Speed Limits in the Philippines Under the Traffic Code

Section 35(b) says that, subject to the "careful and prudent speed" rule (below), the speed of any motor vehicle "shall not exceed" these rates:

The table on the E-Library copy of the Act has no column headings. The headings "Passengers Cars and Motorcycle" and "Motor trucks and buses" are taken from the Supreme Court's quotation of Section 35 in Municipality of Tupi v. Faustino (2019).

No law amending Section 35 was found. Batas Pambansa Blg. 398 (1983) amended other sections of RA 4136 but not Sections 35 and 36, and in 2019 the Supreme Court En Banc applied Section 35 as the law in force (Tupi). Speed limits for expressways come from other issuances, which were not read, so this page does not give them.

No. Section 35(a) requires every driver on a highway to drive "at a careful and prudent speed, not greater nor less than is reasonable and proper", taking into account the traffic, the width of the road and other conditions. No one may drive at a speed that endangers "life, limb and property", or faster than will let the driver stop "within the assured clear distance ahead".

Speed also matters in accident cases. In Morales v. People (2022), a Resolution about reckless imprudence, the Supreme Court recounted a trial court finding that the driver was speeding "in violation of the speed restriction stated in Section 35 of R.A. No. 4136". When a speeding driver causes injury, death or damage, a criminal case for reckless imprudence under Article 365 of the Revised Penal Code can follow.

Section 35(c) says the speed limits do not apply to:

1. a physician or his driver when the physician responds to emergency calls;
2. the driver of a hospital ambulance going to or from an accident or other emergency;
3. any driver bringing a wounded or sick person for emergency treatment to a hospital, clinic or similar place;
4. the driver of an Armed Forces vehicle used for official purposes in times of riot, insurrection or invasion;
5. a driver who, with his or her passengers, is in pursuit of a criminal;
6. a law enforcement officer trying to overtake a traffic violator; and
7. a driver officially operating a fire department vehicle.

The same item ends with a limit: the exemption "shall not be construed to allow useless or unnecessary fast driving".

Not outside RA 4136. Section 36 says: "No provincial, city or municipal authority shall enact or enforce any ordinance or resolution specifying maximum allowable speeds other than those provided in this Act."

What local governments can do, under Section 38, is classify their public highways for traffic purposes and put up the proper signs, subject to the approval of the Commissioner (of land transportation), and certify to the Commissioner the names, locations and limits of their designated through streets.

In Municipality of Tupi v. Faustino (2019), a town had passed an ordinance setting its own speed limits on a national highway, and a motorist was fined under it. The Supreme Court En Banc held that the ordinance never took effect because it was not published, and that it "contravenes Sections 35, 36, and 38 of RA No. 4136". The Court listed what Section 38 requires: the local government must first classify its highways under the Section 35 categories, mark them with visible signs, certify its through streets, and get the classification and signs approved by the LTO. It upheld the refund of the fine to the motorist who sued, but deleted the trial court's order to refund all other motorists.

Yes, under a separate law. The Road Speed Limiter Act of 2016 (Republic Act No. 10916) says covered vehicles may not run on any road "without a standard speed limiter" (Section 4). Covered vehicles include closed vans, haulers, cargo trailers, public utility vehicles, shuttle services and tanker trucks; taxis and jeepneys are excluded, subject to review by the transport department (Section 3(b)). The LTO or LTFRB supervises the setting of each limiter to the maximum speed allowed on the vehicle's route (Section 6).

This page gives no amount. RA 4136 as read on the E-Library does not state a current speeding fine, and the LTO fine schedule and local traffic codes in force today could not be read. A ₱1,000 fine paid in the Tupi case was imposed under an ordinance the Court held never took effect, so it is not a speeding fine to rely on.

These are made-up examples to show how the rules work. They are not advice for any real case.

Rey drives his car on an open provincial road with no blind corners and few houses. The maximum is 80 km per hour for cars (50 for trucks and buses). If it rains hard or traffic builds up, he must still slow down to a careful and prudent speed (Section 35(a)).

Grace drives past a school zone. The limit for every vehicle is 20 km per hour (Section 35(b) item 4).

Joel, an ambulance driver, takes a patient to the hospital. He is exempt from the speed table (Section 35(c) item 2), but the exemption does not allow useless or unnecessary fast driving.

A speeding ticket is usually paid or contested with the agency that issued it; see How to contest a traffic ticket. Talk to a lawyer if speeding led to an accident with injuries, death or property damage, if you are charged with reckless imprudence, or if you want to challenge a local speed ordinance. After a crash, see also What to do after a road accident.

If you cannot afford a lawyer, see Free legal help in the Philippines.