diff --git a/profiles/car.lua b/profiles/car.lua
index 912d98cac..8c68bc994 100644
--- a/profiles/car.lua
+++ b/profiles/car.lua
@@ -241,12 +241,6 @@ function way_function (way, result)
     return
   end
 
-  local width = math.huge
-  local width_string = way:get_value_by_key("width")
-  if width_string and tonumber(width_string:match("%d*")) then
-    width = tonumber(width_string:match("%d*"))
-  end
-
   -- Check if we are allowed to access the way
   local access = find_access_tag(way, access_tags_hierachy)
   if access_tag_blacklist[access] then
@@ -404,12 +398,25 @@ function way_function (way, result)
     result.ignore_in_grid = true
   end
 
+  local width = math.huge
+  local lanes = math.huge
+  if result.forward_speed > 0 or result.backward_speed > 0 then
+    local width_string = way:get_value_by_key("width")
+    if width_string and tonumber(width_string:match("%d*")) then
+      width = tonumber(width_string:match("%d*"))
+    end
+
+    local lanes_string = way:get_value_by_key("lanes")
+    if lanes_string and tonumber(lanes_string:match("%d*")) then
+      lanes = tonumber(lanes_string:match("%d*"))
+    end
+  end
 
   -- scale speeds to get better avg driving times
   if result.forward_speed > 0 then
     local scaled_speed = result.forward_speed*speed_reduction + 11;
     local penalized_speed = math.huge
-    if width <= 3 then
+    if width <= 3 or lanes <= 1 then
       penalized_speed = result.forward_speed / 2;
     end
     result.forward_speed = math.min(penalized_speed, scaled_speed)
@@ -418,7 +425,7 @@ function way_function (way, result)
   if result.backward_speed > 0 then
     local scaled_speed = result.backward_speed*speed_reduction + 11;
     local penalized_speed = math.huge
-    if width <= 3 then
+    if width <= 3 or lanes <= 1 then
       penalized_speed = result.backward_speed / 2;
     end
     result.backward_speed = math.min(penalized_speed, scaled_speed)