Speed limits
Speed limits in Canada are set in km/h by provinces and, on local roads, by municipalities. Posted signs always take priority, but where there is no sign, a default limit applies.
A speed limit is a maximum, not a target. You must also drive at a speed that suits the road, traffic and weather.
By the end of this topic you can
- You can state the default limits in your province.
- You can spot and obey posted speed signs.
- You can slow down for school zones, construction zones and bad weather.
- You can explain why the safe speed may be well below the limit.
What you need to know and understand
- Ontario: where no limit is posted, the maximum is 50 km/h in cities, towns and villages, and 80 km/h elsewhere.
- BC: unless otherwise posted, the limit is 50 km/h inside a municipality and 80 km/h outside one.
- Many municipalities set lower limits, such as 40 km/h or 30 km/h on residential streets. Watch for signs.
- School zones and construction zones often have lower limits.
- Higher limits on highways and freeways are always posted. They vary by province and by road.
- In Ontario, speed-measuring warning devices (radar detectors) are illegal.
- Do not use cruise control on wet, icy or slippery roads, in heavy traffic or when tired.
Posted, default and safe speeds
The posted limit is the legal maximum on that stretch of road. If there is no sign, the default limit applies. But the law also expects you to drive at a speed that lets you stop safely. On a snowy night, a road posted at 80 km/h may only be safe at a much lower speed.
When to slow below the limit
- Rain, snow, ice, fog or darkness
- Heavy traffic or congestion
- Construction zones, especially where workers are present
- School zones and areas with children or pedestrians
- Curves, hills and narrow roads where you cannot see far ahead
- When following large vehicles that block your view
Tips for staying within the limit
- Read every speed sign, and note when a new limit begins.
- Glance at your speedometer often, especially after leaving a highway.
- Expect lower limits as you enter towns and villages.
- Use cruise control only in good conditions on open roads.
- Leave earlier so you do not feel rushed.
Common mistakes
- Keeping highway speed after exiting onto a local road.
- Treating the limit as the speed you must drive at, even in bad weather.
- Missing a lower limit sign at the edge of a town.
- Using cruise control on slippery roads.
- Assuming another province uses the same limits as yours.
Test yourself: Speed limits
Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.
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Sources: Ontario MTO Official Driver's Handbook, Driving along (ontario.ca); RoadSafetyBC, Excessive speed and careless driving (gov.bc.ca); BC Motor Vehicle Act, section 146. Independent guide, not affiliated with any licensing agency. Always check the latest official rules with your province or territory.