diff --git a/features/car/maxspeed.feature b/features/car/maxspeed.feature
index 8f85d3a67..781f4c617 100644
--- a/features/car/maxspeed.feature
+++ b/features/car/maxspeed.feature
@@ -73,3 +73,23 @@ OSRM will use 4/5 of the projected free-flow speed.
             | runway    |         |        | 100      |                  |                   |       |
             | runway    |         |        |          | 100              |                   |       |
             | runway    |         |        |          |                  | 100               |       |
+
+    Scenario: Car - Too narrow streets should be ignored or incur a penalty
+        Then routability should be
+
+            | highway | maxspeed | width | maxspeed:forward | maxspeed:backward | forw    | backw   |
+            | primary |          |       |                  |                   | 63 km/h | 63 km/h |
+            | primary |          |   3   |                  |                   | 32 km/h | 32 km/h |
+            | primary | 60       |       |                  |                   | 59 km/h | 59 km/h |
+            | primary | 60       |   3   |                  |                   | 30 km/h | 30 km/h |
+            | primary |          |       | 60               |                   | 59 km/h | 63 km/h |
+            | primary |          |   3   | 60               |                   | 30 km/h | 32 km/h |
+            | primary |          |       |                  | 60                | 63 km/h | 59 km/h |
+            | primary |          |   3   |                  | 60                | 32 km/h | 30 km/h |
+            | primary | 15       |       | 60               |                   | 59 km/h | 23 km/h |
+            | primary | 15       |   3   | 60               |                   | 30 km/h |  7 km/h |
+            | primary | 15       |       |                  | 60                | 23 km/h | 59 km/h |
+            | primary | 15       |   3   |                  | 60                |  7 km/h | 30 km/h |
+            | primary | 15       |       | 30               | 60                | 34 km/h | 59 km/h |
+            | primary | 15       |   3   | 30               | 60                | 15 km/h | 30 km/h |
+
diff --git a/profiles/car.lua b/profiles/car.lua
index 27d0d2343..a2b76388d 100644
--- a/profiles/car.lua
+++ b/profiles/car.lua
@@ -248,6 +248,12 @@ 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
@@ -385,12 +391,24 @@ function way_function (way, result)
     result.ignore_in_grid = true
   end
 
+
   -- scale speeds to get better avg driving times
   if result.forward_speed > 0 then
-    result.forward_speed = result.forward_speed*speed_reduction + 11;
+    local scaled_speed = result.forward_speed*speed_reduction + 11;
+    local penalized_speed = math.huge
+    if width <= 3 then
+      penalized_speed = result.forward_speed / 2;
+    end
+    result.forward_speed = math.min(penalized_speed, scaled_speed)
   end
+
   if result.backward_speed > 0 then
-    result.backward_speed = result.backward_speed*speed_reduction + 11;
+    local scaled_speed = result.backward_speed*speed_reduction + 11;
+    local penalized_speed = math.huge
+    if width <= 3 then
+      penalized_speed = result.backward_speed / 2;
+    end
+    result.backward_speed = math.min(penalized_speed, scaled_speed)
   end
 end