Speed limits in the United States by jurisdiction

Speed limits in the United States vary depending on jurisdiction, with 75 to 85 mph (120 to 140 km/h) common in the Western United States and 65 to 70 mph (100 to 110 km/h) common in the Eastern United States. States may also set special speed limits for trucks and night travel along with minimum speed limits.

Alabama

In Alabama, trucks carrying hazardous materials are not to exceed 55 mph. A speed limit of 30 mph in urban areas and 35 mph on unpaved rural roads is enforced. The speed limit for county paved roads is 45 mph. All other 2 lane roads are limited to 55 mph. The interstate limit is 70 mph while other 4 lane highways are limited to 65 mph.[1]

Alaska

In Alaska, several roads carry a 65 mph speed limit: a majority of the Parks Highway between Fairbanks and Willow (excepting slower zones through Nenana, Denali Park, Cantwell, and Healy), most of the Richardson Highway between Valdez and North Pole, a 35-mile stretch of the Glenn Highway between Wasilla and Anchorage, the Seward Highway freeway in Anchorage between 36th Avenue and Rabbit Creek Road, and other non-freeway parts of the Seward Highway farther south. The Minnesota Drive Expressway features a 60 mph speed limit. Engineering studies are needed to define which road segments to post a speed limit higher than 55 mph.[2]

Speed limits in Alaska are 15 mph in alleys, 20 mph in a business district, 25 mph in a residential district, and 55 mph on other roads. The speed limit in all rural areas of Alaska is 55 mph unless otherwise posted, and the default limit on a rural 2-lane highway is 55 mph. The speed limit when towing a mobile home is 45 mph.[2]

Arizona

The default speed limit outside of "business or residential" districts in Arizona is 65 mph, within those districts the default speed limit is 25 mph. The school zone speed limit is 15 mph, while some may be 25 to 35 mph. Exceeding these limits only in the best of driving conditions is considered prima facie evidence of speeding. Altered speed limits are not prima facie.[3]

The maximum speed limit on Interstate Highways is 75 mph. This limit may be applied outside of "urbanized areas", where speeds of over 85 mph on any highway (regardless of the posted speed limit) is considered a criminal (rather than civil) offense. Within "business or residential" districts, exceeding the speed limit by more than 20 mph is considered criminal. Within "urbanized areas", 55 mph speed limit citations are given for "waste of a finite resource". This exception only applies within a 10 mph threshold. As long as the speed does not exceed 65 mph, the infraction is not recorded as a traffic violation for the purposes of a point system.

Non-passenger vehicles in excess of thirteen tons, or "vehicles drawing a pole trailer" weighing more than 3 tons may not exceed 65 mph unless signs are posted that allow such a speed. Yet this does not differ from the default speed limit, and has the practical effect of requiring extra consideration for posting a standard speed limit sign in excess of 65 mph.[4] A non-numeric minimum speed limit is incorporated with the basic speed rule in Arizona, which also prohibits speeds higher than would be "reasonable and prudent".[3]

Night speed limit signs are posted on some roads within Tucson city limits that do not have street lights. Examples: Fort Lowell Road from Oracle Road to Country Club Road, 22nd Street from I-10 to Cherry Avenue.

Arkansas

Urban districts by default are posted at 30 mph. Outside of the municipal limits, a two-lane road are by default is posted at 55 mph. Recently, the Arkansas High Commission has authorized the Arkansas AHTD to raise the speed limit on undivided 4 and 5 lane roads from 55 to 60 mph while divided 4 lane roads are set to go from 55 to 65 mph.[5] Furthermore, AHTD has established freeway default speed limits. Along rural freeways, 70 mph while suburban freeways are 60 mph. Unlike most states, a licensed Arkansas motorist has to accumulate at least 14 but no more than 17 driver license points to get a 3–6-month license suspension.[6]

California

Basic speed law

California's "Basic Speed Law",[7] part of the California Vehicle Code, defines the maximum speed at which a car may travel as a "reasonable and prudent" speed, given road conditions. The reasonable speed may be lower than the posted speed limit in conditions such as fog,[8] heavy rain,[9] ice, snow, gravel, sharp corners,[10] blinding glare,[11] darkness,[12] crossing traffic,[13] or when there is an obstructed view of orthogonal traffic[14]—such as by road curvature,[15] parked cars, vegetation, or snow banks—thus limiting the Assured Clear Distance Ahead (ACDA).[16][17] Basic speed laws are statutized reinforcements of the centuries-old common law negligence doctrine as specifically applied to vehicular speed.[18] California Vehicle Code section 22350 is typical; it states that "No person shall drive a vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable ... and in no event at a speed which endangers the safety of persons or property".[19]

Speed limits in California are mandated by statute to be set: (1) at or below the 85th percentile operating speed;[20] [21] as determined by a traffic and engineering survey[22]—this is the speed that no more than 15% of traffic exceeds; or (2) the prima facie limits mandated when certain criteria are met as described in the vehicle code. These criteria include school zone, alleyway, and residential area.[23][24][25][26][27]

If the 85th percentile operating speed as measured by a Traffic and Engineering Survey exceeds the design speed, compulsory legal protection is given to that speed—even if it is unsafe with regard to certain technical aspects such as sight distance. This speed creep may continue until the 85th percentile operating speed is comparable to speed psychologically perceived as uncomfortably hazardous.[28]

The theory behind California's 85th percentile statute is that, as a policy, most of the electorate should be seen as lawful, and limits must be practical to enforce. However, there are some circumstances where motorists do not tend to process all the risks involved, and as a mass choose a poor 85th percentile speed. This rule in substance is a process for voting the speed limit by driving; and in contrast to delegating the speed limit to an engineering expert.[Note 1][29]

The numerical limit set by Caltrans engineers for speed limit signs, generally found on all non-controlled-access routes, is considered a presumptive maximum "reasonable and prudent" speed.

Many speed limit signs are identified as "maximum speed", usually when the limit is 55 mph (89 km/h) or more. When the National Maximum Speed Law was enacted, California was forced to create a new legal signage category, "Maximum Speed", to indicate to drivers that the Basic Speed Law did not apply for speeds over the federally mandated speed cap; rather, it would be a violation to exceed the fixed maximum speed indicated on the sign, regardless of whether the driver's speed could be considered "reasonable and prudent".

A driver can receive a traffic citation for violating the Basic Speed Law even if their speed is below the "maximum speed limit" if road, weather, or traffic conditions make that speed unsafe. However, because the Basic Speed Law establishes prima facie limits, not absolute ones, they can also defend against a citation for speeding "by competent evidence that the speed in excess of said limits did not constitute a violation of the basic speed law at the time, place and under the conditions then existing", per section 22351(b) of the California Vehicle Code.[30] As attorney David W. Brown says in his book Fight Your Ticket & Win in California, "a person traveling over the speed limit–but less than the usual 65 mph maximum speed (55 mph for two-lane undivided highways)–isn't necessarily violating the law"[31] and that "you can defend against a charge of violating the Basic Speed Law not only by showing you weren't exceeding the speed limit, but also by establishing that even if you were over the limit, your speed was nevertheless 'safe' under the circumstances."[32]

Speed limits

Rural freeways, such as parts of I-5, I-8, I-10, I-15, I-40, I-505, I-580 between I-205 and I-5, U.S. 101 between San Miguel and King City, and SR 99 south of Madera and Fresno, have 70 mph (113 km/h) speed limits. The highest speed limit on I-80 is 65 mph as it passes exclusively through urban and mountainous areas. However, the speed limit on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and in San Francisco is only 50 mph. In downtown Los Angeles, the maximum speed limit is 55 mph. This includes the entire length of the Pasadena Freeway between Pasadena and downtown Los Angeles, and portions of the Hollywood, Santa Ana, Santa Monica, and Harbor Freeways. The default limit on 2-lane roads is 55 mph. However, Caltrans or a local agency can post a speed of up to 65 mph after an engineering study.[33]

There is a 55 mph speed limit for trucks with 3 or more axles and all vehicles while towing.

In California, the Maximum Speed in school zones is 25 or 15 mph, but may only be in effect when children are present within that school zone.[23][27]

Colorado

The maximum speed limit in Colorado is 75 mph on rural Interstate highways. Interstate 70 in the Rocky Mountains has a 65 mph limit due to steep grades and curves and a 50 mph limit at the east and west ends of the Eisenhower Tunnel. The maximum speed limit on other rural highways is 65 mph.

There are also basic prima facie speed limits in Colorado.[34]

Night speed limits

On certain stretches of rural highways, notably US-160 between Durango and Pagosa Springs and US-550 between Durango and Silverton, nighttime speed limits are in effect during peak migratory periods for area wildlife. Speeding fines are doubled when nighttime speed limits are in effect.

Connecticut

Speed limits in Connecticut are normally 65 mph on rural freeways; up to 55 mph on rural divided and undivided highways. In urban areas speed limits vary from 25 mph on residential streets and central business districts to 30–40 mph on arterial roadways, and from 45 to 55 mph on urban freeways. Limited-access divided highways have a minimum speed of 40 mph (64 km/h),[35] but this is not always posted, and rarely enforced.

Speed limits for all roads within Connecticut—including local streets—are established by the State Traffic Commission, an agency composed of members of the Department of Motor Vehicles (CTDMV), the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP), and the Department of Transportation (CONNDOT).

The State Traffic Commission typically sets speed limits following engineering studies performed by CONNDOT. Data used in setting speed limits includes: traffic volume vs. roadway capacity, design speed, road geometry, spacing of intersections and/or interchanges, number of driveways and curb cuts, and accident rates.

Municipalities are normally required to seek approval from the State Traffic Commission for changes to the posted speed limits on locally owned streets after appropriate engineering studies are performed.

Speeding fines are doubled in school zones when children are present, and construction areas when workers are present.

Prior to 1974, Connecticut permitted a maximum speed of 60 mph on rural freeways.

Delaware

In Delaware, three roads carry a 65 mph (105 km/h) speed limit: I-495, the toll road portion of Delaware Route 1, and Interstate 95 from the Maryland line to the southern junction with I-495. The remainder of I-95 between the southern junction with I-495 and the Pennsylvania line and the freeway portion of Delaware Route 141 are 55 mph (89 km/h) while Interstate 295 is 50 mph (80 km/h). Prior to the National Maximum Speed Law that went into effect nationwide, I-95 used to have a 60 mph (97 km/h) speed limit except around Wilmington.[36] In May 2015, the state of Delaware increased the speed limit on Interstate 95 from 55 mph (89 km/h) to 65 mph (105 km/h) between the Maryland state line and the I-495 interchange.[37]

All rural two-lane state-owned roads have 50 mph (80 km/h) speed limits, while all urban speed limits, regardless of location, are held at 25 mph (40 km/h) for two-lane roads and up to 35 mph (56 km/h) for four-lane roads. Four lane highways such as US 13, US 113, portions of US 40 near Bear and Glasgow, and the at-grade portions of DE 1 are normally 55 mph (89 km/h).

School zones have 20 mph (32 km/h) speed limits.

Interstate 495, which forms a bypass around Wilmington, features changeable speed limit signs for environmental purposes. These signs typically display a 65 mph (105 km/h) speed limit, but this limit changes to 55 mph (89 km/h) on days when air quality is a concern. The limit is also lowered during construction, weather conditions, and when accidents occur.

All neighborhoods and subdivisions in Delaware have a maximum speed limit of 25 mph (40 km/h) as set by state law. Frequent ad campaigns on in-state radio stations remind residents of this (as of January 2013).

Florida

Florida has a maximum speed limit of 70 mph, found on freeways, including rural Interstate Highways, some urban highways including I-4 in Lakeland, I-75 in Tampa and Miami, Florida (where I-75 ends), and rural limited access toll roads. 65 mph is typical on rural 4-lane highways (including US, a few rural highways in Orlando such as I 4 and toll roads 429 and 417, and State highways) as well as most urban freeways and tollways. 60 mph is the maximum on two-lane sections of United States Highways, most rural state highways and some freeways and tollways when the design of the road warrants a lower speed. County roads typically have 55 mph or less speed limits, although 60 mph is sometimes allowed, such as on Glades CR 74, from SR 29 west to the Charlotte County line in South Florida. (Once west of the Charlotte County line, the limit drops to 55 mph).

