Speed limits in the United States

See also: Speed limits in the United States (rail), Speed limits in the United States by jurisdiction and Road signs in the United States

Speed limits in the United States are set by each state or territory. Speed limits are always posted in increments of five miles per hour. Some states have lower limits for trucks and at night, and occasionally there are minimum speed limits. Most speed limits are set by state or local statute, although each state allows various agencies to set a different, generally lower, limit.

The highest speed limits are generally 75 mph (121 km/h) in western states and 70 mph (113 km/h) in eastern states. A few states, mainly in the Northeast Megalopolis, have 65 mph (105 km/h) limits, and Hawaii only has a maximum limit of 60 mph (97 km/h). Portions of the Idaho, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming road networks have higher limits. For 13 years (1974–1987), federal policy prohibited speed limits above 55 miles per hour (89 km/h), then until December 8, 1995, prohibited speed limits above 65 miles per hour (105 km/h).

A standard sign indicating a speed limit of 80 miles per hour (mph), a night-time speed limit of 65 mph, and a truck speed limit of 55 mph
A speed limit sign entering a school zone, along with a warning light above
Variety used in Oregon, omitting the word LIMIT. The typeface of the numerals varies significantly due to its non-standard design. See Oregon speed limits.

Overview

Speed limits

This table contains the most usual daytime speed limits, in miles per hour, on typical roads in each category. The values shown are not necessarily the fastest or slowest. They usually indicate, but not always, statutory speed limits. Some states and territories have lower truck speed limits applicable to heavy trucks. If present, they are usually only on freeways or other high speed roadways.

State or territoryFreeway (rural)Freeway (trucks)Freeway (urban)Divided (rural)Undivided (rural)Residential
Alabama Alabama[1]70606535–5515–25
Alaska Alaska65605555–6520–25
American Samoa American Samoa[2]––––25–3015
Arizona Arizona[3]7565656515–25
Arkansas Arkansas70656555–6030
California California65–705555–6560–6550–6525–30
Colorado Colorado65–7555–656535–6520–35
Connecticut Connecticut6545–555545–5520–40
Delaware Delaware[4]6550–65555020–35
Washington, D.C. District of Columbia[5]––50–55––15–25
Florida Florida[6]7055–656555–6010–30
Georgia (U.S. state) Georgia[7]7055–70655525–45
Guam Guam[8]–––35–4535–45
Hawaii Hawaii55–60504545-5525
Idaho Idaho8070657055–7025–30
Illinois Illinois7045–70655520–30
Indiana Indiana706555–65605520–30
Iowa Iowa7055–656545–5525
Kansas Kansas756565–7055–6520–30
Kentucky Kentucky[9]7055–7055–655525–45
Louisiana Louisiana70–75606545–5510–45
Maine Maine70–7555–6055–6050–55
Maryland Maryland6555–655550–5515–25
Massachusetts Massachusetts6555–65555520–30
Michigan Michigan[10]706055–7055–655525
Minnesota Minnesota[11][12]7045–656555–6030
Mississippi Mississippi7060–70655525
Missouri Missouri7060–6565–7055–6535–40
State or territoryFreeway (rural)Freeway (trucks)Freeway (urban)Divided (rural)Undivided (rural)Residential
Montana Montana75656565–7055–7015–25
Nebraska Nebraska[13]75606550–6525
Nevada Nevada70-7560–6555–7055–7015–30
New Hampshire New Hampshire65–70555535–5520–30
New Jersey New Jersey[14][15]6555–655530–5515–35
New Mexico New Mexico[16]7555–7565–7525–75 (65 Eff. Jan 1, 2016)15–55
New York New York6535–65555515–45
North Carolina North Carolina[17][18][19]65–7055–6555–605520–35
North Dakota North Dakota[20][21]7555–757040–7015–70
Ohio Ohio[22]7055–6560–7055–6020–35
Oklahoma Oklahoma70 (75 turnpikes)55–6560–7045–6525
Oregon Oregon655550–60555520–25
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania65–7050–655540–5515–35
Puerto Rico Puerto Rico[23]60–6550–5550–5545–5545–5515–35
Rhode Island Rhode Island[24]6555555020–25
South Carolina South Carolina[25]7060605530
South Dakota South Dakota[26][27]8055–8065–7035–7015–45
Tennessee Tennessee7055–706535–5530
Texas Texas75–8555–7570–7530–7515–55
United States Virgin Islands U.S. Virgin Islands[28]–––553520
Utah Utah[29][30]75–8065-70656520–35
Vermont Vermont65555550–55
Virginia Virginia[31]65–7055–6555–605515–35
Washington (state) Washington70-75 (eff: 8/1/15)606060-7055–6520–50
West Virginia West Virginia7060–65655515–55
Wisconsin Wisconsin[32]65 (70 pending) 55–6555–655515–35
Wyoming Wyoming[33]75–8065707030

