The kinematics of 87 solar eruptive events (flare sprays, eruptive prominences, and coronal transients) observed above the solar limb are studied. The data reveal a clear statistical trend for the highest measured value of the acceleration to be lower in the events taking place at a larger radial distance. The majority of events (84%) show a phase of exponential-like growth of the velocity. The growth rate decreases with the height at which this regime sets in. A phase of constant acceleration was found only in 11% of cases. In the postacceleration phase a constant velocity regime was found in 57% of events. A considerable number of eruptions (32%) exposed a deceleration, most often showing an exponential-like decay of the velocity. The related theoretical models are confronted with the observations, and the implications are discussed. ¿ 2001 American Geophysical Union