Hastighetsloven

Hastighetsloven, literally “the speed law,” is a term used in Norwegian and Danish to refer to the body of legislation that regulates speed limits on public roads. Because it is not a single statute, the exact title, scope, and numbers vary by country, but the central idea is to establish maximum permissible speeds, provide for variable and temporary limits, and define penalties for speeding and enforcement measures.

In Norway, the term is often used to refer to provisions within Vegtrafikkloven and related regulations that specify default speed limits for urban areas, rural roads, and motorways, and authorize adjustments for weather, road works, and safety concerns. The law also governs enforcement tools such as police radar and speed cameras, as well as penalties including fines, loss of driving privileges, or points on the license.

In other Scandinavian countries, similar speed-limit provisions are part of national traffic legislation, with different official names. The overarching objective is to balance safety, traffic flow, and road conditions, while ensuring predictable and enforceable limits.

Debate surrounding hastighetsloven often focuses on appropriate default limits, the use of variable limits, and the effectiveness of enforcement in reducing accidents. See also: Road traffic regulation, Speed limit, Traffic enforcement.