Examples of related laws

StateTypical fineRecklessness threshold or enhanced penaltyAbsolute/prima facieTicket dismissal optionsPoint system
 North Carolina$10–$50 plus court costs.[34] Speeding fines in work zones and school zones are $250 plus court costs.>15 mph over limit (at a travelled speed of greater than 55 mph) or over 80 mphAbsolutePrayer for judgment continued (PJC) available depending on the court and subject to their discretion, but not available for charges of exceeding a speed limit by more than 25 mph.Point system may lead to license suspension. Exceeding the speed limit by more than 15 mph with a speed of greater than 55 mph or travelling faster than 80 mph results in a minimum 30-day license suspension.[35]
 Pennsylvania$35[36] plus court and other costs. All fines doubled in active work zones.>30 mph over limitAbsoluteNonePoint system leads to mandatory driver education and possible license suspension.
 Texas$1–$200[37] plus court fees. Doubled in active school zone or construction zone when workers are present.[38] Various additional "fees" assessed by the state essentially increase the fine by around $100 on all tickets.None[39]Prima facie[40]Defensive driving[41] (once per year) or deferred disposition[42] (restrictions vary, but generally at least 4 per year), but only valid if:
  • Texas resident,
  • Speed < 25 mph above limit and < 95 mph, and
  • Not in construction zone where workers are present or active school zone.
  • Not a Commercial Driver License (CDL) holder.
 Point system is annual surcharge only. No provision for license suspension if surcharges are paid.[43]
 Rhode Island Prima facie One dismissal every 3 years for speed 14 mph or less over limit.[44]
 Virginia
  • Up to $250[45]
  • School zone: up to $250 additional[46]
  • Work zone: up to $500[47]
  • $200 civil penalty in certain towns[48]
 20 mph over limit or over 80 mph[49] or.[50] Absolute[51] Point system[52] leading to fines, suspension, and mandatory driver education.[53]

History

The first speed limit in the United States was set in Boston in 1757 by the board of selectmen (similar to a city council). The speed limit for wagons, carriages, horses, etc. on Sunday was set at a walking pace. Anyone exceeding this limit would be fined 10 shillings (equal to £58.51 today).[54]

Federal speed controls

A sign next to a highway says "Speed Limit 50". A newspaper in the foreground has an article about the new speed limit.
In 1973, Congress enacted a national speed limit of 55 mph (89 km/h). Some states, such as Washington, enacted lower speed limits.
For more details on this topic, see National Maximum Speed Law.

In response to the 1973 oil crisis, Congress enacted the National Maximum Speed Law that created the universal 55 miles per hour (89 km/h) speed limit. Whether this reduced gasoline consumption is debated and the impact on safety is unclear; studies and opinions of safety advocates are mixed.

The law was widely disregarded by motorists, even after the national maximum was increased to 65 miles per hour (105 km/h) on certain roads in 1987 and 1988. In 1995, the law was repealed, returning the choice of speed limit to each state.

Minimum speed limits

In addition to the legally defined maximum speed, minimum speed limits may be applicable. Occasionally, there are default minimum speed limits for certain types of roads, generally freeways.

Comparable to the common basic speed rule, most jurisdictions also have laws prohibiting speeds so low they are dangerous or impede the normal and reasonable flow of traffic.

Truck speed limits

Some jurisdictions set lower speed limits that are applicable only to large commercial vehicles like heavy trucks and buses. While they are called "truck speed limits", they generally do not apply to light trucks.

Theory

Because trucks, considered as class 7 and 8, are far heavier than other vehicles, they take longer to stop, are less adept at avoiding hazards, and have much more momentum. Therefore, it follows from basic physics that limiting truck speeds could reduce the severity and incidence of truck-related crashes.