Florida is the only state entirely east of the Mississippi River which has posted speed limits higher than 55 mph on two-lane roads. (Ohio permits 60 mph speed limits on two-lane roads as well, although no highways have that higher limit as of yet)

Florida typically does not post night speed limits, but there are a few exceptions. For the most part, these night time reduced speeds are located in wildlife preserves for such endangered species as the Florida panther and the key deer. Most of the Tamiami Trail through the Big Cypress National Preserve has a 45 mph night speed limit.[38] On some stretches of road where the speed limit is reduced at night, the daytime speed limit sign is not reflective so at night, only the night limit is visible.

Florida's minimum speed limit on Interstate Highways is now posted at 50 mph in most 70 mph zones, up from the previous 40 mph minimum. In 55 mph, and 65 mph urban interstate zones, the minimum remains 40 mph. Freeways with speed limits of 50 mph or less typically do not have minimum speed limits, such as on I-375 in St. Petersburg.[39]

The State of Florida also does not impose a lower truck speed limit. As such, all interstate traffic is permitted to travel at the same speed.[40]

School zones in Florida usually have 10 mph to 20 mph limits. Most have flashing yellow lights activated during the times they are in effect as well as accompanying signs that post the times these reduced speed limits are effective. All are strictly enforced and carry an increased penalty for violations.

Georgia

Rural interstates are posted at 70 mph. Until 2014, sections of Interstates passing through a municipality or metropolitan area with a population over fifty thousand were capped at 55 to 65 mph. However, a new law has permitted urban interstates to now be posted as high as 70 mph,[41] and some have already reflected this change, such as I-95 through Brunswick and I-85 in Gwinnett County. Most urban interstates, however, still remain at or below 65 mph. I-285 in the Atlanta area was recently increased from 55 to 65 mph (with Variable speed limits on the north portion. I-95 and I-16 through suburban Savannah (the 65 mph limit on I-95 is only for a 1 1/2 mile section in the vicinity of the I-16 interchange) and I-185 in Columbus remain at 65 mph, while the Downtown Connector and portions of I-20 in Atlanta are posted as low as 55 mph. Most non-interstate freeways such as GA-400 and the Athens perimeter highway, are posted at 55 to 65 mph.

Four lane arterials and expressways can be posted as high as 65 mph. However, Dillon's Rule enables counties outside municipalities to keep four lane GRIP corridors at 55 mph. However, in recent years, US 1 between Augusta and Wrens raised the speed limit to 65 mph. Other rural four-lane highways with a 65 mph include portions of US 441 near Irwinton, US 25 between Augusta and Statesboro, State Route 88 between Sandersville and Wrens, State Route 16 between Griffin and I-75, much of US 341 between Brunswick and I-75, and much of US 82 in South Georgia.

Two lane state roads by default are posted at 55 mph. County maintained roads will rarely if they even do, post any roadway above 50 mph in middle & south Georgia, 45 mph in north Georgia. Both in the Atlanta area, Ronald Reagan Parkway is posted at 50 mph as a county maintained freeway and Sugarloaf Parkway is posted at 55 mph along its new eastern freeway portion.

Inside the municipality, speed limits are generally posted at 35 mph while it is 25–30 mph in the downtown area.

All roadways maintained by GDOT that are subject to speed limit reductions are given advanced notice with signage that says "REDUCED SPEED AHEAD". Furthermore, GDOT has a policy of doing 5 to 10 mph increments but never higher than 10 mph.

Georgia is one of few states with anti-speed trap laws passed in the late 1990s. Speed violations less than 15 mph over the speed limit will have no points assessed.[42] Fines are not assessed for motorists going less than 10 mph over the speed limit. In 2009, Georgia introduced the "Super Speeder" law, which adds an additional speeding fine of $200 for motorists convicted of traveling 75 mph or more on a two lane or undivided road and 85 mph or more on a divided highway.

Hawaii

Hawaii was the last state to raise its maximum speed limit after the National Maximum Speed Law was repealed in 1995, and still has the lowest maximum speed limit of any state. In 2002, following public outcry after a controversial experiment with speed enforcement using road safety cameras, the state Department of Transportation raised the speed limit to 60 mph on Interstate H-1 between Kapolei and Waipahu, and Interstate H-3 between the Tetsuo Harano Tunnels and the junction with H-1.[43] All other freeways, including Interstate H-2, have a maximum speed limit of 55 mph, with the limit dropping to 45 mph in central Honolulu. Other highways generally have speed limits of 55 mph and in many cases much less.[44]

Hawaii has a minimum speed along much of Interstate H-1 of only 10 mph below the speed limit. The minimum speed is usually 45 mph when the speed limit is 55, and 40 mph when the speed limit is 50.

Idaho

The speed limit on a freeway in Idaho is 80 mph rural, 65 mph urban, and a 70 mph truck speed limit. Generally both 2- and 4-lane highways have 70 mph limits, and roads with traffic lights are posted at 60 mph or below. The school zone speed limit in Idaho is 25 mph, (Except Grangeville, in which it is 15 mph).

Idaho senator Bart Davis brought SB 1284a to the House for discussion in early 2014. The bill passed the Senate on February 25 and was signed into law by Governor Otter on March 18, 2014, which was set to raise the speed limit on rural interstates to 80 mph on July 1, 2014, the same date Wyoming raised its speed limit. Days before the law was to go into effect, however, it was put on hold in order to allow a more thorough review of the effects of a raised speed limit.[45] A vote on July 14, 2014 approved the 80 mph increase on limited sections of interstates in the southern portions of Idaho. Studies will begin for other areas later this summer.[46] The bill also would raise truck and two-lane highway speed limits to 70 mph.[47] As of July 24, 2014, the new 80 mph signs are up on rural Idaho Interstates.[48]

Illinois

Interstate Highways in Illinois are usually posted with both minimum and maximum speed limits, except in some urban areas, particularly Chicago. The standard speed limit is 70 mph for rural interstates, a 45 mph minimum speed limit, 65 mph for other 4 lane divided highways, and 55 mph for all other highways. Urban freeway/interstate speed limits can range from as low as 45 mph in downtown Chicago, where all the major interstates merge, to as high as 65 mph in the outer portions of the Chicago metro and East St. Louis metro areas, and in some smaller cities. Some interstates in small cities (e.g. I-55/74 through Bloomington-Normal, I-39/90 through the Rockford area, I-57 through Champaign-Urbana) do not have reduced speed limits. Most freeways and interstates in Cook, DuPage, and Lake Counties, and some interstates and freeways in Will County maintain a 55 mph speed limit.[49] Due to the high population density, the only freeways in Cook County that exceed a speed limit of 55 mph are I-57 at the southern edge of the county, and part of I-80 between Central Ave. and Harlem Ave. As of January 2010, a reduced speed limit posted in a construction zone must be obeyed 24 hours a day, regardless of whether workers are present.[50]

Indiana

In Indiana speed limits on Interstate Highways are usually 70 mph (110 km/h) for cars and 65 mph (100 km/h) for trucks with a gross vehicular weight (GVW) of 13 tons or greater, except in urban areas, where it is generally 55 mph (90 km/h) in city centers (except stretches of I-70 in Indianapolis where it is 50 mph) and 65 mph (100 km/h) cars/60 mph (95 km/h) trucks in suburban areas. The 65/truck: 60 signs are posted only for a short distance on freeways within Marion County in the Indianapolis area.

Most non-Interstate Highways are 55 mph, but some rural four-lane divided highways (such as rural stretches of U.S. 31, U.S. 40 and U.S. 41, among others) are set at 60 mph. These limits often decrease to 30–50 mph (50–80 km/h) approaching urban areas, and within cities a speed limit of 20–30 mph (30–50 km/h) is not uncommon, though larger arterial roads within cities may reach as high as 45 mph (70 km/h). On February 6, 2012 the Indiana toll road was raised from the Illinois state line to mile marker 20 to 70 mph after a major highway reconstruction project.

Iowa

In Iowa, the majority of highways have a 55 mph (90 km/h) speed limit. Rural Interstate Highways carry a 70 mph (115 km/h) limit and a 40 mph (65 km/h) minimum. Urban Interstate limits generally range from 55 to 65 mph (90 to 105 km/h), but may be lower in areas. The Interstate 74 Bridge from Bettendorf to Moline, Illinois, for instance, has a 50 mph (80 km/h) limit because the bridge is narrow and has no shoulders. Four-lane roads may have a 65 mph (105 km/h) limit. If the road is built to freeway standards, such as US 20 between I-35 and Dubuque, it may have a minimum speed limit, but otherwise four-lane roads carry no minimum limit so slow-moving farm vehicles may use the roadway.

Kansas

After the National Maximum Speed Limit was repealed, Kansas raised its general interstate speed limit to 70 mph (110 km/h); a study found "no statistically significant increases in crash, fatal crash and fatality rates were noted during the after period on either rural or urban interstate highway networks. On the other hand, statistically significant increases in crash, fatal crash and fatality rates were observed on the 2-lane rural highway network.".[51] In 2011 Governor Sam Brownback signed legislation raising Kansas' top speed limit to 75 mph (121 km/h) on divided four-lane highways, effective July 1, 2011.[52] The Kansas Department of Transportation announced on June 21, 2011, that 807 miles of roadway, comprising the rural areas of I-70, I-35, I-135, the Kansas Turnpike and the freeway-improved sections of US-69 and US-81, will be raised to 75 mph.[53] Prior to the National Maximum Speed Limit, the speed limit on the Kansas Turnpike was 80 mph (130 km/h), but reduced to 75 mph on August 17, 1970. The minimum speed limit on Kansas Interstates is 40 mph.

Kentucky

Kentucky generally has a 70 mph speed limit on rural freeways as of 2007. The speed limit is reduced to 55 on multi-lane highways in some urban areas (I-71/75 near Cincinnati, I-64, I-65, I-71 and I-264 in Louisville, U.S. 60 bypass in Owensboro), and KY 4 in Lexington. There are two 50 mph areas in Louisville. One approaching the Sherman Minton Bridge crossing the Ohio River into Indiana on I-64, and one approaching the Kennedy Bridge on I-65 towards Indiana. By state law, only Parkways and Interstates may post speed limits higher than 55 mph, so all other highways, including both two-lane and four-lane divided highways, are limited to 55 mph[54] with the exception of US Route 68 and KY 80, which a 65 MPH speed limit has been posted since 2012.[55] Points are not assessed for speeds less than 10 mph over the speed limit only on limited access highways, or for tickets received by Kentucky licensed drivers out of state.[56]

Louisiana

Louisiana's highest speed limit is 75 mph, found on 154 miles of Interstate 49 in Saint Landry, Avoyelles, Evangeline, Rapides, Natchitoches, DeSoto and Caddo parishes. The 75 zone was established by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development in 2011 after a 2010 bill authorized the DOTD to implement 75 zones where proven to be safe.[57][58][59][60]

70 mph is posted on Interstates 10, 12, 20, 49, 55, 59, 220, and 310.

A speed limit of 60 mph is posted on I-10 in Lake Charles, Baton Rouge, and from LaPlace to New Orleans, I-12 in Baton Rouge, I-20 in Shreveport and Monroe, I-49 in Alexandria and Shreveport, I-310 in Destrehan, I-220 in Shreveport, U.S. Routes 71 and 167 in Kingsville, LA 3132, and Interstates 110, 210, 510, 610, and 910.

Most two-lane highways in Louisiana have a maximum speed limit of 55 mph.

In August 2003, Governor Mike Foster announced speed and lane restrictions on trucks on the 18 mile (29 km) stretch of Interstate 10 known as the Atchafalaya Swamp Freeway. The restrictions lower the truck speed limit to 55 mph and restrict them to the right lane for the entire length of the elevated freeway.[61]

Other laws

There are exceptions to the basic highway and speed laws[62]

Divided highways in rural areas have a 65 mph speed limits. Louisiana law R.S. 32:61(B) & 32:62(A) states;

65 mph on other multi-lane divided highways which have partial or no control of access.

Louisiana operates under the reasonable and prudent basic law;

No person shall drive a vehicle at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions and potential hazards then existing, having due regard for the traffic on, and the surface and width of, the highway, and the condition of the weather. R.S. 32:64(A)

A person, who is operating a motor vehicle on a multilane highway at less than the normal speed of traffic, shall drive in the right-hand lane then available for traffic. R.S. 32:71(B)(1)

Maine

Maine carries the highest speed limit east of the Mississippi River, with Interstate 95 carrying a 75 mph limit between Old Town and Houlton. Sections of I-95 south of Old Town as well as 295 carry 70 mph limits, except for brief 50-65 zones in more populated areas. The Saco stub I-195 is 60 mph, and I-395 is 60 mph in Bangor and 65 mph in Brewer.

