New South Wales Consolidated Regulations

ROAD RULES 2014 - REG 20

20 Obeying the speed limit

A driver must not drive at a speed over the speed limit applying to the driver for the length of road where the driver is driving.

Penalty and disqualification: a driver who contravenes this rule is guilty of an offence and is liable to a maximum penalty and a period of disqualification (if any) determined in accordance with rule 10- 2.

Note 1 : The rules about speed limits are as follows--

• rule 21--speed limit where a speed limit sign applies

• rule 21- 1--NSW rule: school bus stop zone sign is speed limit sign

• rule 22--speed limit in a speed limited area

• rule 23--speed limit in a school zone

• rule 24--speed limit in a shared zone

• rule 24- 1--NSW rule: speed limits for learner and provisional licence holders

• rule 24- 2--NSW rule: speed limit on Lord Howe Island

• rule 24- 3--NSW rule: speed limit when bus displaying when lights flash speed limit sign

• rule 24- 4--NSW rule: speed limits for small motor bikes during periods of darkness

• rule 25--speed limit elsewhere.

Note 2 :
"Road" includes a road related area--see rule 11(2).

Note 3 :
"Length" of road includes a marked lane, a part of a marked lane, or another part of a length of road--see the definition in the Dictionary.

Note 4 : Part 20, Division 2 deals with the way in which a traffic sign applies to a length of road. Part 20, Division 3 deals with the way in which the traffic sign applies to drivers driving on the length of road.

Note 5 : Division 3 of Part 5.3 of the Act provides that a person bringing proceedings or issuing a penalty notice in which it is alleged that the driver of a vehicle committed a speeding offence may rely on the average speed at which the vehicle travelled between different points on a road as evidence of the offence.
If there is more than one speed limit applicable to the driver between the different points, Division 3 of Part 5.3 of the Act provides that for the purposes of such proceedings the speed limit that applied to the driver between those points is taken to be the average speed limit calculated in accordance with that Division.