However, the research record is mixed. A 1987 study finds that crash involvement significantly increases when trucks drive much slower than passenger vehicles,[55] suggesting that the difference in speed between passenger vehicles and slower trucks could cause crashes that otherwise may not happen. Furthermore, in a review of available research, the Transportation Research Board (part of the United States National Research Council) states "[no] conclusive evidence could be found to support or reject the use of differential speed limits for passenger cars and heavy trucks" (page 11) and "a strong case cannot be made on empirical grounds in support of or in opposition to differential speed limits" (page 109).[56]

One study has claimed that two thirds (67%) of truck/passenger car crashes are the fault of the passenger vehicle.[57]

Night speed limits

Night speed limit in the Key Deer habitat on the Florida Keys. Note the nonreflective backing of the day speed limit number. At night, only the number on the lower sign is visible in the headlights.

The basic speed rule requires drivers adjust speeds to the conditions. This is usually relied upon to regulate proper night speed reductions, if required. Numeric night speed limits, which generally begin 30 minutes after sunset and end 30 minutes before sunrise, are occasionally used where, in theory, safety problems require a speed lower than what is self-selected by drivers.

Examples include:

Some states create arbitrary night speed limits applicable to entire classes of roads. Until September 2011, Texas had a statutory 65 mph night speed limit for all roads with a higher limit. Montana has a statutory 65 mph night speed limit on all federal, state, and secondary roads except for Interstates.

Political considerations

Arbitrariness

70 mph limit on Texas Farm to Market Road 50 immediately south of Texas State Highway 21

Subjective or political influence on speed limits is evident by state-to-state speed limit variances that have no empirical justification. Highlighted examples include:

Even in-state examples point to arbitrariness. For example, I-10 and I-20 in far west Texas have had the following speed limits despite no significant changes in roadway characteristics:

Financial concerns

Traffic violations can be a lucrative income source for jurisdictions and insurance companies. For example:

Thus, an authority that sets and enforces speed limits, such as a state government, regulates and taxes insurance companies, who also gain revenue from speeding enforcement. Furthermore, such an authority often requires "all" drivers to have policies with those same companies, solidifying the association between the state and auto insurers. If a driver cannot be covered under an insurance policy because of high risk, the state will assume that high risk for a greater monetary amount; thus resulting in even more revenue generation for the state.[64]

When a speed limit is used to generate revenue but has no safety justification, it is called a speed trap. The town of New Rome, Ohio was such a speed trap, where speeding tickets raised up to $400,000 per year to fund the police department of a 12-acre village with 60 residents.[65]

Environmental concerns

Reduced speed limits are sometimes enacted for air quality reasons. The most prominent example includes Texas' environmental speed limits.

Metric speed limits

The values of metric speed limits in the US are to be circumscribed in accordance with the MUTCD.

Though not common in the United States, a speed limit may be defined in kilometers per hour (km/h) as well as miles per hour (mph). The Federal Highway Administration's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, which provides guidelines for speed limit signage, states that "speed limits shown shall be in multiples of 10 km/h or 5 mph."[66] If a speed limit sign indicates km/h, the number is circumscribed and "km/h" is written below. Prior to 2003, metric speed limits were designated using the standard speed limit sign, usually with yellow supplemental "METRIC" and "km/h" plaques above it and below it, respectively.[67][68]

In 1995, the National Highway System Designation Act prohibited use of federal funds to finance new metric signage.

Definition of speeding

Either of the following qualifies a crash as speed-related in accordance with U.S. government rules:[69]

  1. Exceeding speed limits.
  2. Driving too fast for conditions.

Speeds in excess of speed limits account for most speed-related traffic citations; generally, "driving too fast for conditions" tickets are issued only after an incident where the ticket issuer found tangible evidence of unreasonable speed, such as a crash.

A criticism of the "exceeding speed limits" definition of speeding is twofold:

  1. When speed limits are arbitrary, such as when set through political rather than empirical processes, the speed limit's relationship to the maximum safe speed is weakened or intentionally eliminated. Therefore, a crash can be counted as speed-related even if it occurs at a safe speed, simply because the speed was in excess of a politically determined limit.
  2. The effective limit may still be too fast for certain conditions, such as limited visibility or reduced road traction[70] or even low-speed truck rollovers on exit ramps.[71]

Variable speed limits offer some potential to reduce speed-related crashes. However, due to the high cost of implementation, they exist primarily on freeways. Furthermore, most speed-related crashes occur on local and collector roads, which generally have far lower speed limits and prevailing speeds than freeways.[72]

Prima facie

Most states have absolute speed limits, meaning that a speed in excess of the limit is illegal per se. However, some states have prima facie speed limits.[73] This allows motorists to defend against a speeding charge if it can be proven that the speed was in fact reasonable and prudent.