School zones have a 15 mph speed limit during school hours. Two-lane highways outside of cities can be as high as 55 mph.

Maryland

The speed limit on Maryland's Interstate Highways are posted by default at 65 mph although 70 mph limits can be posted after a traffic and engineering study. Effective 10/1/15 the speed limit on I-68 is 70 mph except for a seven mile section around Cumberland. Maryland's urban freeways normally have speed limits of 55 mph (like I-495) or 60 mph, although some stretches are signed for 65 mph travel such as portions of I-95 and I-97 in and around the Baltimore suburbs. More restrictive limits are found on Interstate 83 south of North Avenue when approaching downtown Baltimore and on Interstate 68 through Cumberland, both sections being marked at 40 mph.

Four lane non-interstates and non-freeways are posted at 55 mph. This includes the expressway grade roadways like US 50 and US 301 east of the Bay Bridge, US 15 north of Frederick to the Pennsylvania state line, MD 404 around Denton and US 29 between I-495 and I-70.

Normally, speed limit drops are in 5 mph to 10 mph increments. However, one speed zone drops from 55 to 25 mph along US 301 southbound at the Nice Bridge for the toll plaza.

Two lane roads are generally posted at 50 mph but there are a handful of routes posted at 55 mph. It is more common to see 55 mph on the Eastern Shore and in Frederick and Carroll counties than the Baltimore-Washington corridor and Western Maryland.

Urban and downtown speed limits are generally posted at 30 mph.

Massachusetts

As prescribed by Massachusetts law, default speed limits are the following: 15 mph in the area of a vehicle (for example, an ice cream truck) that is selling merchandise and is displaying flashing amber lights; 20 mph in a school zone when children are present; 30 mph in a "thickly settled" or business district; 40 mph outside of a "thickly settled" or business district and 50 mph on a highway outside a "thickly settled" or business district. A select number of two-lane roads are posted at 55 mph. Freeway speed limits generally outside of a central business district and no major substandard engineering standards are posted at 65 mph. A “thickly settled district” is an area where building structures such as residential and commercial are less than 200 feet apart for a distance of mile or more. This can be subjective since a large part of eastern Massachusetts is built up with many different jurisdictions with different speed limits assigned.

Michigan

Speed limits in Michigan are governed by Public Act 85 of 2006, which requires that speed limits be set (up to a maximum of 70 mph) using a formula based on the number of driveways and streets, or on the 85th percentile of free-flowing traffic, and if none those methods are used a 55 mph default applies.[63] Freeways in Michigan are usually signed with both minimum and maximum speeds. Typically the freeway speed limit is 70 mph. The minimum speed is usually 45–55 mph for all vehicles, despite a maximum speed limit of 60 mph (55 mph on non-freeway roads that have a posted speed limit at 65 for cars) for trucks—effectively permitting trucks only a 5 mph range of legal speeds.[64]

Michigan has permitted 65 mph speed limits on some rural, divided non-limited access highways. A 20-mile stretch of US 127 between St. Johns and Ithaca, was posted at 65 mph. Michigan State Police determined that motorists along this gap between limited access segments were not slowing down, and since the State of Michigan has dragged its feet on completing the segment, the higher speed limit emerged as a compromise to allow a freer flow of traffic. The speed limit on US 2 between Rapid River and Gladstone in the Upper Peninsula was raised from 55 to 65 mph.

Michigan's speed limits on urban Interstates coming into the city from suburbs frequently maintain a higher limit for quite some time, a big distinction from most other states which drop limits upon approaching the outer fringes of an urban area. I-75 crosses into Detroit at M-102 (8 Mile Road, exit 59) and maintains a 70 mph limit all the way until the interchange with I-94 (exit 53). I-75 northbound maintains a 70 mph limit for three miles in Detroit over the Rouge River Bridge and to the Livernois exit (exit 46). I-96 has an express–local configuration with a 70/55 split from US 24 (Telegraph Road, exit 179) to M-8 (Davison Freeway, exit 187), where the express lanes end and the freeway has a 65 mph limit. The exception: I-94 heading west, however, drops from 70 mph to 55 mph just before the 9 Mile Road interchange (exit 227), traveling three more miles through St. Clair Shores, Eastpointe, and Harper Woods, before entering Detroit.

Minnesota

A 70 mph speed limit is only allowed on Minnesota's Interstates outside of urban areas. A speed limit of 55 mph is typically used in urban areas where a higher speed limit might be used, but traffic congestion or other reasons require a lower speed limit. Examples include I-94, I-35W and I-35E in and around Minneapolis, Moorhead and Saint Paul. 35E goes down to a speed limit of 45 mph in some areas of Saint Paul. A speed limit of 60 mph is typically used in suburban areas such as I-494 and I-694 loops in the Twin Cities metro area.

Non-Interstate divided highways (both freeways and rural expressways) have speed limits of 65 mph in rural areas and up to 55 mph in urban or suburban areas. Rural 2 lane roads in Minnesota have a default speed limits of 55 mph although 60 mph speed limits can be posted after a traffic and engineering study. County roads have speed limits of up to 55 mph for 2 lanes and 60 for divided sections. Recently, a Transportation Bill that was signed by Governor Mark Dayton will enable MN DOT to start posting 60 mph speed limits on any two lane road in Minnesota based on Traffic and Engineering Studies. Such studies needs to be completed by 2019 but can start posting 60 mph speed limits by July 2014. Source: http://www.startribune.com/politics/statelocal/260601891.html

Mississippi

A speed limit of 70 mph is only allowed on Mississippi's rural freeways; only the Interstates (except I-110), U.S. Highway 78, Mississippi Highway 304, and a portion of U.S. Highway 82 have speed limits of 70 mph, with these lengths making up approximately 86% of the state's freeway mileage.

A speed limit of 65 mph is typically used on the state's four-lane divided highways, which include parts of the following roadways:

A speed limit of 60 mph is typically used in urban areas where a higher speed limit might be used, but traffic or geometric conditions constitute a lower speed limit, including the following areas:

House Bill 3, passed during the 2008 First Extraordinary Session of the state legislature, permits speed limits up to 80 mph (130 km/h) on toll roads in the state; however, as of 2008, no such road has been constructed.[65]

Mississippi has a minimum speed of 30 mph on four-lane U.S. highways when no hazard exists. Strangely, there is no law for the minimum speed of the state's growing number of four-lane state highways. The minimum is 40 mph on Interstate Highways and on four-lane U.S. designated highways that have a 70 mph speed limit.[66] In 2004, Mississippi posted minimum speed limits (40 mph) on all rural Interstates, but this minimum speed limit was already state law before then.

Missouri

Statutory speed limits in Missouri are as follows:

Freeways are defined as: "a limited access divided highway of at least ten miles in length with four or more lanes which is not part of the federal interstate system of highways which does not have any crossovers or accesses from streets, roads or other highways at the same grade level as such divided highway within such ten miles of divided highway."

Expressways are defined as: "a divided highway of at least ten miles in length with four or more lanes which is not part of the federal interstate system of highways which has crossovers or accesses from streets, roads or other highways at the same grade level as such divided highway."

Urban Areas are defined as: "an area of fifty thousand population at a density at or greater than one thousand persons per square mile".

The highways and transportation commission may raise or lower the speed limit on these highways, but no speed limit may be set above 70 mph on a numbered highway and 60 mph on a lettered highway.[67]

Interstate highways have minimum speed limits of 40 mph.[68]

Variable speed limits

Missouri concluded a two-year experiment with variable speed limits along I-270 around St. Louis. Digital signs had been erected along the freeway as well as additional signs alerting drivers about the use of variable speed limits. The limits will vary between 40 and 60 miles per hour, depending on traffic conditions, and could change by up to 5 mph every 5 minutes. These speed limits, as of January 2012, are now posted as "Advisory Speed Limits".[69]

During the closure and major rebuild of I-64 in St. Louis, an additional lane was added to I-44 and I-70, and the speed limit was thus reduced to 55 mph on those roads within the St. Louis County and City. The I-64 construction has been completed, and the extra lanes were removed in 2010. In October 2010, the speed limit was restored to 60 mph on both I-44 and I-70.[70]

Exceptions to the statutory limits

Most two-lane roads with shoulders have a 60 mph speed limit in Missouri. Two-lane roads without shoulders are usually, but not always, limited to 55 mph. However, the following two-lane highways have a 65 mph speed limit when bypassing or outside of incorporated areas.

Most rural expressways have a 65 mph speed limit, but the following have a 70 mph speed limit.

Most Missouri lettered highways are 55 mph, and in densely populated areas they can be less. There are several that have a speed limit of 60 mph, though.

In the urban areas of: St. Louis, Kansas City, Columbia, St. Joseph, and Springfield, the speed limit typically drops to 60 mph on Interstates and freeways. In addition, on I-44 in Rolla the speed limit is reduced to 60 mph from just west of Exit 184 to Exit 186 because of a substandard design.

Freeway speed limits in urban areas can be as low as 45 or 50 mph in a few very short sections in downtown Kansas City and St. Louis, or as high as 65 mph in the outer portions of the St. Louis, Kansas City and St. Joseph areas. The Cape Girardeau and Joplin areas have no reduced freeway speed limits, and I-435 inside the city limits of Kansas City maintains a 70 mph limit from I-35 to I-29 around the northern part of the metro area.

I-29 in Kansas City has a limit of 70 mph north of Barry Road in Platte County to south of Highway 169 in Buchanan County where the limit drops to 65 mph. North of Frederick Road in Buchanan County the limit returns to 70 mph until the Iowa state line.

Montana

As of October 1, 2015, the maximum speed limit in Montana is 80 mph. On May 5, 2015, a bill to increase Montana's rural interstate highway speed limit to 80 mph was signed into law by Governor Steve Bullock.[75]

Reasonable and prudent

Typical speed limit sign that one would see at the Montana state line from December 1995 to June 1999.

In the years before the 1974 national 55 mph limit, and for three years after the 1995 repeal of the increased 65 mph limit, Montana had a non-numeric "reasonable and prudent" speed limit during the daytime on most rural roads. Montana Code Annotated (MCA) Section 61-8-303 said "A person ... shall drive the vehicle ... at a rate of speed no greater than is reasonable and proper under the conditions existing at the point of operation ... so as not to unduly or unreasonably endanger the life, limb, property, or other rights of a person entitled to the use of the street or highway."

Montana law also specified a few numeric limits: a night speed limit, usually 55 or 65 mph (89–105 km/h), depending on road type; 25 mph (40 km/h) in urban districts and 35 mph (56 km/h) in construction zones.

The phrase "reasonable and prudent" is found in the language of most state speed laws. This allows prosecution under non-ideal conditions such as rain or snow when the speed limit would be imprudently fast.

No speed limit

On March 10, 1996,[76] a Montana patrolman issued a speeding ticket to a driver traveling at 85 mph (136 km/h) on a stretch of State Highway 200. The 50‑year‑old driver (Rudy Stanko) was operating a 1996 Chevrolet Camaro with less than 10,000 miles (16,093 km) on the odometer. Although the officer gave no opinion as to what would have been a reasonable speed, the driver was convicted. The driver appealed to the Montana Supreme Court. The Court reversed the conviction in case No. 97-486 on December 23, 1998; it held that a law requiring drivers to drive at a non-numerical "reasonable and proper" speed "is so vague that it violates the Due Process Clause ... of the Montana Constitution".

Effective May 28, 1999, as a result of that decision, the Montana Legislature established a speed limit of 75 mph.[77]

75 and 80 mph speed limits

Despite this reversal, Montana's then-governor, Marc Racicot, did not convene an emergency session of the legislature. Montana technically had no speed limit whatsoever until June 1999, after the Montana legislature met in regular session and enacted a new law. The law's practical effect was to require numeric speed limits on all roads and disallow any speed limit higher than 75 mph (121 km/h).

Montana law still contains a section that says "a person shall operate a vehicle in a careful and prudent manner and at a reduced rate of speed no greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions existing at the point of operation, taking into account the amount and character of traffic, visibility, weather, and roadway conditions." However, this is a standard clause that appears in other state traffic codes and has the practical effect of requiring a speed lower than the speed limit where a lower speed is necessary to maintain a reasonable and prudent road manner.

