Standards coming for speed limits and traffic signage on highways: To be reviewed
According to the circular, speed limits on highways, speed limit end signs, and other relevant traffic signage will be re-evaluated in terms of compliance with current standards, location, necessity, visibility, continuity, and their impact on driver behavior.
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The circular, signed by AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, recalled that the 2021/2 Presidential circular, which covers the implementation of the 2021-2030 Highway Traffic Safety Strategy Document along with the 2021-2023, 2024-2027, and 2028-2030 Highway Traffic Safety Action Plans aimed at achieving the United Nations' goal of "reducing traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries by 50 percent by 2030 and eliminating them by 2050" in Turkey, was published in the Official Gazette dated February 3, 2021, and numbered 31384.
The circular stated that, within the scope of the performance indicators included in the 2024-2027 Highway Traffic Safety Action Plan, studies to examine the necessity and location of signage determining speed limits on highway structures, taking into account changing and evolving conditions, and to ensure uniform applications across the country, will be concluded immediately.
Speed limits reduced by signage on highways across the country, particularly on divided highways outside residential areas, will be reviewed based on the technical criteria determined in the Highway Traffic Signage Standards Book published by the General Directorate of Highways, in accordance with Article 7 of the Highway Traffic Law No. 2918 dated October 13, 1983.
Furthermore, the compliance of at-grade pedestrian crossings established outside residential areas with standards will be checked, and at-grade pedestrian crossings that do not fall under exceptions such as school or hospital zones will be removed.
SPEED LIMITS WILL BE REVIEWED
Speed limits reduced by signage in sections deemed appropriate, taking into account factors such as road structure, traffic density, and pedestrian mobility, will be reorganized. In sections where it is decided to remove speed limits as a result of the evaluation, necessary infrastructure arrangements such as terminating pedestrian crossing/stop applications and closing median openings that endanger traffic safety, as well as removing traffic signage, will be carried out by the organization responsible for the construction and maintenance of the road.
The necessity and locations of residential area signs on intercity highways will be re-evaluated, and speed limits on high-capacity roads passing through residential areas, for which municipalities are responsible for construction and maintenance, will be reviewed by taking necessary measures for life and property safety.
Applications regarding speed limit regulations and traffic signboards will be standardized in line with the principle that "traffic signboards should be as few as possible but as many as necessary" and will be made more perceptible for road users.
The work to be carried out will be conducted under the coordination of the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, with the participation of relevant institutions and organizations, primarily the ministries of Justice, Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, National Education, Health, Agriculture and Forestry, and municipalities, and will be concluded by September 1 for roads determined as first priority and by December 31 for other roads.