Speed limits in Texas, Utah,[74] and Rhode Island are prima facie. Some other states have a hybrid system: speed limits may be prima facie up to a certain speed or only on certain roads.

A successful prima facie defense is rare. Not only does the burden of proof rest upon the accused, a successful defense may involve expenses well in excess of the cost of a ticket, such as an expert witness. Furthermore, because prima facie defenses must be presented in a court, such a defense is difficult for out of town motorists.

See also

Notes

    References

    1. ↑ Alabama Department of Public Safety rem New link for Alabama DPS Speed Limits http://www.dps.alabama.gov/Home/wfContentTableColumned.aspx?ID=40&PLH1=HPSPEEDLIMITS
    2. ↑ American Samoa Code Section 22.0323 , and Frommer's
    3. ↑ Arizona Statutes Chapter 3 Article 6 State Legislature
    4. ↑ "Subchapter VIII. Speed Restrictions.". Delaware State Legislature. May 19, 2008.
    5. ↑ District of Columbia Municipal Regulations Title 18 – Vehicle and Traffic (March 1997), chapter 22 "Moving Violations"
    6. ↑ http://www.dot.state.fl.us/trafficoperations/FAQs/SpeedLimitFAQ.shtm
    7. ↑ "HB 674 – Maximus Speed Limots; vehicles having greater than 6 wheels.". Georgia House of Representatives. May 21, 2008.
    8. ↑ Guam Code Annotated Title 16 Chapter 3 Article 3 § 3301., and
    9. ↑ "SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE APPROVES SPEED LIMIT INCREASE". Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. February 1, 2006.
    10. ↑ "Public Michigan Vehicle code: Speed Restrictions". Michigan Legislature. November 9, 2006. Retrieved April 30, 2007.
    11. ↑ 169.14, Minnesota Statute. Revisor.leg.state.mn.us (August 1, 2009).
    12. ↑ HEAT Speed Management Program. Dot.state.mn.us.
    13. ↑ http://www.nebraskatransportation.org/docs/speed-limit.pdf
    14. ↑ "Chapter 4 Safe Driving Rules & Regulations, (N.J.S.A. 39:4–98).". New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. April 24, 2008.
    15. ↑ "Appendix A Designated 65mph Roadway Segments." (PDF). State of New Jersey & New Jersey Department of Transportation. April 24, 2008.
    16. ↑ [New Mexico Statutes Chapter 66 Article 7 part 4 Mexico State Legislature or nmlaws.org
    17. ↑ "North Carolina General Statutes § 20-141(d)(2). Speed restrictions." (PDF). North Carolina State Legislature. April 23, 2008.
    18. ↑ "NCDOT, Strategic Highway Corridors, Facility Types and Control Of Access Definitions.". North Carolina Department Of Transportation. April 23, 2008.
    19. ↑ "North Carolina General Statutes § 20-141. Speed restrictions.". North Carolina State Legislature. April 23, 2008.
    20. ↑ http://www.legis.nd.gov/cencode/t39c09.pdf
    21. ↑ North Dakota Speed Zone Map
    22. ↑ http://onlinedocs.andersonpublishing.com/oh/lpExt.dll?f=templates&fn=main-h.htm&cp=PORC
    23. ↑ § 5122. Maximum lawful speed limits and penalties., Subchapter IV, Chapter 27, Title 9 of the Laws of Puerto Rico
    24. ↑ "Rhode Island Division Of Motor Vehicles: General Information". State Of Rhode Island, Division Of Motor Vehicles. May 27, 2008.
    25. ↑ "S.C. Code Of Laws Title 56 Chapter 5 Uniform Act Regulating Traffic On Highways.". South Carolina State Legislature. May 1, 2008.
    26. ↑ "Maximum posted speed limits". Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Retrieved July 2, 2009.
    27. ↑ "What are the speed limits in South Dakota?". South Dakota Highway Patrol. Retrieved July 2, 2009.
    28. ↑ Section 494. speed limits, Chapter 43, Part II, Title 20 of the Virgin Islands Code , and from a NHTSA summary
    29. ↑ Troopers plan to strictly enforce new 80 mph speed limit. ksl.com (January 5, 2009).
    30. ↑ Utah Code 41-6a-601 - Speed regulations. le.utah.gov.