Montana also has limited sections of night speed limits.[78] Other speed limits in Montana are 25 mph in a school zone, 30 mph in a residential district, 35-45 mph on boulevards, 55 mph on traffic-light highways, 65-70 mph on rural divided 4-lane highways, and 55-70 mph on 2-lane undivided highways.

Nebraska

The maximum speed limit in Nebraska is 75 mph on rural Interstate highways. This speed limit only applies to Interstate 80 between Omaha and Lincoln, west of Lincoln to the Wyoming state line, and the small section of Interstate 76 that enters the southwestern corner of the state from Colorado to join I-80. The speed limit in rural areas of Nebraska is 65 unless otherwise posted.

Nevada

The maximum speed limits in Nevada are 80 mph on rural freeways, 65–75 mph on other rural divided highways, 55–70 mph on primary two-lane roads, and 65 mph on urban freeways.

Prior to the imposition of the 50/55 mph speed limit in late 1973, Nevada also had a "reasonable and proper" speed Limit (non-numeric) on most of its rural highways, both freeway and others. The speed limit on certain two-lane highways is 70 mph including US 95 to the Oregon border (where the speed limit drops to 55)[79] and on certain sections of US 6 and 50 as they cross the Nevada desert. Speed limits are 15 to 25 mph in school zones and 25 to 30 mph in residential districts.

New Hampshire

Antique New Hampshire speed limit sign.

The highest speed limit in New Hampshire is 70 mph (112 km/h). It can be found on Interstate 93 from mile marker 45 to the Vermont border (excluding the Franconia Notch Parkway). All other freeways and turnpikes have a maximum of 65 mph. The minimum speed on Interstate Highways in New Hampshire is 45 mph where posted.

Provided that no hazard exists that requires lower speed, the speed of any vehicle not in excess of the limit is deemed to be prima facie lawful. The limit for "rural residential districts" and Class V highways outside the city or town compact is 35 mph. The limit for any "business or urban residence district" is 30 mph. School zones receive a 10 mph reduction in the limit 45 minutes before and after the beginning and end of a school day. The speed limit for a road work or construction area is 10 mph lower than the normal speed limit, but not more than 45 mph, when work is in progress. The speed limit for all other locations is 55 mph. The minimum limit that a speed can be set in a rural or urban district is 25 mph.

The speed limit on Interstate 93 through Franconia Notch State Park falls to 45 mph where the highway narrows to one lane in each direction, but rises back to 70 mph (in 10 mph increments going south) once the highway leaves Franconia Notch. Interstate 393 in Concord has a 55 mph posted speed limit for its entire length, with the exception of 45 mph and 35 mph zones on the westbound portion closest to the city center and the end of the highway. Interstate 293's speed limit through downtown Manchester falls to 50 mph as it runs along the Merrimack River, but increases to 55 mph on either side of the city center.

Prior to 1974, the New Hampshire Turnpike, along with rural sections of Interstates 89 and 93, were posted at 70 mph.

New Jersey

New Jersey's only statutory speed limits is 50 mph rural, 25 mph urban. Since the state is largely suburbanized, it ranges between 25–50 mph depending the jurisdiction of the road and whether the municipality is township, village, borough or city status.

The common limited access freeway speed limit is 65 mph. However, shorter length freeways such as US 202, Route 15, and Route 33 remain at 55 mph. In all 65 mph speed zones, the speeding fines and "other violations" are doubled. This was the condition set for higher speed limits in New Jersey back in the late 1990s. Urban freeway speed limits are 50 to 55 mph. However, some freeways in urban areas retain a 65 mph speed limit such as the New Jersey Turnpike up to Exit 13 (Interstate 278), I-80 from the Delaware Water Gap (Exit 4) to the Passaic River (Exit 53) and I-78 from the Delaware River to the Newark border (Exit 55). Only the New Jersey Turnpike has variable speed limits on its entire length.

Four lane or greater state highways (often with a jersey divider or grass median) are generally posted at 55 mph (Such as Route 73 from CR 544 in Evesham Township to the Atlantic City Expressway). County four-lane highways and municipal maintained four-lane roads (with a jersey divider or grass median) are not posted above 50 mph.

Two-lane rural state highways and county maintained roads generally have 40 to 50 mph limits. The only two lane surface roads posted at 55 mph in New Jersey are County Route 539, Route 70, and Route 72 in the Pine Barrens of Ocean and Burlington Counties[80][81][82] and Route 54 in Atlantic County.[83] The Route 33 Freehold Bypass section where it is a super two freeway is also 55 mph.[84]

Urban two lane roads in boroughs and cities are 25 mph or 35 mph. Residential streets at the municipal or county level are generally posted at 25 mph speed limits in boroughs and cities. However, they can be as high as 40 to 45 mph at the county level, less likely in municipal maintained roads. Municipal and county maintained roads through Townships are a bit more common with speed limits higher than 25 mph through residential areas. Generally, anything above 40 mph becomes uncommon. However, there are a handful of 45 mph residential stretches such as Terill Road in Scotch Plains and Woodbridge Avenue (CR 514) in Edison. At 50 mph, County Route 537 in Freehold Township (south of Route 18) and Half Acre Road in Monroe.

School zones through urban and suburban areas on two lane roadways normally have a speed limit of 25 mph when children are present. However, this limit can be as low as 20 mph and as high as 35 mph in some school zones.

New Mexico

With the exception of wartime, New Mexico had no default numeric speed limit until the early 1950s.[85] Prior to the national 55 mph limit in 1974, the speed limit on rural Interstates was 75 miles per hour during the day and 70 mph at night. Primary highways in open areas had daytime speed limits of 70 mph and nighttime ones of 60 mph. Secondary highways in open areas had daytime speed limits of 60 mph and nighttime ones of 50 mph. Before the end of federal speed controls, the maximum speed limit was 65 mph on Interstate routes and 55 mph elsewhere. In May 1996 legislation enacted by Governor Gary Johnson raised the absolute speed limit in New Mexico to 75 mph.[86] Signs are posted on the vast majority of the mileage of Interstate routes to that effect. The default speed limit for any road where no speed limit is posted is 75 mph. A bill signed by Governor Susana Martinez in April 2015 will lower the default speed limit for rural county roads to 55 MPH, effective January 1, 2016.

New Mexico has six major freeway facilities, which include three lengthy Interstate routes. Part of US-70 (as a divided highway) between Las Cruces and Alamogordo is the only section of non-Interstate route as well as being the only road in New Mexico that's not a freeway to have the 75 mph limit; New Mexico, Nevada (US 95 south of US 93) and Texas are the only three states with 75 mph limits on roads that aren't freeways. There is no statutory requirement for reduced speeds on urban freeways so that, for example at Santa Fe and Las Vegas the speed limit remains 75 mph on I-25. Nonetheless, there are 65 mph limits on freeways in more heavily urbanized areas such as Albuquerque and Las Cruces. Other reduced speed limits do exist, but the lowest speed limit under normal conditions on New Mexico's freeways is 55 mph, which can be found on two sections of Interstate 25: The first section being three miles from the Big I to Gibson Boulevard in Albuquerque, and the second being a short stretch near Raton Pass. These particular stretches of I-25 were originally built as relocations of US-85, whose design and construction predate the interstate highway era. As such, these stretches do not meet modern interstate highway standards, and have closely spaced interchanges, sharp curves, and/or limited sight distances.

By statute, other state maintained roads may have speed limits of up to 75 mph. [87] Four-lane divided highways in open areas often have 65 mph limits, with some 70 mph limits, such as almost the entire length of US 550 from Bloomfield to Bernalillo. There is a trend toward posting a 70 mph limit on these highways, such as the recent 70 mph speed limit posting (increased from 65 mph) on a 23-mile stretch of U.S. 70 west of Roswell.

Primary two-lane highways in open areas with parking shoulders often have 65 mph limits.

Most primary two-lane highways without parking shoulders in open and mixed rural areas still have a 55 mph limit, but some have 60 mph limits.

A 65 mph left lane minimum speed limit is sometimes indicated on 75 mph roads with steep grades, "slower traffic keep right" is also in effect. On one-way roadways state law reserves the left and center lanes of two or more lanes for passing.[87] There are reduced advisory speed limits for some roads during poor weather. Speeding fines are doubled in construction zones and designated safety corridors, with signs often stating this. There are no longer night speed limits, nor are there any differential speed limits for heavy trucks.

There are two other statutory speed limits in New Mexico that are often altered, especially on urban arterials or even city or countywide:[88] thirty miles per hour in a "business or residence district" and fifteen miles per hour near schools at certain times. For example, in Albuquerque the default speed limit is thirty miles per hour as per state law, but many streets have a different speed limit. Some school zones there have twenty mile per hour speed limits. The city of Santa Fe's default speed limit is twenty five miles per hour.[89] Although there are no signs to make drivers aware of the altered limit, the limit is signed on most roads where it applies. Los Alamos County alters the urban default and absolute speed limits to twenty five miles per hour and 50 mph respectively, but posts signs at county lines.

Outside of Bernalillo County, no points are assessed to one's license for speeding in rural areas in New Mexico, unless the excessive speed was a contributing factor to a traffic accident.

New York

A standard-style New York State speed sign indicating the state speed limit

Speed limits are statutory (set by law) or regulatory (enacted by regulation), not necessarily by engineering standards. New York has a blanket statutory "Reasonable and Prudent" speed law.[90]

The highest posted speed limit in New York is 65 mph (105 km/h), found only on limited-access freeways (including some state highways, most of the New York State Thruway and select Interstate Highways). The default speed limit, posted as the "State Speed Limit", is 55 mph, which is in effect unless otherwise posted or in the absence of speed limit signs.[91]

The New York State Department of Transportation sets speed limits in the vast majority of the state. Counties and most towns must petition DOT to change a speed limit. State law allows villages, cities, towns with more than 50,000 residents, and certain towns defined by law to be "suburban" to set speed limits on state, county, and local roads within their borders.

There is no state law regarding minimum speed limits, but minimum speed limit of 40 mph has been set on the entire length of Interstate 787 and the entire length of Interstate 495 (the Long Island Expressway). The New York State Thruway does not have a firm minimum speed, but there are signs advising drivers to use their flashers when traveling at speeds below 40 mph.

While New York does not have truck speed restrictions per se, the New England Thruway (Interstate 95) features "State Speed Limit 55" signs right next to "Truck Speed Limit 50" signs.

New York law allows area speed limits. An area speed limit applies to all highways within a specified area, except those specifically excluded. The area may be an entire municipality, or only a specific neighborhood. The defined area may also be the grounds of a school, hospital, or other institution. Area speed limits are signed at their perimeters with signs reading "Area Speed Limit" and the speed limit value shown below. "Area" may be replaced with a term that more precisely defines the area boundaries, such as "Town", "City", "Park", "Village" or "Campus".

Normally, the end of a lowered speed limit is marked with a sign reading "State Speed Limit 55", indicating that the statewide speed limit applies. In areas where a curve or other road condition makes the state speed limit inadvisable, a sign reading "End XX m.p.h. Limit" may be used, with XX replaced with the speed limit value. A "State Speed Limit 55" sign should be installed after the curve.[92] This sign is sometimes misused in locations where the speed limit changes to a speed other than 55 mph. This is mainly applied on both undivided and divided rural non-freeway routes. Though rarely seen, some divided roadways are set as low as 45 mph but mainly stay at the state speed limit of 55 mph

The top speed limit in most residential/urban and business district areas is at 45 mph and state law prohibits speed limits below 25 mph on most common residential areas, though a speed limit of 25 is mainly only used in the New York City area and rarely seen outside of said area. However, School speed limits may be set as high as 30 mph to as low as 15 mph. New York City has established a number of 20 mph "Neighborhood Slow Zones" in residential neighborhoods.[93] In residential neighborhood areas outside of New York City range between 30–40 mph and 35–45 mph on suburban/urban arterial routes.

New York's Criminal Procedure Law prevents law enforcement personnel from issuing a ticket for any offense that they did not witness personally, meaning that, among other ramifications, the state's electronic toll collection system can not be used for speed enforcement.[94]

History

Common until the late 1980s, signs indicating the end of a speed zone, like this "End 30 Mile Speed" sign, are now obsolete.

Many expressways and parkways in the New York City suburbs were posted as high as 65 mph. During the 1973 Oil Embargo, New York lowered its speed limit to 50. The National Maximum Speed Law brought statewide speed limits up to 55. The city of New York, being a city, retained the 50 mph speed limit. New York did not take advantage of the 1987 Congressional provision allowing 65 mph zones on rural freeways, instead waiting until NMSL's repeal in late 1995.

