New speed limits: What are the permitted ranges and the fines for breaking them?

Since July 18 of this year, the new speed limits for streets, shreds and avenues in urban areas, as well as for roads that pass through populated centers or school, residential areas and near hospitals, have been in force throughout the country.

READ ALSO: MTC campaigns for drivers on new speed limits

This provision is given by Supreme Decree 025-2021-MTC, approved in July 2021, with which the National Traffic Regulation. The document indicates that the new Speed ​​limits they would come into operation after 365 days, in order to educate citizenship along the way.

The rule also provides that municipalities at the national level have to adapt their signaling system and carry out awareness actions aimed at drivers.

According to Ministry of Transport and Communications (TCM), speed is one of the main risk factors in road accidents. High speeds are associated not only with greater chances of traffic accidentsbut directly influences its severity, that is, it increases the probability of injury and death.

READ ALSO: Callao: road education workshops are given to children in schools to prevent traffic accidents

“The TCM has been promoting the reduction of Speed ​​limits for the purpose of improving trafficability and reducing traffic accidents caused by speeding”, said Gabriel Legua, a specialist from the Road Safety Directorate of the TCMa Trade.

It is worth mentioning that between 2010 and 2020, accidents due to speeding accounted for 30.7% of the total number of traffic accidents. Meanwhile, until June 2021, the deaths of vulnerable users (pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, among others) on the roads represented 57% of deaths, according to the National Road Safety Observatory.

-Modifications-

The new speed limits stipulated in the National Traffic Regulations entered into force on July 18 of this year at the national level. These are:

in urban areas

-A maximum of 30 km/h on streets and shreds. Before the limit was 40 km/h.

-A maximum of 50 km/h on avenues. Before the limit was 60 km/h.

On highways (that cross populated centers and/or pass close to homes)

-A maximum of 30 km/h in commercial areas.

-A maximum of 50 km/h in residential areas.

-A maximum of 30 km/h in school zones / near hospitals.

Legua specified that according to the National Traffic Regulation A school zone is considered to be the area surrounding an educational center within a radius of 100 metres. Before, the radius was 50 meters. In the case of the area where a hospital is located, a radius of 50 meters is maintained.

—Penalties—

Supreme Decree 025-2021-MTC also introduces a gradual penalty criterion for exceeding the new speed limits, since it considers that the greater the excess, the greater the risk to the life and health of the driver and other road users. Here are the penalties:

–If you exceed up to 10 km/h over the limit:

Fine equivalent to 18% of an UIT (S/828) and 50 negative points on the driver’s record.

–If you exceed between 10 km/h and 30 km/h above the limit:

Fine equivalent to 24% of an UIT (S/1,104) and 60 points against his history.

–If you exceed more than 30 km/h:

Fine equivalent to 50% of an UIT (S/2,300) and 70 negative points will be added to the driver’s record.

—Signs—

The representatives of TCM indicated that the norm urges the municipalities to implement the corresponding signs on the roads of urban areas according to the new Speed ​​limits. If there are signals with previous limits, the respective modifications must be made.

“The municipalities had until July 18 of this year. If there is any avenue or street whose signaling has not yet been modified, the authorities are urged to make the pertinent changes..

Likewise, Legua added that if the signaling has not been replaced in any area, the drivers will not be sanctioned for the moment, “because it wouldn’t be fair”. “That is why it is necessary that we work together at all levels of government“, held.

Finally, he explained that compliance with the provisions and sanctions are in charge of the National Police. Sources from the Municipality of Lima commented that yesterday, August 5, the imposition of fines did not begin, as had been announced.

-Sensitization-

The Municipality of Lima reported that together with the National Police they continue with the campaign Don’t Accelerate! in order to make drivers aware of the new Speed ​​limits in urban areas. The campaign has reached more than 10 districts of the city to date.

The Fantásticos Viales de Lima and personnel from the PNP Traffic Accident Prevention and Investigation Division (Divpiat) carry out recreational activities in schools and shopping malls, among other public spaces. To date, 29 activations have been carried out at road intersections in various jurisdictions of the capital.

Likewise, the Municipality of Lima indicated that it has so far implemented vertical signaling on roads around more than 40 schools in the Cercado. Also on avenues such as Próceres de la Independencia (San Juan de Lurigancho), Angélica Gamarra (San Martín de Porres and Los Olivos), Pachacútec (Villa María del Triunfo and Villa El Salvador), Tomás Marsano (Surquillo, Miraflores and Santiago de Surco). , Tacna and Nicolás de Piérola (Cercado de Lima), among others.