Driving Speeds: South Africa has secured a surprising spot among the fastest-driving nations in the world, according to recent data compiled by UK-based comparison site MoneySuperMarket. The country now ranks 12th out of 37 nations surveyed for average driving speed across both urban and long-distance routes, with an overall average of 93.6 km/h.
Speeding Through the Rankings
MoneySuperMarket’s analysis looked at how fast drivers move on average when traveling between cities and through urban centres. For South Africa, this combined measurement reveals a high overall pace, placing it just behind Germany (93.9 km/h) and ahead of Poland (92.9 km/h) on the global list.
Topping the global rankings is the United States, with an impressive average speed of 109.5 km/h, thanks to its extensive highway infrastructure and regionally varied speed limits. At the opposite end, Malta reports the lowest average speed at just 23.0 km/h, reflective of its dense urban layout and limited road length.
Long-Distance Driving: A Different Picture
While South Africa performs well overall, it drops slightly when focusing solely on long-distance travel. Ranking 17th globally, the country records an average intercity speed of 58.2 km/h. In this category, the U.S. again leads the pack, with Wyoming emerging as the fastest state—clocking an average of 115.6 km/h on long-distance drives.
Other high performers for long-distance travel include Canada (107.9 km/h), Oman (104.7 km/h), and Croatia (102.9 km/h). On the other hand, smaller and more congested nations such as Andorra (29.4 km/h), Malta (23.0 km/h), and Mauritania (22.9 km/h) show the slowest long-distance travel speeds.
Urban Speeds: South Africa Absent from the Top
Interestingly, South Africa does not feature among the top nations for fastest urban driving speeds. The leading country in this category is Estonia, where average city speeds reach 46.6 km/h, followed closely by Brunei at 46.3 km/h. These countries typically experience less traffic congestion, allowing drivers to maintain higher speeds through city centers.
Even the fastest urban areas globally do not exceed an average of 50 km/h, highlighting the natural constraints of city traffic, infrastructure, and pedestrian considerations.
Method Behind the Metrics
To compile the rankings, MoneySuperMarket analyzed traffic data from the three largest cities in each country, located in different regions. They used Google Maps with live traffic conditions enabled, assessing multiple routes at various times on both Mondays and Saturdays.
- Long-distance speeds were based on routes connecting the city centres.
- Urban speeds were calculated using a 10 km route that passed through each city’s centre.
- The same approach was applied at the state and regional level, using cities at least 50 km apart.
Final Rankings Snapshot
Here’s a look at the top five countries with the fastest combined average driving speeds:
| Rank | Country | Avg. Speed |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | 109.5 km/h |
| 2 | Canada | 107.9 km/h |
| 3 | Croatia | 102.9 km/h |
| 4 | France | 101.5 km/h |
| 5 | Hungary | 101.2 km/h |
| … | ||
| 12 | South Africa | 93.6 km/h |
South Africa’s place in the top third of global driving speeds speaks to the efficiency of its long-distance road network and the relative ease of travel between major urban centres. While city congestion may limit its urban speed credentials, its overall performance shows that when it comes to covering ground, Mzansi motorists keep pace with the world’s fastest.
As infrastructure continues to develop and traffic management systems evolve, South Africa may further improve its travel efficiency across both urban and long-distance routes. With ongoing investments in road upgrades and intelligent transport systems, the country has the potential not only to maintain its position among the fastest-driving nations but possibly climb even higher in future rankings.
Related article: Motorbike Speed Limits in South Africa: What Riders Need to Know