Until September 2003, the state legislature needed to approve individual 65 mph zones, a lengthy process taking months or years of politically motivated debate. Then-Governor George Pataki signed legislation in September 2003 that enables NYSDOT and New York State Thruway Authority to raise speed limits to 65 mph on its roads that meet established design and safety standards. This legislation became active in March 2004, and was the reason for the 65 zones on NY Route 7 (locally known as "Alternate Route 7") and Interstate 84.

North Carolina

Sometimes, speed limits not ending in a 5 or a 0 are used to get drivers' attention; here, the limit is 3 instead of the expected 5 in a Durham municipal parking lot.

Along rural primary and secondary roads outside municipal limits in North Carolina, the statutory speed limit is 55 mph unless otherwise posted.[95] Prior to the National Maximum Speed Law that went into effect nationwide, North Carolina used to have 60 mph speed limits on two-lane primary and secondary roads.[96] Inside the municipal limits, the statutory speed limit is 35 mph unless otherwise posted. The downtown statutory speed limit is 20 mph unless otherwise posted. "Reduce Speed Ahead" (RSA) signage is the norm whenever the speed limit drops at any level. Note that the NC DOT uses the imperative verb "reduce" instead of the adjectival form "reduced" that is standard in other states, although some municipalities now use "reduced" in their signs. In addition, a speed limit drop of 15 mph or greater normally includes a second warning sign after the RSA. For example in a 55 mph zone, a sign prior to the RSA sign would say "BEGIN 35 1000 FEET AHEAD" and then the 35 mph posted speed limit. Three to eight lane boulevards with or without center turn lanes, range from 35 mph to 50 mph within municipal limits statewide.

It is rare that NCDOT will assign a speed drop greater than 20 mph. In Bertie County, the US 17 bypass in Windsor drops from 70 mph to 45 mph. In Moore County, Shady Lane Road outside of Carthage in the Hillcrest community drops from 55 mph to 30 mph.

School zone speed limits generally entail a 10 to 20 mph reduction below the original speed limit during times of day used for school arrivals and departures. Such a speed limit would be indicated when entering the school zone. Also, the default or modified speed limit is indicated after leaving the school zone. A school zone speed limit cannot be less than 20 mph.

Military bases are generally posted at a maximum of 50 mph. As of May 2010, Fort Bragg military two-lane roadways are now posted at 55 mph instead of 50 mph. Prior to May 2010, the speed limits higher than 50 mph through military bases were only on N.C. Highway 690 along the north side of Fort Bragg, Murchison Road (also known as N.C. Highway 210) and the All American Freeway (which is classified and numbered as a state-maintained secondary road even though it is a freeway).

The state park speed limit is 25 mph unless otherwise posted. These are not limited to places such as Hanging Rock State Park and Mount Mitchell State Park. The Blue Ridge Parkway is 45 mph. However, there are occasional 35 mph stretches. The National Park Service is responsible for highway maintenance and speed enforcement.

The county governments of North Carolina do not have any control over speed limits or any other aspect of road operation, as there are no county roads in the state. Municipalities, on the other hand, can set speed limits on city-controlled roadways, subject to applicable state laws. Freeways and expressways with no primary route number are part of the state secondary road system and bear route numbers of 1000 or greater. Their maximum posted speed limit is 55 mph with four exceptions.

A speed limit of 70 mph is relatively uncommon in much of metropolitan North Carolina, though it applies to many rural interstate highways in the state, as well as several non-interstate freeways. The following are the only roads with 70 mph limits:

These lengths make up approximately 589 miles, or 27%, of the total freeway mileage in North Carolina (405 miles or 31% of the state's growing Interstate system). Four-lane freeway-grade highways are generally posted at 65 mph through the state of North Carolina.

60 mph speed limits

Interstate freeways with 60 mph speed limits are found along on I-26 between Asheville and Hendersonville and north of Asheville to Tennessee; I-40 between Asheville and Waynesville and through Greensboro; on I-85 in Gaston (east of US 321 to the Mecklenburg County line) and Mecklenburg counties and through Durham; on I-440 along the northern half of Raleigh's Beltline

Non-Interstate Freeways (US Highways) with 60 mph speed limits are found along on the US 1 Henderson Bypass (as of December 2011); US-23 Waynesville Bypass; US 64 over the Virginia Dare Memorial Bridge between Manns Harbor and Manteo; US 74 Laurinburg bypass and in Brunswick County from the Leland Industrial Park to NC 133; US 301/Business 95 between Fayetteville and Eastover; the US-311 High Point Bypass and the US-401 Fayetteville bypass.

Only two State Secondary Road freeways in the state that has a 60 mph speed limit are the Wade Avenue Extension as of February 2012 and Aviation Parkway (from south of Globe Rd to Airport Blvd) as of July 2014, which are both in Raleigh.

60 mph speed limits along non-freeway segments are growing in popularity and have replaced 55 mph limits on several boulevard and expressway segments throughout the state. The boulevard speed limit changes go against the NCDOT rationale behind signing 60 mph speed limits along only freeway and expressway segments. As of June 1, 2008, some examples of the affected boulevards are US 17 north of Elizabeth City, US 74 east of Wadesboro and NC 11 in Pitt County.

60 mph speed limits along Expressways are US 1 in northeastern Moore County, US 17 on bypass routes in Brunswick County, US 74 east of I-95, US 117 in Wayne County & Duplin County, US 220 in Rockingham County only along bypass segments and on NC 16 in Lincoln and Catawba counties (as of October 2012).[97] Previously, the entire US 220 alignment from NC 68 to the Virginia state line was 60 mph but went back to 55 mph between NC 68 and NC 704.

Three State Secondary road expressways in the state that has a 60 mph speed limit are the US 117 Connector in Sampson and Duplin Counties between US 117 and I-40 (The designation in Sampson County leaving I-40 towards Duplin County is SR 1783/Connector Road) and the un-numbered connector northwest of Kinston serving the Global Transpark.

There is a default minimum speed limit on Interstate and primary highways only when signs are present. The minimum is 40 mph if the maximum is 55 mph. The minimum is 45 mph if the maximum is at least 60 mph. These minimums do not apply to vehicles that are towing other vehicles.[98]

North Carolina as well as other states operates a Safe Driving Incentive Plan (SDIP),[99] a program that leads to insurance surcharges for moving violations based on a point system. In general, for speeding violations less than 10 mph over the posted speed limit in a speed zone less than 55 mph, one point is assessed; two points are assessed for exceeding 10 mph over the limit or speeding in a zone with a speed limit of greater than 55 mph.

A driver's licence will be suspended for travelling faster than 15 mph over the speed limit, provided the speed travelled is greater than 55 mph; suspensions can result for other speeding infractions, such as travelling faster than 75 mph in a 65 mph or less zone or faster than 80 mph in a 70 mph zone.

North Dakota

The speed limits on North Dakota's major interstates, I-29 and I-94, hold a 75 mph speed limit in most rural and mid-sized urban areas, with 55-75 mph limits within portions of the Fargo and Bismarck/Mandan areas. The state's 4 lane Divided Highways as well as 2 short stretches of undivided 4 lane highways (US 2 around Rugby and U.S. 83 as it passes the eastern Lake Sakakawea Reservoir) usually carry a 70 mph limit, with 2 lane restricted to up to a 65 mph limit, and gravel roads have up to 55 mph limits. Roads within cities hold their own defined limits with 25 MPH speed limits common in residential streets and 30-40 mph limits on Urban 4-6 lane divided streets, with school zones at 15–25 mph.

Ohio

The maximum speed limit found on highways in Ohio is 70 miles per hour (110 km/h) on the Ohio Turnpike, Rural Freeways, and both the Expressway and Freeway portions of US 30 from Mansfield, Ohio to the Indiana State Line and US 33 from Wapakoneta to St. Mary's Ohio.[100][101] The speed limit ranges from 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) to 65 miles per hour (105 km/h) on other divided highways. No non-divided highway in the state has a speed limit higher than 55 miles per hour (89 km/h), though ODOT is now permitted to increase undivided roads to 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) .

Ohio is the only state east of the Mississippi River to allow a 70 mph speed limit on non freeway roads.

Ohio has an urban speed limit of 65 miles per hour (105 km/h) on Interstates by state law, yet many urban areas have lower speed limits due to safety concerns found in speed studies. These commonly are in the 50–60 mph range. For instance, in most of metro Dayton and Cincinnati, as well as in downtown Columbus, the speed limit is 55 miles per hour (89 km/h), while in Cleveland, Toledo, and Akron the speed limit is 60 miles per hour (97 km/h); however, in central Cleveland along the Inner Belt, the speed limit is 50 miles per hour (80 km/h). Some urban areas are also posted with minimum speed limits, usually with a minimum of 40 or 45. At one time, portions of Interstate 76 and Interstate 77 in downtown Akron had a maximum speed limit of 50 mph and a minimum speed limit of 35 mph.

School zones in Ohio normally have a 20 mph speed limit, regardless of the road's normal speed limit, in effect during school hours.

Oklahoma

In Oklahoma, the maximum speed limit is 75 miles per hour on turnpikes and 70 mph on all other freeways. Most other rural highways have a 65 mph speed limit (although some rural divided highways have a 70 mph limit). Minimum speed limits are 25 mph below the maximum speed limit on more or less all Interstate Highways. For example, on the turnpikes, which have a maximum speed limit of 75 mph, maximum speed-limit signs are nearly always accompanied by a sign stating a minimum speed limit of 50 mph. Where turnpikes are signed with a speed limit of 75 miles per hour, a sign warning "no tolerance" is posted.

Oregon

A standard-style Oregon speed sign removing the word "limit".

The highest posted speed limit in Oregon is 65 mph on rural freeways. Oregon state statutes allow for a maximum speed limit of 70 mph on rural interstate highways, and the law gives the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) discretion to define which freeway segments to post the 70 mph speed limit. ODOT did not raise speed limits beyond 65 mph, and strongly opposed legislative efforts to raise the maximum allowable speed limit. However, in July 2015, Governor Kate Brown signed a bill raising speed limits on several highways in eastern Oregon; the bill included provisions to raise the speed limit to 70 mph on I-84 and US 95.

Engineering studies

Although the speed limit can be raised to 70 mph based on engineering studies under current law, ODOT has not identified any freeway sections that it believes should be raised beyond the 65 mph limit. In 2004, ODOT had released an engineering study on the average and 85th percentile speeds on interstate highways. This study found that the 85th percentile speed on rural interstates by passenger cars was 71.1 mph with a statewide average of 66.3 mph. The engineering study recommended raising the speed limit on rural interstates to 70 mph. Despite this, ODOT refused to post the 70 mph limit due to safety concerns and its associated monetary costs; however, there appears to be no higher fatality levels in other states when the limit was raised.[102] In all rural areas in Oregon, the speed limit is 55 unless otherwise posted.[103]

Until 2002, Oregon state law required that all speed limit signs omit the word LIMIT from their display. The reasoning behind this was related to the explicit "basic speed" law that existed, which allowed citation for exceeding speeds "too fast for conditions" regardless of the posted speed. The typeface of the numerals on the signs varies greatly depending on which jurisdiction made the sign, due to its non-standardized design. In 2002, the Oregon Department of Transportation revised its supplement to the MUTCD, mandating the omission of the word LIMIT except on signs posted on Interstate highways[104] and within city limits. As of 2014, ODOT has replaced nearly all SPEED signs posted on Interstates with SPEED LIMIT signs, but it was left to the various city governments to replace signs in their jurisdictions at their leisure, if at all. Thus, older SPEED signs are still a common sight across the state.

