REPUBLIC ACT No.
4136
AN ACT TO COMPILE THE LAWS RELATIVE TO LAND
TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC RULES, TO
CREATE A LAND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
CHAPTER IV
TRAFFIC RULES
ARTICLE I
Speed Limit and Keeping to the Right
Section 35. Restriction as to speed.
(a) Any person driving a motor vehicle on a highway
shall drive the same at a careful and prudent speed, not
greater nor less than is reasonable and proper, having
due regard for the traffic, the width of the highway, and
of any other condition then and there existing; and no
person shall drive any motor vehicle upon a highway at
such a speed as to endanger the life, limb and property
of any person, nor at a speed greater than will permit
him to bring the vehicle to a stop within the assured
clear distance ahead.
(b) Subject to the provisions of the preceding
paragraph, the rate of speed of any motor vehicle shall
not exceed the following:
Passengers
Motor trucks
MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE SPEEDS Cars and
and buses
Motorcycle
1. On open country roads, with no "blinds corners" not closely bordered by 80 km. per hour 50 km. per hour
habitations.
2. On "through streets" or boulevards, clear of traffic, with no " blind corners," 40 km. per hour 30 km. per hour
when so designated.
3. On city and municipal streets, with light traffic, when not designated 30 km. per hour 30 km. per hour
"through streets".
4. Through crowded streets, approaching intersections at "blind corners," 20 km. per hour 20 km. per hour
passing school zones, passing other vehicles which are stationery, or for
similar dangerous circumstances.
(c) The rates of speed hereinabove prescribed shall not
apply to the following:
(1) A physician or his driver when the former responds to
emergency calls;
(2) The driver of a hospital ambulance on the way to
and from the place of accident or other emergency;
(3) Any driver bringing a wounded or sick person for
emergency treatment to a hospital, clinic, or any other
similar place;
(4) The driver of a motor vehicle belonging to the Armed
Forces while in use for official purposes in times of riot,
insurrection or invasion;
(5) The driver of a vehicle, when he or his passengers are
in pursuit of a criminal;
(6) A law-enforcement officer who is trying to overtake a
violator of traffic laws; and
(7) The driver officially operating a motor vehicle of any
fire department, provided that exemption shall not be
construed to allow unless or unnecessary fast driving of
drivers aforementioned.
Section 36. Speed limits uniform
throughout the Philippines.
- 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.
Section 37. Driving on right side of
highway.
- Unless a different course of action is required in the
interest of the safety and the security of life, person or
property, or because of unreasonable difficulty of
operation in compliance herewith, every person
operating a motor vehicle or an animal-drawn vehicle
on a highway shall pass to the right when meeting
persons or vehicles coming toward him, and to the left
when overtaking persons or vehicles going the same
direction, and when turning to the left in going from one
highway to another, every vehicle shall be conducted to
the right of the center of the intersection of the highway.
Section 38. Classification of
highways.
- Public highways shall be properly classified for traffic
purposes by the provincial board, municipal board or
city council having jurisdiction over them, and said
provincial board, municipal board or city council shall
provide appropriate signs therefor, subject to the
approval of the Commissioner. It shall be the duty of
every provincial, city and municipal secretary to certify
to the Commissioner the names, locations, and limits of
all "through streets" designated as such by the provincial
board, municipal board or council.
Take note that these speed limits are
implemented depending on the type of the
road you’re on. Moreover, the maximum speed
of light vehicles (passenger cars and
motorcycles) are higher than that of the heavy
ones (trucks and buses) because the latter have
longer braking distances due to their weight.
Therefore, minimizing their speed will also mean
shortening the braking distance.
Expressways
Expressways or highways are
defined as open roads that don’t
have blind corners, intersections,
and are not close to populated
areas. In Luzon, we have 7 roads
that are under this category –
Cavitex, North Luzon Expressway
(NLEX), Skyway, South Luzon
Expressway (SLEX), STAR Tollway,
Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway
(SCTEX), and Tarlac-Pangasinan-
La Union Expressway (TPLEX).
These expressways share the maximum speed limit of 100
km/h for passenger cars (with 2 axles and not more than
7-ft high) and big motorcycles (at least 400 cc), while
commercial trucks and buses (more than 2 axles or
higher than 7 feet) can only go up to 80 km/h. SCTEX
and TPLEX, however, have a maximum speed limit of 100
km/h for both light and heavy vehicles. Those that fall
under this road classification outside Luzon should also
follow the same rule.
Since these are considered as speedways, vehicles
aren’t allowed to be slow as well. Minimum speed on all
these roads is 60 km/h.
Boulevards and
Avenues
Boulevards or avenues are
national or major roads that
have intersections, but must
have no blind corners. A
good example is EDSA, which
we doubt you could go over
the limit due to heavy traffic.
Other roads in this category
are Taft Avenue, Roxas
Boulevard, C5, Quezon
Avenue, Espana Boulevard,
among others.
The restriction for these roads
is up to 40 km/h only for light
vehicles, while trucks and
buses should only run up to 30
km/h.
City and municipal
streets
Even without the presence of any
vehicle, the streets within the town
and the city are not meant for you
to speed up. Hazards on these
roads can be high due to
unexpected crossing vehicles and
pedestrians. Moreover, these streets
are narrower than expressways and
boulevards, which means you have
less time to react if a human being
suddenly enters your lane.
The designated speed limit on city
and municipal streets is 30 km/h for
all types of vehicles. Although, we
highly doubt you could go over that
when a slow tricycle is in front of
you.
Crowded streets
Crowded streets and alleys are
even narrower (single 2-way
lane) than municipal and city
types, therefore, you must be extra
careful when traversing them.
These streets usually lack sidewalks,
which means that the vehicles are
closer to pedestrians. Unless you’re
on Grand Theft Auto, you wouldn’t
want to run over people, would
you?
You can only run up to 20 km/h on
these streets for both light and
heavy vehicles. We also highly
suggest to be alert and be ready
to engage your brakes anytime
due to high risk of pedestrians
carelessly crossing the street.
These numbers are not
made to annoy you nor
pacify your thirst for speed.
It’s for your own safety and
for everyone else’s as well,
so it’s important that we
follow them religiously. If you
want to test how fast your
car can go, visit the nearest
race track or get your own
private road where you
can’t harm anyone.
SOURCES;
http://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1964/ra_4136_1964.html
https://www.autodeal.com.ph/articles/car-features/quick-guide-
speed-limits-in-philippines
