Sweden and seasonal speed limits?
 

I'm thinking of touring Sweden and Norway, and understand that these countries are very strict on speeding. A know all friend reckons the Swedes have to drop all signed limits by 10km/h 'during the summer season' - presumably June to September?

Is this true, or a wind-up?!! ( If so, what are the official limits?? )

It's probably more a wind-up than not, so to speak...
I can speak for Norway: Speed limits are strictly enforced by the police. I can assure you that if you're caught while speeding, it will be an expensive experience. The highway patrol even carries credit card machines to make sure foreigners pay their speeding ticket on site...
On some particularly nasty road stretches, speed limits are dropped from 80 to 70 km/h in winter. Normal speed limits on the country roads are 80 km/h, but you will encounter long stretches with 60 and 70 km/h. Highways have a max of 90 km/h, while some newer highways close to Oslo have a max of 100 km/h. Max speed within town boundaries is 50 km/h - and it is here where the penalty for speeding is the highest.

Rule of thumb: In 80 zones, it is safe to put your speedometer needle at 100. In 90, max 110, and in 100 zone, max 120. The police give you some slack when they read your speed. But in 50 zones and below they are merciless. More or less.

As for Sweden, I know they have better roads, more 110 km/h zones, and generally is a better place to drive fast(er) - however your trip will not be so scenic. The nice twisty roads are to be found in Norway.

If you're not on route yet, or reads this while in Norway: call me up if you're passing by Oslo.

Drive safe.
-- indu

The seasonal speedlimits in sweden are not on all roads. Mostly the 110km/h and 90km/h roads. The 110 roads are lowered to 90 and the 90 roads are lowered to 70 if rember correctly, i should since i live here ( not always obeying the speedlimits i guess http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/wink.gif ). On the other hand is sweden not a place you ride your bike in the winter, freezing cold and lots of snow. The police are not as hard as in Norway it seems. Don't theink they have they can charge on the spot.

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Even alcohol can bend the room.

Not quite true. I was done for 91km/h in an 80km/h zone. Manufacturers acknowledge that there is generally a 10% error in the speedo, so for effectively a 3km/h infraction I was given the choice of 5 days in jail or a £150 fine.

My advice, stick to the posted limit, or take your credit card.

Iain

Seconded on the norweigan speeding front, best advice is to stick to the speed limits religiously.

While i was out there this summer I met some Greek bikers on an BMW f650 who had just had a £500 fine for speeding. The amount you pay is on a sliding scale over the speed limit. He was doing 25km/h over the 80km/h limit and got a massive fine - police showed him the notes on it and said if he'd been doing 1km/h faster he would have been taken off the bike and into jail for 18 days - bike left at the side of the road..

Ouch..

Ah - well, if you're caught doing 116 km/h in the 80 zone, they'll take your licence. But not throw you in jail.
But of course - you should stick to the speed limits. I have always done 100 in 80 etc. and never been fined by the police, but that may be just me being lucky.
By the way: They just rised the fines again - now to a level which even the police (for certain offences, e.g. driving on red light) finds ridiculous...

Safe riding!