Attempts to raise speed limits

Throughout the late 1990s the Oregon state legislature passed multiple bills that would have raised the speed limit to 75 miles per hour on rural Interstate Highways and up to 70 mph on certain rural two-lane highways in the eastern portions of the state. Each year Governor John Kitzhaber vetoed the bill due to safety concerns and he was worried that the 20 mph increase in car and truck speeds would raise road hazards.[105] In 2003, the Oregon state legislature passed a bill that would have raised the maximum permissible speed limit on Interstate Highways to 70 mph for cars with a 5 mph differential for trucks, up from the previous 65 mph limit for cars with a 10 mph differential; this bill was signed into law by then newly elected Governor Ted Kulongoski on September 26, 2003.[106] In 2004 the Oregon Department of Transportation decided to not implement the increase out of concerns that it would not be safe to have trucks traveling at 65 mph. Although ODOT's 2004 study revealed that it is safe for cars to be traveling at 70 mph and trucks at 60 mph, Oregon still remains the only state in the contiguous United States west of the Mississippi River to have a maximum state speed limit that is under 70 mph.[107] Prior to the National Maximum Speed Law, the speed limit on Oregon freeways was 75 mph with some 70 limits on two-lane roads in eastern portions of the state. On July 20, 2015, Governor Brown signed HB 3402 into law. This bill raises the speed limit on I-84 east of The Dalles and US 95 to 70 mph for cars and 65 mph for trucks. It also increases speed limits on several other two lane rural highways to 65 mph for cars and 60 mph for trucks in Eastern Oregon. The law takes effect on March 1, 2016.[108]

School speed limits

In 2004, a law was passed revising Oregon's school speed limit laws. In school zones, on roads with speed limits of 30 mph or below, drivers were required to slow to 20 mph 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, regardless of whether or not children were present. This replaced most 'when children are present' placards. If the speed limit was 35 mph or higher, the school zone limit would be imposed either by flashing yellow lights or a placard denoting times and days of the week when the limit was in effect. The at-all-times rule was highly unpopular with motorists and was widely ignored. In 2006, the law was revised again, taking away the 'at all times' requirement and replacing it with a time-of-day system (usually school days, 7 a.m. to 5 pm). School crossings with flashing yellow lights remain. In many communities, school zones are strictly enforced and speed traps in these areas are commonly employed.

ODOT has not chosen a variation of speed between two-lane roads in Oregon, regardless of the terrain. Any rural two-lane road in the state has a default speed limit of 55 mph. Town speed limits are 15 mph in an alley, 20 mph in a school zone, 35 mph on boulevards, and 45 mph on roads with traffic lights.

Pennsylvania

Speed limit signs on the Pennsylvania Turnpike
1942 sign showing 70 mph speed limit
2014 sign showing 70 mph speed limit

In Pennsylvania the maximum freeway speed limit is generally 65 mph (105 km/h), with a select few sections of rural freeway and parts of the Pennsylvania Turnpike signed at 70 mph (113 km/h). The speed limit on urban freeways ranges from a low of 50 mph in downtown Pittsburgh and Philadelphia to 65 mph in some areas.

In 1940, when the Pennsylvania Turnpike was opened between Irwin and Carlisle, the entire 160 mile limited-access toll road did not have a speed limit, similar to that of the German Autobahns. In 1941, a speed limit of 70 mph (113 km/h) was established, only to be reduced to 35 mph (56 km/h) during the war years (1942–45). After WWII, the limit was raised to 70 mph on the four-lane sections, with the two-lane tunnels having 50 mph (80 km/h) for cars and 40 mph (64 km/h) for trucks. Prior to the 1974 federal speed limit law, all Interstates and the Turnpike had a 65 mph (105 km/h) speed limit on rural stretches and 60 mph (97 km/h) speed limit in urban areas.

In 1995, the state raised the speed limit on rural stretches of Interstate Highways and the Pennsylvania Turnpike system to 65 mph (105 km/h), with urban areas having a 55 mph (89 km/h) limit. In 1997, PennDOT raised the speed limit to some rural non-Interstate Highway bypasses to 65 mph (105 km/h). In 2005, with the change in the designation of "urban zones" in the state (actually the law eliminating the prohibition against 65 mph limits in urban areas was enacted in 2000. It took PennDOT and the PTC 5 years to realize the law had been changed), the entire lengths of both the Pennsylvania Turnpike's east–west mainline and Northeast Extension were given 65 mph (105 km/h) limits, except at the tunnels and through the very winding 5.5 mile (9 km) eastern approach to the Allegheny Mountain Tunnel.

The 70 mph speed limit was authorized by House Bill 1060, which was signed by Governor Tom Corbett on November 25, 2013.[109][110] On July 18, 2014, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission announced the return of the 70 mph speed limit on a 97-mile stretch of the mainline from the Blue Mountain interchange (MP 201) to the Morgantown interchange (MP 298).[111] Signs were erected on July 22, 2014.[112] On July 23, 2014, PennDOT announced the speed limit will be increased to 70 mph on Interstate 80 between interchange 101 in DuBois, Clearfield County and milepost 189 in Clinton County and on Interstate 380 between interchange 8 (MP 10) near Mount Pocono, Monroe County and the junction with Interstate 84 in Lackawanna County, on or around August 11, 2014 as a pilot project. If the pilot project turns out well, the remainder of the Pennsylvania Turnpike system may see 70 mph limits.[113]

On non-freeway roads, speed limits are generally held at 55 mph (89 km/h) for rural four-lane roads, 55 mph (89 km/h) for rural two-lane roads, 45–55 mph (72–89 km/h) for urban four lane roads and 40–45 (sometimes, but rarely, 50 mph)  mph (64–72 km/h) for urban two lane roads, 35–45 mph for roads in commercial business areas, 30-35 mph (56 km/h) for major roads in residential areas, 20-25 mph (40 km/h) for most municipal residential streets, including main north–south and east–west roads in county seats and other mid-sized to large towns, and 15 mph (24 km/h) for school zones during school arrival and departure times only. It is also only in effect on days that the school the road goes near is in session. Many schools have signs that blink when the school speed limit is in effect. There is no reduced school speed on divided highways, even if the school sits right beside the highway.

All state-owned two-lane roads in rural areas within Pennsylvania have a default speed limit of 55 mph unless otherwise posted.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike has a minimum speed limit of 15 mph below the posted maximum speed,[114] though the minimum is only sporadically posted. This is not enforced for slow-moving trucks in areas with steep grades and signs are posted that instruct drivers to use their flashers if traveling below 50 mph (40 if the speed limit is 55). Pennsylvania has no default minimum speed limit on any other roads. However, minimum speed limits on certain highways may be enacted and posted as provided by Section 3364(c) of the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code (Title 75 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes).[115]

§3364(a) also requires, "Except when reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or in compliance with law, whenever any person drives a vehicle upon a roadway having width for not more than one lane of traffic in each direction at less than the maximum posted speed and at such a slow speed as to impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, the driver shall, at the first opportunity when and where it is reasonable and safe to do so and after giving appropriate signal, drive completely off the roadway and onto the berm or shoulder of the highway. The driver may return to the roadway after giving appropriate signal only when the movement can be made in safety and so as not to impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic."

Drivers cannot be stopped by police for driving less than 6 mph over the posted speed limit (10 mph if the speed limit is less than 55 mph and non-radar timing devices are used, as use of radar devices is limited to "members of the Pennsylvania State Police" by §3368c2).[116]

Puerto Rico

The US territory of Puerto Rico regulates and posts speed limits in miles per hour, although highway signage for distances are in kilometers. Tolled Autopistas can have speed limits up to 65 mph, while other expressways have speed limits up to 60 mph. The maximum statutory speed limit for any expressway may in theory be 65 mph. The rural default speed limit is 45 mph but may be increased to 55 mph. In residential areas, only multilane roads have limits up to 35 mph, other roads are restricted to a maximum speed of 25 mph. Only rural school zones have the higher 25 mph limit. Speed limits for "heavy motor vehicles", such as school buses, are always 10 mph lower than that allowed for lighter vehicles, except in urban school zones where the limit is 15 mph. Vehicles carrying hazardous materials are limited to 30 mph in rural areas and 15 mph in urban ones.[117]

Rhode Island

Along two-lane roadways, the default speed limit is 50 mph during the daytime outside a business or residential district. "Daytime" means a half-hour before sunset and a half-hour after sunrise. At night time and also uncommon on the East Coast, the default speed limit is 45 mph outside a business or residential district. Through the CBD and residential district, the default speed limit is 25 mph. Through school zones within 300 feet, the default speed limit is 20 mph. Local governments are barred from raising the default speed limits during the day and at night. Divided highways such as rural Interstates are generally posted at 65 mph but 55 mph closer to Providence. Divided arterials and expressways are posted no higher than 50 mph. This includes US 1 south of RI 4 to Westerly. A speed limit of 65 mph may be allowed on rural interstates based on engineering studies. Currently, however, the only interstates raised to 65 are Interstate 95 from exits 1 to exit 8 and Interstate 295.[118]

South Carolina

Interstate speed limits in South Carolina are posted at 70 mph. Interstates passing through "Urban" areas are dropped to 60 mph. The urban area assignment of 60 mph usually includes the metropolitan area and the actual inner city area. The two exceptions to the rule are the SC 31 freeway around Myrtle Beach and I-95 around Florence. SC 31 is posted at 65 mph even though it is in the greater Myrtle Beach area. SC 31 was originally posted at 60 mph when it was built in 2004. I-95 even as a 6 lane semi-urban built freeway, maintains a 70 mph speed limit through the Florence area (as of June 2013, from just south of exit 160 to just south of exit 164, the speed limit has been reduced to 60 mph, a text-book speed trap). It is 6 lanes from SC 327 to I-20. It is one of five states (Pennsylvania and Delaware at 55&65 mph and New Hampshire at 65 mph (I-95 in NH drops to 55 mph about 2 miles south of the ME line)) from Maine to Florida in which I-95 retains one speed limit throughout the entire state.

Four-lane arterials by default are posted at 60 mph. Four-lane bypasses at 60 mph can be found in Marion and Sumter, but others remain at 55 mph. It is not uncommon that 55 mph can be expected in more built-up areas prior to municipalities and/or if the engineering on the highway is below standards.

Two-lane roads are 55 mph by default. However, a handful of counties maintained as either state secondary roads or county roads are posted at 45 mph.

Central business districts (CBDs) are posted at 30 mph. Unlike North Carolina with their default downtown speed limit of 20 mph, they are rare to find in South Carolina in downtown areas. A recent trend is occurring with CBD speed limits that they are being signed at 25 mph in random municipalities around the state.

Speed limit drops generally are done in 10 mph increments but 20 mph are not uncommon. Improvements in the mid-2000s were done by SCDOT to warn motorists ahead of time for speed drops on various roadways. However, there are still some roadways that have not received that treatment. However, there are a couple roadways that get 25 mph to 30 mph drops as well. The speed limit drops from 55 mph to 25 mph at a traffic circle with US 378 and SC 391 in eastern Saluda County. On US 52 northbound approaching Kingstree, the speed limit drops from 60 mph to 35 mph. On I-95 for the off-ramp at Exit 22 in Ridgeland drops from 70 mph to 40 mph.

South Dakota

Shortly after the December 1995 repeal of the 65/55 mph National Maximum Speed Law, South Dakota raised its general rural speed limits to 75 mph on freeways and 65 mph on other roads along with 70 on a few 4 lane highways. Almost a decade after posting the 75 mph limit, average speeds on South Dakotan rural freeways remain at or below the speed limit.[119] In March 2015, SD State Legislature has passed the bill to raise the speed limit on Interstate 29 and Interstate 90 to 80 mph. It was signed into law and took effect in April 2015.[120] While the 80 MPH speed limit was initially signed on all rural freeways (with 75 in city maintained areas) in he state, the Interstate 90 stretch from Rapid City to the Wyoming Border was dropped back down to 75 mph due to safety concerns.[121]

Tennessee

Tennessee generally posts its rural interstates at 70 mph. These include all of the state's two-digit Interstates (except Interstate 55). Urban interstates are generally posted at 55 to 65 mph. Four-lane roadways regardless whether they are "controlled access" or not are posted as high as 65 mph but are sometimes 55 mph. These are often hotbeds for speed camera enforcement leading into a municipality. Two-lane state-maintained roads are generally but not always posted at 55 mph outside the municipal limits. In east Tennessee, most mountain roads leading to North Carolina are poorly posted at 45 mph. Furthermore, two-lane roads such as US 321 and TN 91 have the same mountain and road width characteristics when leaving Tennessee into North Carolina or Virginia at 55 mph.

Inside a municipality, speed limit assignments are often a mystery on state-maintained roads. This could range from 15–55 mph depending on the type of roadway. This is because the state of Tennessee grants strong home rule powers to municipalities and Dillon's Rule for unincorporated areas in the county for speed limit assignments. Unlike other states, this weakens TennDOT's ability to sign predictable speed limits in a reasonable and prudent matter. Also, Tennessee has a high percentage of roadways maintained by the counties.

