Pilot Operation with 150 km/h Speed Limit on the D3 near České Budějovice Extended Until the End of 2026

The pilot operation with a 150 km/h speed limit on a section of the D3 motorway in South Bohemia will be extended until the end of 2026. The Ministry of Transport aims to collect more data in order to better assess the impact of higher speeds on road safety and traffic flow.

The pilot operation with a maximum speed limit of 150 km/h on a selected section of the D3 motorway near České Budějovice will be extended until the end of this year. The decision was made by the Ministry of Transport following an initial evaluation of the pilot scheme so far. The aim is to collect sufficient representative data in order to objectively assess the impact on road safety and traffic flow.

The affected section lies between kilometres 84 and 131 near České Budějovice, where speeds of up to 150 km/h have been permitted under certain conditions since October 2025. The limit is controlled via variable traffic signs, which display maximum speeds of 100, 130 or 150 km/h depending on the current traffic situation.

According to the Ministry of Transport, the 150 km/h mode was only active to a limited extent during the autumn and winter months. Due to poor weather conditions, operation with the higher speed limit was only rarely possible during the winter period.

Foto: Ministerstvo dopravy ČR

“The pilot operation on the D3 is providing the first important data on driver behaviour at higher speeds. However, for a responsible decision, we need longer and more representative observations across different seasons,” Transport Minister Ivan Bednárik explained. Especially during the summer months, significantly heavier traffic is expected on the important travel route towards the Mediterranean.

Initial evaluations show that the average speed of passenger cars in the 150 km/h mode increased by around ten km/h compared to the regular 130 km/h operation. At the same time, the proportion of drivers exceeding the speed limit partly declined — particularly in the right-hand lane. However, more than 40 per cent of drivers in the left-hand lane continue to exceed the permitted maximum speed.

According to the police, the extended test phase is primarily intended to gather reliable data on potential risks. According to the director of the Traffic Police Department of the Police Presidium, Colonel Michal Hodboď, it cannot yet be said that the motorway section has automatically become safer due to the higher speed limit.

The system continuously evaluates data from weather stations, traffic sensors and the national traffic information centre. The 150 km/h mode is activated only in good visibility and weather conditions, with low traffic volumes and no accidents or traffic disruptions. The risk of icy roads, strong winds or wildlife crossings is also taken into account.