Driving Too Slowly on Motorways Can Also Be Dangerous
Vehicle speeds on motorways must be maintained according to applicable regulations, ensuring they are neither too high nor too low. Compliance with minimum and maximum speed limits plays a vital role in maintaining safety and the smooth flow of traffic.
Marcell Kurnlariawan, Training Director of The Real Driving Center (RDC), stated that drivers need to understand that excessively low speeds can create potential hazards for other road users, particularly on motorway sections characterised by high-speed traffic. “Driving at too low a speed can endanger other road users,” he told Kompas.com on Monday (1/6/2026).
Such conditions can force other drivers to perform sudden braking or manoeuvres, which has the potential to trigger accidents. “Because significant speed differences can disrupt traffic flow, being too slow can lead to being rear-ended, while being too fast can lead to collisions,” he added. “This is why there are minimum speed signs on motorways, to ensure there is no overly significant speed difference between one vehicle and another.”
Furthermore, drivers must understand that motorway speed limits are specifically regulated through Government Regulation (PP) Number 79 of 2013 concerning the Traffic and Road Transport Network (LLAJ) and Ministry of Transportation Regulation Number PM 111 of 2015. Generally, vehicles travelling on motorways are required to maintain a minimum speed of 60 kilometres per hour (kph) and a maximum of 100 kph. For motorways in urban areas, the maximum speed limit may be set at up to 80 kph, while intercity expressways can reach up to 120 kph.
The establishment of these speed limits aims to maintain smooth traffic flow while reducing the risk of accidents caused by excessive speed differentials between vehicles. Therefore, drivers are not only prohibited from exceeding the maximum speed limit but are also not permitted to drive below the specified minimum speed limit. Consequently, drivers are advised to always adjust their vehicle speed in accordance with the regulations applicable to the motorway section they are traversing.