In the 2000s, all the counties of the major cities in Tennessee except for Davidson (Nashville) and Montgomery (Clarksville) enacted environmental speed limits, limiting vehicles to 65 mph and trucks to 55 mph. These moves have been very controversial, especially that of Knox County, which also reduced the speed limits in neighboring counties. These have raised safety concerns, and many have called for a change in Tennessee's home rule policy. In Nashville, speed limits for freeways are posted at 55 mph at the center of the city, and 65 and 70 mph beyond, with no separate restrictions for trucks.

Prior to 1974, the maximum speed limit on Tennessee's Interstate highways was 75 mph day or night for cars and 65 mph day or night for trucks. Other rural highways had a maximum speed limit of 65 mph day and 55 mph night for cars and 50 mph day or night for trucks. Many of these other class roadways also had separate day and night speed limits as well.

Texas

Typical Texas rural speed limit sign before September 2011. Note the black backgrounded 65 mph night speed limit sign, which was common on Texas roads. (No other state had a universal night speed limit.) This sign is on southbound U.S. 69/96/287 just north of Beaumont. Note that night speed limits have been abolished since this photo was taken.

Texas is the only state that does not prescribe a different speed limit for each road type in its state or federal highway system. Texas law generally prescribes a statutory speed limit of 70 miles per hour (113 km/h) for any rural road that is numbered by the state or federal government (United States Numbered Highways and Interstate Highways)—whether two lane, four lane, freeway, or otherwise—60 miles per hour (97 km/h) for roads outside an urban district that are not federal or state highways, and 30 miles per hour (48 km/h) for streets in an urban district.[122]

The law allows raising or lowering the statutory limit only if an engineering and traffic investigation indicates that a different limit is appropriate.[123] Texas allows a speed limit of up to 75 miles per hour (121 km/h) to be posted on federal or state highways,[123] city maintained roads,[124] and toll roads,[125] and up to 70 miles per hour (113 km/h) on county roads.[126][127] Through a separate provision, speed limits up to 80 or 85 mph can be established on certain highways.

Mounting on speed limit signs in recent years have slowly changed statewide. Two heavier rectangular poles that have been used to mount the signs have been replaced or are being replaced by one lighter round pole. Some speed limit signs on freeways and interstates still use two poles, but many speed limit signs now just use one pole.

Truck speed limits

Example of 70 mph truck speed limit sign immediately behind an 80 mph speed limit sign, before truck speed limits were abolished.

Texas once had separate, systemwide truck speed limits, but they were repealed in 1999 and 2011.

The truck speed limit used to be 60 mph (97 km/h) day/55 mph (89 km/h) night when the regular limit was higher. This speed limit did not apply to buses or to trucks transporting United States Postal Service mail.

Truck speed limits disappeared when all speed limits were capped at 55 mph (89 km/h) in 1974. They reappeared with the introduction of 65 mph (105 km/h) limits in 1987.

Effective September 1, 1999, Texas repealed truck speed limits on all roads except farm to market and ranch to market roads.[128][129]

Even after this repeal, the Harris County Toll Road Authority erroneously retained the separate truck speed limits on its tollways. The separate truck speed limits were removed with the 2002 adoption of the 55 mph environmental speed limit. The signs did not reappear when a 65 mph limit was imposed, but the truck speed limit sign posts were still standing as of August 2008.

In 2001, a bill allowing 75 mph speed limit on roads in certain counties excluded trucks, introducing a 70 mph truck speed limit on roads with a higher limit.[130] A bill in 2005 allowing 80 mph speed limits still excluded trucks.[131] However, truck speed limits were fully repealed in 2011.[132]

In 2011, On Texas Highway 97, between Texas 80 and US 183, truck speed limit 60/night: 55 signs were erroneously posted after the first eastbound speed limit 60 sign east of Nixon, and after the first westbound speed limit 65 sign west of Gonzales.

Night speed limits

Before September 1, 2011, Texas had a statutory 65 mph (105 km/h) night speed limit on all roads with a higher daytime limit.[133] In 2011, the Texas Legislature banned night speed limits effective September 1, 2011.[132] Also, NIGHT: 55 signs are retained on some sections of county roads in Scurry County, Texas as of 2013. Prior to the differential speed limit repeal, Scurry Co. was the only county to have night speed limits on county roads. Many of the county roads were posted at 60 mph, and still are.

Environmental speed limits

55 mph speed limit signs photographed on August 20, 2002. These signs were on southbound I-45 at the north border of Montgomery County. Immediately before this point, the speed limit was 70 mph. These were part of an unpopular 55 mph speed limit cap in the Houston–Galveston area.
Same location as prior picture with the more recent 65 mph speed limit, photographed on August 4, 2005.

Texas is the first state to lower speed limits for air quality reasons, although the lowered limits may not meaningfully improve air quality.

In roughly a 50-mile (80 km) radius of the Houston–Galveston and Dallas–Ft. Worth regions, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality convinced[134] the Texas Department of Transportation to reduce the speed limit on all roads with 70 mph (113 km/h) or 65 mph (105 km/h) speed limits by 5 mph.[135] This was instituted as part of a plan to reduce smog-forming emissions in areas out of compliance with the federal Clean Air Act.[136]

Initial studies found that lower speed limits could provide roughly 1.5% of the emissions reductions required for Clean Air Act compliance.[137] However, follow-up studies found that the actual reduction is far less:

  1. The emissions modeling software initially used, MOBILE 5a, overestimated the emissions contribution of speed limit reductions. Rerunning the models with the next generation software, MOBILE 6, produced dramatically lower emissions reductions.
  2. Speed checks in the Dallas area performed 1 year after implementation of speed limit reductions show that actual speed reductions are only about 1.6 mph, a fraction of the anticipated 10% (5.5 mph) speed reduction.

With both of these facts combined, it is possible that the speed limit reductions only provide a thousandth of the total emissions reductions necessary for Clean Air Act compliance.[138]

In mid-2002, all speed limits in the Houston–Galveston area were capped at 55 mph (89 km/h).[139] Facing immense opposition,[140][141] poor compliance,[142] and the finding that lowered speed limits produced only a fraction of the originally estimated emissions reductions,[143] the TCEQ relented and reverted to the 5 mph reduction scheme.[144]

Due to its enormous unpopularity, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality examined alternatives to the 55 mph speed cap. Analysis suggested that the vast majority of emissions reductions were from reduced heavy truck emissions. A proposed alternative was to restore passenger vehicle limits but retain a 55 mph truck speed limit. Concerns about safety problems and enforceability of such a large differential (up to 15 mph on many roads) scuttled that proposal, and a compromise plan, described above, was enacted that retained uniform, but still reduced, speed limits.

In 2003, the Texas Legislature prospectively banned environmental speed limits, effective September 1, 2003. The wording of the bill allows environmental speed limits already in place to remain, but no new miles of roadway may be subjected to environmental speed limits.[145]

Elimination of Dallas-Fort Worth region environmental speed limits

In 2009, the North Texas Tollway Authority raised the speed limit by 10 mph on two tollways. Several miles of these tollways had 60 mph environmental speed limits.[146] These new 70 mph limits exceeded what is allowable under the environmental speed limit regime.[Note 2] NTTA was allowed to raise the speed limits by offsetting the higher limits' theoretical emissions increases with other transportation-related emissions reduction measures, including implementation of all-electronic tolling, which eliminated the need for some vehicles to stop at a toll booth.[147]

In 2015, the Texas Department of Transportation cancelled all remaining environmental speed limits in the Dallas-Fort Worth region. Some speed limits were changed back to those in place before the environmental speed limits were enacted. On some roads the speed limit was not changed. On other roads, including some that never had environmental speed limits, speed limits were raised higher than they were before the environmental speed limits were enacted.[148]

75 mph limits

Because Texas law allows 75 mph speed limits on any numbered state highway or city maintained road, it is the only state with 75 mph limits on two-lane roads. Speed studies undertaken by TxDOT in response to legislation passed in 2011 took about 2 years, and the result is that the mileage of highway with a speed limit of 75 mph has increased from about 1,400 to about 19,000.[149] 70 mph speed limits have become rare on Texas interstates. They are retained in stretches of I-10 and I-35 in Bexar County, on I-410, and on I-35 from San Antonio to Austin. Most Texas interstates have been posted at 70 mph, notably in east Texas and the panhandle for 16 years from December 1995/early 1996 to early 2012.

80 and 85 mph limits

Texas Legislator Pete Gallego unveiling a new 80 mph speed limit sign on Interstate 10 near Fort Stockton, Texas. Note that night speed limits have been abolished since this photo was taken.

Texas statutorily allows 80 mph (130 km/h) speed limits on I-10 and I-20 in certain counties named in the statute, each of which has a low population density.[123] Texas is the only state to allow a speed limit as fast as 80MPH (130KPH) in a divided highway as well as allowing 75 (120) in undivided ones. when toll road 45 begins at one certain part before entering toll road 130 soon. Additionally, the Texas Transportation Commission may set any speed limit up to 85 mph on any part of the state highway system if that part is "designed to accommodate travel at that established speed or a higher speed" and an "engineering and traffic investigation" determines the speed is "reasonable and safe".[150]

Currently, the roads with an 80 mph limit are:

Currently, the only road with an 85 mph speed limit is a 41-mile portion of Texas State Highway 130 from the northern terminus of its concurrency with US-183 (30°04′32″N 97°41′33″W / 30.075512°N 97.692387°W / 30.075512; -97.692387), southward to I-10 near Seguin (29°36′48″N 97°52′35″W / 29.613349°N 97.876287°W / 29.613349; -97.876287).[154][155]

Factoring in rounding (most countries round speed limits to the nearest 5 mph or 10 km/h), the 80 miles per hour (129 km/h) limit is approximately the same speed as the 130 km/h (81 mph) recommended speed on the Autobahn and the actual 130 km/h (81 mph) speed limit for freeway-class roads in thirteen European countries and the Australian Northern Territory.

As of September 2012, the only limits higher than the 85 miles per hour (137 km/h) limit are the 140 km/h (87 mph) limits of Poland, Bulgaria and Abu Dhabi,[156] though some countries like Germany have roads without any posted maximum limit.[157]

US Virgin Islands

For "motorcars, pick-up trucks, or motorcycles", the fastest speed limit in this territory is 55 mph and is found on one road, the divided Melvin H. Evans Highway on the island of St. Croix. Outside of towns, these vehicles are limited to 35 mph unless posted lower, except on the above-mentioned divided highway and parts of Centerline Road, which is limited to 40 mph. Within towns, these vehicles are limited to 20 mph.[158]

"Motor trucks and buses" are limited to 40 mph on St. Croix's main divided highway, 30 mph on other highways outside of towns, and 10 mph within towns.[158]

It should be noted that traffic in the USVI drives on the left.

Utah

80 Mile Per Hour speed limit sign on Interstate 15 south of Nephi, Utah.

In Utah, there is a minimum speed limit of 45 mph on Interstate Highways when conditions permit. The maximum speed limit on Interstates is 70 mph in cities and, on most highways, 75-80 mph elsewhere. UDOT has now implemented HB83, raising the speed limit to 80 mph on an additional 289 miles of rural interstate, including I-80 from Nevada to mile marker 99, I-84 from Idaho to I-15, and additional sections of I-15.[159]

80 mph speed limit

On April 3, 2013, Utah Department of Transportation spokesman John Gleason said “We’d only do it in a situation that would make sense: flat, straight roadways. The Utah Department of Transportation is looking at expanding zones where it can increase the speed limit from 75 to 80 miles per hour. The Utah State Legislature recently approved a bill allowing for a series of zones to become permanent, as well as expanding them in other places around the state. UDOT began a study on Monday (April 1, 2013) to place more zones on rural parts of I-15, I-80 and I-84. The areas under consideration, UDOT spokesman said, are on I-80 from Grantsville (exit 99) to Wendover, on the Utah-Nevada border; I-84 from Tremonton to the Utah-Idaho border; I-15 from Brigham City (North interchange) to the Utah-Idaho border; and I-15 from Santaquin to North Leeds." The speed limit on these sections has been increased from 75 mph to 80 mph as of September 17, 2013.

