If you have a need for speed, you might consider these international destinations for your next driving holiday.
For a country that famously loves its performance cars, Australia has very few places where drivers can really put them to the test.
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While Aussie buyers snap up ultra-fast Mercedes-AMG and BMW M models in spades – many of them with top speeds of over 300km/h – the fastest any of us can legally drive in Australia is 130km/h.
Even then, this speed limit only exists on some stretches of the Stuart Highway in the Northern Territory. Otherwise, the highest limit you’ll likely ever see is 110km/h.
With that in mind, those with a need for speed might find their cravings are better fulfilled elsewhere – either on closed circuits as part of track days or driver training courses, or in these super-fast parts of the world.
Isle of Man: No limit
This tiny, self-governing island in the Irish Sea has a big reputation for speed, thanks to its complete lack of limit across 30 per cent of its highways.
Famous for its annual Tourist Trophy, or TT, that sees motorcycles carve up a race course made up of the island’s public roads, the Isle of Man has become a popular destination amongst speed demons.
However, local police take a pragmatic approach to preventing dangerous driving.
“We’re unique… you can get off the boat and go up onto the mountain course and be doing 180mph (289km/h) within 15 minutes, without breaking the law,” detective sergeant Allan Thomson of Manx Constabulary’s Road Policing Unit told Car and Driver.
“That’s why we want to try and engage with people and talk to them … but we never forget that this is the public road, not a racetrack.
“It’s all about establishing the idea that if you do wrong we’re going to have a word with you … but we want you to come back next year and tell your friends how good it is, and how good the police are.
“My guys used to be doing 12-hour shifts, with eight hours of pinging people and another four writing it all up. Now it’s all out on the road, trying to be in the right place at the right time.”
Autobahn, Germany: No limit
Germany’s network of highways, known as the Autobahn, spans more than 13,000km – and over half of this network has no speed limit.
While certain areas have posted limits of 130km/h or less, there are substantial sections with no restrictions on speed – marked by signs bearing a white circle with five black diagonal lines.
While all trucks are limited to 80km/h, cars are encouraged to simply drive to the conditions.
Germany shows no signs of slowing down, with its transport minister, Volker Wissing, telling local media there’s no need for a speed limit in Germany.
“Speed is the responsibility of the citizens as long as others are not endangered. The state should hold back here,” Mr Wissing said.
“The high energy prices are already causing many people to drive more slowly. And with electric cars, people won’t drive as fast because they want to conserve their batteries.”
While plenty of motorists take advantage of the lack of limits, most stick to a reasonable speed, with the average speed recorded by all cars on the Autobahn currently sitting at 125km/h.
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: 140km/h
While most countries have maximum speed limits, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has implemented a minimum speed limit on one major highway in the country’s capital of Abu Dhabi.
The minimum limit was introduced to two left-hand lanes on a stretch of the four-lane Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Road in April 2023 to encourage slower drivers to move to the right-hand lanes (the UAE is a right-hand-drive country).
Motorists who fail to drive at or above 120km/h could face a fine of 400 Dirham or $AU162.
While the minimum limit is 120km/h, the maximum speed limit across all four lanes of the freeway is 140km/h for cars, while heavy vehicles must travel only in the far right lane and at speeds no greater than 80km/h.
It’s not the only freeway in Abu Dhabi with a significant speed limit.
The city’s Abu Dhabi-Al Ain Road previously ranked as one of the highest speed limit roads in the world, with a posted limit of 160km/h, but this was recently reduced to 140km/h.
Similarly, the Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Road (or E11) – a new freeway was built in 2018 – previously boasted a speed limit of 160km/h to improve traffic flow, but this has recently been reduced to a maximum of 140km/h in certain lanes.
Interestingly, a speeding buffer is in place in all of the UAE except for Abu Dhabi, allowing drivers to travel more than 20km/h over the posted speed limit without being apprehended. Abu Dhabi removed this buffer in 2018.
Autostrada, Poland: 140km/h
While most of Europe features far faster roads than we’re used to Down Under, Poland is particularly noteworthy for its speedy highways.
The standard speed limit for a dual carriageway in Poland is 120km/h, while the speed limit for most of its toll motorways – known as ‘autostrada’ – is 140km/h.
Otherwise, speed limits for non-urban areas in Poland are set at 90km/h, while urban areas are limited to 50km/h.
“Speed limits are implemented rigorously. Radar traps are frequent in Poland, and heavy on-the-spot fines can be levied,” Poland’s police force states on its official website.
Bulgaria: 140km/h
Across most of Bulgaria’s motorways, speed limits are set at 120km/h – but on some less common, newer dual carriageways with emergency stopping lanes, this limit increases to 140km/h.
However, truck and motorcycle drivers must adhere to a lower limit of 100km/h.
That doesn’t mean you have a licence to bend the rules, with strict fines in place for those caught speeding by law enforcement.
Those who travel more than 50km/h over the speed limit can face fines in excess of 300 euros ($AU497).
Texas, United States: 137km/h
America’s Lone Star State has long stretches of highway that allow drivers to really burn some rubber – within reason, of course.
Parts of the Interstate 10 and Interstate 20 highways in West Texas, as well as parts of Highway 45 in Travis County, have a speed limit of 80 miles per hour, or 128km/h.
Faster still is Texas’s State Highway 120, colloquially known as ‘Pickle Parkway’, running from San Antonio to Austin.
This highway has a posted speed limit of 85mph, or roughly 137km/h, making it the fastest road in the United States.
This increased limit was introduced in 2012 in an effort to reduce traffic.
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