Historic Speed Limit Regulation in the Official Gazette: Road Signage is Being Re-evaluated

ANKARA - The Presidential Circular titled "Uniformity in Speed Limit Applications on Highways," published in the Official Gazette issue number 32988, dated August 16, 2025, announced a significant step toward Turkey's traffic safety goals. According to the circular signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, traffic signs that reduce speed limits on highways throughout the country will be re-evaluated, and necessary infrastructure adjustments will be made for those that are decided to be removed.

Purpose of the Circular: Traffic Safety and Standardization

The circular was published as part of the strategy document and action plans aimed at helping Turkey achieve the United Nations' goal of "reducing traffic deaths and serious injuries by 50% by 2030 and bringing them to zero by 2050." In this regard, speed limit signs and other traffic signs on highways will be examined in detail for their compliance with current standards, location, necessity, visibility, continuity, and impact on driver behavior. It will be decided whether the existing signs that reduce speed limits are necessary, especially on divided highways outside of residential areas.

At-Grade Pedestrian Crossings and Residential Area Signs to be Re-evaluated

One of the important steps to be taken within the scope of the circular is to check whether at-grade pedestrian crossings established outside of residential areas comply with the standards. These crossings, with the exception of those in school and hospital zones, will be removed. In addition, the necessity and locations of residential area signs on intercity highways will be re-evaluated. In order to ease urban traffic, speed limits on high-capacity roads under the responsibility of municipalities will be reviewed. All work to be done is aimed at standardizing traffic signs in line with the principle that "traffic signs should be as few as possible but as many as necessary," and making them more perceptible to road users.

Responsible Institutions and Timeline

The work will be carried out under the coordination of the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, with the participation of all relevant institutions and organizations, including the ministries of Justice, Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, National Education, Health, Agriculture and Forestry, and municipalities. The work on the roads determined as the first priority will be completed by September 1, 2025, and the work on other roads by December 31, 2025.

Other Important Decisions and Appointments

Other decisions published in the Official Gazette included decisions on the dates of entry into force of various international agreements, the declaration of some areas as urban transformation and development project areas, and the establishment of special industrial zones. Some areas in Tokat's Merkez district and Adana's Yumurtalık and Istanbul's Büyükçekmece districts were declared Special Industrial Zones for the relevant companies. In addition, high-level appointments were announced in the Ministry of National Education, the Ministry of Treasury and Finance, and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The Regulation on the Health Application and Research Center at Kırıkkale University also came into force.