A speed limit is the maximum legal speed for vehicles on a road, established by the responsible road authority. Municipalities set speed limits on local roads, while provinces set limits on provincial highways. Speed limits balance safety, traffic flow, road design, and adjacent land uses. Residential areas typically have lower limits (40-50 km/h) than arterial roads (50-70 km/h) or highways (80-110+ km/h). School zones and playground zones have reduced limits during specified hours. Municipalities can adjust default speed limits through bylaws—many Canadian cities have reduced residential speed limits in recent years as part of Vision Zero and road safety initiatives. Speed limit enforcement involves police, photo radar where permitted, and automated speed enforcement systems.