Azerbaijan has officially approved a new maximum speed limit for toll highways across the country. According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, President Ilham Aliyev has signed a decree amending the Law "On Road Traffic," setting the speed limit at 130 km/h for specific categories of vehicles.
Who can drive at 130 km/h on toll roads?
Under the new legislation, different speed limits will apply to various vehicle types on toll highways located outside residential areas. These regulations are designed to enhance traffic flow efficiency while ensuring the safety of all road users in Azerbaijan:
- For passenger cars and trucks with a maximum authorized mass not exceeding 3.5 tons, the speed limit is set at 130 kilometers per hour.
- For other buses, passenger cars with trailers, and trucks with a maximum authorized mass exceeding 3.5 tons, the maximum speed must not exceed 90 kilometers per hour.
Legal definition of "Highway" updated
An additional amendment to the Law "On Highways" has clarified the technical framework for what constitutes a highway in Azerbaijan. According to the new rules, the beginning and end of a highway must be marked with signs 5.1 and 5.2, respectively.
These roads must feature physically separated carriageways for different directions of travel, divided by a median or other structural elements. Furthermore, highways must not have any level crossings with railways, tram tracks, bicycle paths, or pedestrian walkways. To ensure driver comfort and safety, specialized rest areas and parking lots must be established at intervals of no more than 50 kilometers.
New rules for impound lots and vehicle recovery
The updated legislation also clarifies procedures for vehicles taken to protected parking areas (impound lots). A vehicle must be returned to its owner immediately after the required fees are paid. If a vehicle is detained unlawfully or suffers material damage due to improper storage, the owner retains the right to file an administrative or judicial appeal.
The calculation of storage fees has also been refined; fees will begin to accrue from 00:00 on the day following the vehicle's arrival at the lot. Crucially, if administrative proceedings are terminated or an appeal is granted, all fees paid for the towing and storage of the vehicle must be fully refunded to the owner.
This legislative update follows Azerbaijan's ongoing efforts to modernize its transport infrastructure. The country has recently introduced its first toll roads, such as the Baku-Guba-Russian Federation border highway, aimed at improving regional connectivity and reducing travel times through high-standard engineering and modern traffic management systems.
