage
The speed limit in built-up areas in Queensland is 50km/h unless otherwise indicated by signs. If the speed limit changes along a continuous road, this is generally because there is a school zone and the sign limit change will be clearly signed at the beginning of the zone and then at the end of the zone where the speed limit alters. This is the responsibility of the driver.
Roads that carry traffic through suburbs and across the towns have a speed limit of 60km/h or higher, the speed limit on these roads will be clearly signed.
Speeding is defined as driving at speed higher than the posted speed limit or at speed that is inappropriate to the driving conditions (such as rain, fog, traffic volume, traffic flow).
Speeding consequences include:
- Receiving a fine
- Receiving demerit points
- Loosing your license
- Killing or injuring yourself, loved ones or other road users
Enforcement
The Department of Transport and Main Roads use the following methods to enforce speed limits on our roads:
- on road police
- speed cameras
- red light cameras
All requests for cameras need to be submitted to the Queensland Police Service at General enquiries. This is not a Council directed service.