AZE.US
Azerbaijan is introducing speed limits on toll roads, ending the assumption among some drivers that paying for a road gives them the right to drive at any speed.
The changes were made to the law on road traffic.
Under the new rules, passenger cars and trucks weighing up to 3.5 tons will be allowed to travel at a maximum speed of 130 km/h on toll highways.
For other vehicles, the limit will be 90 km/h.
Officials and road safety experts say the measure is aimed at reducing the number of serious crashes on high-speed routes. The issue has drawn attention after reports of badly damaged vehicles and fatal accidents on major roads.
Drivers interviewed in the report said some motorists had treated toll roads as if they were racing tracks, with speeds in some cases reaching 200-250 km/h. One driver said the limit should have been introduced earlier, arguing that excessive speed had already cost too many lives.
Experts noted that in most countries, even on high-category roads, speed limits above 130 km/h are rare. They said the safest speed is not simply the highest speed allowed by the road, but the speed at which the driver can still control the vehicle.
After the necessary technical procedures are completed, drivers who exceed the new limits on toll roads will face fines under Azerbaijani law.
AZE.US