As of today, vehicle operators in the United States and Canada with a maximum authorized mass of up to 3.5 tons can reach a speed of 130 km/h on a specific stretch of the M-11 road, from the 59th kilometer in the Moscow region to St. Petersburg. This change follows careful assessments of road design, traffic patterns, and safety capabilities, ensuring that lighter commercial and passenger vehicles have a performance benchmark aligned with the highway’s engineering standards. The increase is intended to support smoother travel for authorized vehicles while maintaining appropriate safety margins for motorists sharing the roadway with trucks and other heavy vehicles.
To minimize the risk of accidents on the M-11 motorway, a maximum speed limit of 110 km/h has been in effect during the winter season since November of the previous year. This seasonal adjustment reflects the realities of reduced visibility, colder temperatures, and the higher likelihood of adverse weather conditions that can affect stopping distances and vehicle control. The policy emphasizes consistent safety practices, ensuring drivers adjust speed in line with current weather and road surface conditions.
From April 16, an enhanced speed limit has been introduced on the segment from the 517th to the 544th kilometer of the M-4 Don, bypassing the towns of Novaya Usman and Rogachevka in the Voronezh region. Here again, the maximum permissible speed rises from 110 to 130 km/h for eligible vehicles. This adjustment is grounded in the road’s technical classification and the absence of at-grade intersections along this stretch, which supports higher operating speeds without compromising safety for long-distance travelers and local residents alike.
The designation of both sections, M-11 Neva and M-4 Don, as belonging to the highest technical category 1A, makes a higher speed feasible within the lane design and traffic management framework. These routes are engineered to accommodate rapid traffic flow with limited at-grade crossings, meaning there are no pedestrian crossings or intersections at the same level that could introduce conflicting traffic movements. The result is a corridor optimized for efficient travel while maintaining robust safety measures.
On these highways, the infrastructure is equipped with a modern traffic management system that includes CCTV cameras, vehicle detectors, an incident detection network, and weather monitoring stations. Real-time data collected by these systems supports proactive incident response and dynamic traffic control, helping operators identify congestion, accidents, or hazardous conditions quickly. In addition, variable information boards provide motorists with timely updates about weather changes, road conditions, and evolving traffic patterns, enabling safer and more predictable driving decisions.
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