The Ministry of Transport has extended the trial operation of a raised speed of 150 km/h on the section of the D3 motorway between the Táborsko area and České Budějovice until the end of 2026.
The Ministry of Transport has extended the trial operation of a raised speed of 150 kilometres per hour on the section of the D3 motorway between the Táborsko area and České Budějovice until the end of 2026.[1][2] The 47-kilometre section lies between exit 84 Planá nad Lužnicí and exit 131 Úsilné.[2]
Course of the pilot operation
The trial operation on the section began in October 2025 and was planned to last one year.[2] The speed on the section is regulated by 42 variable traffic signs that take into account the weather, road condition, visibility and traffic density.[1][3] If conditions worsen, the system automatically lowers the limit to 100 kilometres per hour; otherwise a maximum speed of 130 kilometres per hour applies, unless the signs state a different value.[1][3]
Adam Koloušek of the Ředitelství silnic a dálnic said that during the past year of operation a speed of 150 kilometres per hour was permitted on 269 days, each time for at least an hour.[1][2]
Extension and the police assessment
The Ministry of Transport extended the originally planned one-year exemption until the end of 2026.[1][2][3] Michal Hodboď, head of the traffic police directorate of the Policejní prezidium, said in this connection: "From the point of view of the Police of the Czech Republic, it is important that the extended pilot operation yields enough relevant data for an objective evaluation of the impact on the safety and flow of traffic."[1][2][3] He added: "It cannot be said that the section became safer merely through the raised maximum permitted speed."[1][2][3]
According to preliminary police statistics, the number of traffic accidents on the section did not rise significantly over the year of operation.[1][2][3] The police also stated that the higher speed limit did not ensure that all drivers complied with it.[1][2][3]
Related articles: Police of the Czech Republic
Chronology
- — The Ministry of Transport extended the trial operation of the increased speed limit of 150 km/h on a section of the D3 motorway between the Tábor area and České Budějovice until the end of 2026. Novinky.cz Budějcká Drbna
Pages linking here
Sources
- Novinky.cz — 3 October 2026
- Budějcká Drbna (ČTK) — 4 October 2026
- Deník (České Budějovice / Jižní Čechy) — 4 October 2026