    31. ↑ Va. Code § 46.2-870. Leg1.state.va.us.
    32. ↑ Wisconsin Statute 346.57. (PDF).
    33. ↑ Wyoming Statutes. Legisweb.state.wy.us.
    34. ↑ http://www.nccourts.org/Courts/Trial/Documents/01_traffic-waiv2013.pdf
    35. ↑
    36. ↑ http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/pdotforms/vehicle_code/chapter33.pdf
    37. ↑ TRANSPORTATION CODE CHAPTER 542. GENERAL PROVISIONS. Statutes.legis.state.tx.us.
    38. ↑ TRANSPORTATION CODE CHAPTER 542. GENERAL PROVISIONS. Statutes.legis.state.tx.us.
    39. ↑ TRANSPORTATION CODE CHAPTER 545. OPERATION AND MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES. Statutes.legis.state.tx.us.
    40. ↑ TRANSPORTATION CODE CHAPTER 545. OPERATION AND MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES. Statutes.legis.state.tx.us.
    41. ↑ CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CHAPTER 45. JUSTICE AND MUNICIPAL COURTS. Statutes.legis.state.tx.us.
    42. ↑ CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CHAPTER 45. JUSTICE AND MUNICIPAL COURTS. Statutes.legis.state.tx.us.
    43. ↑ TRANSPORTATION CODE CHAPTER 708. DRIVER RESPONSIBILITY PROGRAM. Statutes.legis.state.tx.us.
    44. ↑ Revised Statutes – Browse Document
    45. ↑ Va. Code § 18.2–11. Leg1.state.va.us.
    46. ↑ Va. Code § 46.2-873. Leg1.state.va.us.
    47. ↑ Va. Code § 46.2–878.1. Leg1.state.va.us (July 1, 2012).
    48. ↑ Va. Code § 46.2–874.1. Leg1.state.va.us.
    49. ↑ Va. Code § 46.2-862. Leg1.state.va.us.
    50. ↑ Va. Code § 46.2-861. Leg1.state.va.us.
    51. ↑ Va. Code § 46.2-878. Leg1.state.va.us.
    52. ↑ Va. Code § 46.2-492. Leg1.state.va.us.
    53. ↑ Commonwealth of Virginia, Department of Motor Vehicles, "Moving Violations and Point Assessments". Dmv.virginia.gov (May 14, 2007).
    54. ↑ "First Speed Law in America" Popular Mechanics, December 1930. Books.google.com.
    55. ↑ table V-4. (PDF).
    56. ↑ Managing Speed: Review of Current Practices for Setting and Enforcing Speed Limits. Trb.org.
    57. ↑ The Unsafe Driving Acts of Motorists in the Vicinity of Large Trucks. (PDF).
    58. ↑ Small North Texas town tops list in speeding-ticket revenue | wfaa.com Dallas – Fort Worth. Wfaa.com (March 23, 2010).
    59. ↑ Traffic Tickets Are Big Business. Blog.motorists.org (November 16, 2010).
    60. ↑ St. Louis Fed: WP 2006-048C "Red Ink in the Rearview Mirror: Local Fiscal Conditions and the Issuance of Traffic Tickets". Research.stlouisfed.org.
    61. ↑ Dallas County commissioners propose deal to eliminate traffic units, Dallas Morning News, June 27, 2008
    62. ↑ As motorists’ frustration rises, justices of the peace pull out of automated ticket payment program, Dallas Morning News, July 5, 2008
    63. ↑ Dallas County to scrap central collections for traffic tickets, Dallas Morning News, July 7, 2008
    64. ↑ Stephen Moore on Speed Limits on National Review Online. Nationalreview.com (June 25, 2003).
    65. ↑ Matt Hannafin (April 11, 2008). Highway Robbery: Coping with the Great American Speed Trap. Frommer's (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.). Retrieved September 8, 2012.
    66. ↑ FHWA – MUTCD – 2003 Edition Revision 1 Chapter 2B. Mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov.
    67. ↑ MUTCD and metric road signs in the US. Lamar.colostate.edu.
    68. ↑ New York Roads – I-87 – Northway. Alpsroads.net.
    69. ↑ U.S. federal government brochure
    70. ↑ Synthesis of Safety Research Related to Speed, Publication No. FHWA-RD-98-154
    71. ↑ Vehicular Stability Systems (VSS) – Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Fmcsa.dot.gov.
    72. ↑
    73. ↑ State Traffic and Speed Laws. Mit.edu.
    74. ↑ Utah State Legislature. Le.utah.gov.

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