Speed

The speed limit is the highest speed you may drive at, not a recommendation. You must always adapt your speed to the conditions, even if that means driving slower than the sign.

The stopping distance consists of the reaction distance and the braking distance up to an obstacle.

The basic rule: adapt your speed

You must choose a speed that is safe considering the road, the weather, visibility, the condition and load of the vehicle and the traffic around you.

You must always be able to keep control of the vehicle and stop within the part of the road you can see is clear ahead of you. You must also be able to stop before obstacles that can be foreseen.

Source: Trafikförordningen 3 kap. 14 § · Legal text (Swedish): Road Traffic Ordinance (1998:1276) (opens in a new tab)

Places where you must keep an extra low speed

The law lists situations where you must reduce your speed enough, for example:

in built-up areas
when visibility is reduced by darkness, low sun or weather
at pedestrian crossings and where pedestrians cross the road
where there may be crossing traffic
on sharp bends and at the top of hills
when there is a risk of dazzle
when meeting other vehicles on narrow roads
on slippery roads
when approaching a bus, tram or school transport that has stopped to let passengers on or off
when there are children or animals on or near the road
at roadworks and when passing the scene of an accident
on dirty roads where others may get splashed

Source: Trafikförordningen 3 kap. 15 § · Legal text (Swedish): Road Traffic Ordinance (1998:1276) (opens in a new tab)

Speed limits

What the road signs say applies. Some vehicles and vehicles with trailers also have their own, lower limits.

In built-up areas the limit is 50 km/h. The municipality can decide on 30 or 40 km/h in all or part of the area.
Outside built-up areas the base speed is 70 km/h.
Trafikverket can decide that a road should have 80, 90, 100 or 110 km/h.
On motorways the limit is 110 km/h, unless Trafikverket has decided on 120 km/h.

Source: Trafikförordningen 3 kap. 17 § och 9 kap. 1 § · Legal text (Swedish): Road Traffic Ordinance (1998:1276) (opens in a new tab)

Do not drive unnecessarily slowly

Without a valid reason you may not drive excessively slowly or brake suddenly so that you obstruct others.

Source: Trafikförordningen 3 kap. 16 § · Legal text (Swedish): Road Traffic Ordinance (1998:1276) (opens in a new tab)

Practise this topic More theory topics

The basic rule: adapt your speed

You must choose a speed that is safe considering the road, the weather, visibility, the condition and load of the vehicle and the traffic around you.

You must always be able to keep control of the vehicle and stop within the part of the road you can see is clear ahead of you. You must also be able to stop before obstacles that can be foreseen.

Places where you must keep an extra low speed

The law lists situations where you must reduce your speed enough, for example:

in built-up areas

when visibility is reduced by darkness, low sun or weather

at pedestrian crossings and where pedestrians cross the road

where there may be crossing traffic

on sharp bends and at the top of hills

when there is a risk of dazzle

when meeting other vehicles on narrow roads

on slippery roads

when approaching a bus, tram or school transport that has stopped to let passengers on or off

when there are children or animals on or near the road

at roadworks and when passing the scene of an accident

on dirty roads where others may get splashed

Speed limits

What the road signs say applies. Some vehicles and vehicles with trailers also have their own, lower limits.

In built-up areas the limit is 50 km/h. The municipality can decide on 30 or 40 km/h in all or part of the area.

Outside built-up areas the base speed is 70 km/h.

Trafikverket can decide that a road should have 80, 90, 100 or 110 km/h.

On motorways the limit is 110 km/h, unless Trafikverket has decided on 120 km/h.