On February 13, 2014, UDOT voted to increase the speed limit on I-80 from Salt Lake City across the Bonneville Salt Flats to the Nevada border to 80 miles per hour (130 km/h). The change went into effect on July 1, 2014.[160] By July 1, 2014, the state raised the speed limit on all rural interstates in Utah to 80 mph except I-80 from the Wyoming border to Salt Lake City, on I-84 from its junction with I-80 to Ogden and on twisty sections of Interstate 70 from its I-15 junction to the Colorado border (the speed limit on I-70 varies between 60 mph and 80 mph depending on the topography of the section of freeway.).[161]

Vermont

The standard speed limit in Vermont stands at 50 mph. This is applied to rural two-lane roads. On urban freeways and rural two-lane limited access roads, the speed limit is 55 mph, such as on I-189 and Interstate 89 in Burlington, and US Route 7 and Vermont State Route 279 outside of Bennington. Rural interstate freeways are posted at 65 mph. Furthermore, the speed limit drops from 65 mph on rural highways to 40 mph at the approach to the Canadian border on Interstates 89 and 91, at Highgate and Derby Line, respectively. In school zones, the speed limit can range from 15 mph to 25 mph, depending on local authority. The minimum speed is defined at 40 mph only on Interstate highways. That includes where the limit is posted at 55 and 65 mph. However, as old signs are being replaced, the "40 MINIMUM" is being phased out, keeping only "SPEED LIMIT 65".

Virginia

A Virginia statute provides that the default speed limit "shall be 55 mph on interstate highways or other limited access highways with divided roadways, nonlimited access highways having four or more lanes, and all state primary highways".[162] "The maximum speed limit on all other highways shall be 55 miles per hour if the vehicle is a passenger motor vehicle, bus, pickup or panel truck, or a motorcycle, but 45 miles per hour on such highways if the vehicle is a truck, tractor truck, or combination of vehicles designed to transport property, or is a motor vehicle being used to tow a vehicle designed for self-propulsion, or a house trailer."[163] The same statute contains a number of exceptions, however, allowing higher speed limits "where indicated by lawfully placed signs, erected subsequent to a traffic engineering study and analysis of available and appropriate accident and law-enforcement data".[163] This provision allows speed limits of up to 70 mph on Interstate highways; multilane, divided, limited-access highways; and express or high-occupancy vehicle lanes if said lanes are physically separated from the regular travel lanes. (As of August 2015, Virginia has three such barrier-separated facilities: high-occupancy vehicle lanes on I-64 in the Tidewater area; high-occupancy/toll "Express Lanes" on I-495 and I-95, and HOT/HOV lanes on I-395, all in Northern Virginia.) The statute also allows 60-mph speed limits on a number of specified non-limited access, multilane, divided highways.[163]

The 70-mph provision was added to Section 46.2-870 via an amendment effective on July 1, 2010. The previous version of the statute had authorized a 70-mph speed limit only on I-85; the maximum limit permitted elsewhere was 65 mph. Notably, the revised statute does not require a 70-mph speed limit on any road nor make such limit automatic, due to the requirement for traffic and engineering studies. The Virginia Department of Transportation began studying Interstate highways with 65-mph speed limits during April 2010 to determine which roads should receive the 70-mph limit and announced that the studies would be conducted in three phases over a period of several months, with the initial phase focusing on 323 miles of highway with "no significant levels of crashes and congestion".[164] As of July 1, 2010, VDOT increased the speed limit to 70 mph on a portion of one highway (I-295 south of I-64).[165] On October 20, 2010, Governor Bob McDonnell announced that by the end of 2010, VDOT would post 70-mph speed limits on 680 miles of Virginia Interstates located outside of urban areas, representing 61 percent of Virginia's total 1,119 miles of Interstate highways.[166] While the statute allows for speed limits up to 70 mph on urban Interstates, as of March 2015 VDOT has declined to post a limit higher than 65 mph on any urban highway.

The statute also allows 70-mph speed limits on routes other than Interstates. Initially VDOT declined to consider any such routes for the higher limit, but in early 2012 VDOT posted a 70-mph limit on a portion of US-29 near Lynchburg.[167]

Other Virginia statutes prescribe exceptions to the general rules set forth above. The notable aspect of Virginia's current speed limit laws is that the Department of Transportation has no authority to raise speed limits above the statutory limits unless the General Assembly passes a statute permitting the change. Since the National Maximum Speed Law was repealed in 1995, such statutory exceptions were largely confined to a highway-by-highway basis, as evidenced by the list of 60-mph exceptions in Va. Code § 46.2-870.

Notably, Virginia's reckless driving statute provides that driving 20 mph over the speed limit, or in excess of 80 mph regardless of the posted speed limit, is grounds for a reckless driving ticket. Thus, in a 70-mph zone traveling 11 mph over the speed limit is prosecutable as a misdemeanor with penalties of up to a $2,500 fine and/or 12 months in jail.[168]

Virginia law does not prescribe a fixed minimum speed limit, although a statute does authorize the posting of such limits where traffic and engineering studies indicate that they would be appropriate.[169]

Virginia is the only state that prohibits the use of radar detectors (the District of Columbia does as well, though it is not a state).

Washington

The Revised Code of Washington permits speed limits of 75 mph in sections deemed appropriate by an engineering study.[170] As of February 2016, the typical speed limit on a Washington freeway is 70 mph rural, 60 mph urban, with a truck speed limit no higher than 60 mph. The posted truck speed limit also applies to any vehicle towing a trailer. Limits were raised to current speeds following the elimination of the federal 55 mph speed limit, to more closely reflect the common speeds of traffic at that time.[171] However, Washington State does not have a standard legislated statewide speed limit, leaving it to WSDOT to set individual speed limits for specific segments of road. This has resulted in a wide range of speed limits statewide, with many rural undivided 2 lane highways set at 65 mph, while some congested urban divided highways have limits as low as 40 mph.

The default speed limit on a rural 2-lane highway in Washington is 60; however, the limit on undivided highways varies. In mountainous country like the Cascades and Olympic Mountains, certain twisty roads are limited to 55 mph, whereas some flat, straight highways in eastern Washington have a limit of 65. The speed limit for motorhomes and autos with trailers is 60 like it is for trucks. Roads with traffic lights are limited to 50 mph. The school zone speed limit is 20 mph but is in effect only if children are present.

Some areas within Washington State use variable speed limits such as on portions of I-90 between Seattle and Issaquah and over Snoqualmie Pass.

West Virginia

The speed limit on most rural Interstates is 70 mph. Urban Interstate speed limits generally vary from 55 mph to 65 mph.[172] Sections of I-64 and I-68 have lower truck speed limits due to steep grades; otherwise, West Virginia does not post separate truck speed limits.

Speed limits on 4-lane divided highways are normally 65 mph although some stretches within cities are posted as low as 50 mph. Open country highways have a statutory limit of 55 mph, which includes most rural two-lane highways and even includes some one lane back country roads or any road without a posted speed limit. Cities and towns set their own speed limits, which are usually between 25 and 55 mph. School zones have a statutory speed limit of 15 mph. Speed limits are commonly reduced by 15 mph in work zones.

Wisconsin

The state of Wisconsin's speed limits are set out in statutory law but may often be modified by the maintaining government entity.[173] In addition to a basic speed rule, Wisconsin law specifies certain occasions where reduced speeds are required including—and not limited to the approaches and traverses of rail crossings, winding roads, roads where people are present, and the crests of grades.[174] Although there is no numeric minimum speed limit, state law prohibits the impediment of traffic by unreasonably slow speeds.[175] Vehicles that lack rubber tires filled with compressed air and/or carry a slow moving vehicle orange safety triangle have a hard limit of 15 mph.[176]

The state of Wisconsin has four default speed limits.[177] 15 mph limits apply in school zones (on major roads during school arrival and dismissal periods only), near parks with children, and in alleys. 5 mph default speed limits apply, unless modified by the managing authority, on "service roads" within corporate limits. Within municipal boundaries and in areas of dense urban development a 35 mph limit is in effect unless another speed limit is indicated. In some jurisdictions, the 25 mph limit is the default speed limit for residential areas. The entry to such an area is to be marked by speed limit signs. Outside of built-up areas (these include denser business, industrial or residential land uses according to the relevant law) a 55 mph limit is effective in the absence of other indications.

While all 2 lane roads maintained by WisDOT as of 2015 have a 55 mph maximum, a small portion of Minnesota State Highway 23 that passes through the state south of Superior but is maintained by MNDOT may have a 60 mph limit through the state starting in March 2015.[178]

Along with the aforementioned default speed limits, there are other statutory speed limits that more often require signs to be effective.[177] 70 mph limits on freeways and 65 mph limits on expressways require signs to be effective. The default speed limit on these types of roads is 55 mph as they do not directly interact with the built-up environment. In the densest urban districts a statutory 25 mph limit is effective when adequate signage is used, as are 35 mph limits in areas of light development. The same applies to 45 mph limits on highways designated as "rustic" roads. However, "an alleged failure to post [such a speed limit sign] is not a defense to a prosecution" in the case of such statutory limits.

[179]

Wyoming

Wyoming's highest speed limit is 80 mph, found on its Interstate highways, and 65 mph on its four lane divided highways. The speed limit for school zones is 20 mph, 30 mph in urban districts and residential areas, 65 mph for other paved roads, and 55 mph for unpaved roads.[180]

In February 2014, the state Assembly passed a bill that would raise the speed limit from 75 to 80 mph on certain freeway segments that would meet safety standards. The bill passed the Senate on Feb 25 and raised the speed limit on certain freeway sections to 80 mph on July 1, 2014.[181] However, an attempt to raise the speed limit to 70 on two lane highways such as Wyoming 120 and US 14 was turned down that same month, but this same provision became law in February 2015. Effective February 1, 2016, the speed limit on WY 120 (two lane highway) from the Chief Joseph Highway to the Montana border will be increased to 70 mph. Two other two lane highway sections, WYO 130 from Interstate 80 south to Saratoga and US 85 from east of I-25 to Newcastle, are also scheduled to be increased to 70 mph(courtesy of the Big Horn Radio News Network, 1/5/16.)

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Public opposition to speed limits being set by an authority, often arise because such agency has been viewed as abusing its power—such as by arbitrary indiscretion or by creating "speed traps". Because an expert can theoretically calculate a safer speed limit, than the populace's vote by driving, it is beneficial that local governments preserve strong public trust with their integrity in speed regulation. See A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets, AASHTO, 4th Ed., 2001; ISBN 1-56051-156-7
  2. ↑ For clarity, a substantial portion of NTTA roadways were never subjected to environmental speed limits, including the parts of the Dallas North Tollway that never had a 65 mph or higher limit or any road segment opened after the Texas Legislature's prospective environmental speed limit ban.

References

  1. ↑ Section 32-5A-171. Legislature.state.al.us.
  2. 1 2 "Alaska Speed Limit Rules". Safe Motorist.
  3. 1 2 Arizona Statutes Chapter 3 Article 6 28-701 State Legislature
  4. ↑ Arizona Statutes Chapter 3 Article 6 28-709 State Legislature
  5. ↑ Some Rural Arkansas Highways Getting Higher Speed Limits. Truckinginfo.com.
  6. ↑ Arkansas Speed Laws & Statutes. (PDF).
  7. ↑ section 22350-22351. Leginfo.ca.gov (March 1, 2001).
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  142. ↑ TTI: Groups: :
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  149. ↑ TxDOT Commission meetings see speed zone minute orders in monthly agendas
  150. ↑ 82(R) History for HB 1201. Texas state legislature.
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  162. ↑ Va. Code § 46.2-870, "Maximum speed limits generally". Leg1.state.va.us.
  163. 1 2 3 Id.. Leg1.state.va.us.
  164. ↑ Va. Dept. of Transportation, Speed Limits, (posted June 7, 2010; accessed June 16, 2010).
  165. ↑ Stretch of I-295 will have 70-mph speed limit. Richmond Times-Dispatch (June 25, 2010. Retrieved July 1, 2010).
  166. ↑ Gov. McDonnell: Interstate speed limits can increase to 70 mph. Roanoke Times (2010-10-20, retrieved October 20, 2010).
  167. ↑ Scott Marshall (February 24, 2012). Speed limit on part of U.S. 29 in Amherst County to go up. The News & Advance (Retrieved February 27, 2012).
  168. ↑ Virginia code 46.2-862 retrieved January 14, 2011
  169. ↑ Va. Code § 46.2-877, "Minimum speed limits". Leg1.state.va.us.
  170. ↑ Revised Code of Washington, "Increases by secretary of transportation"
  171. ↑ The Seattle Times, "State Releases Plan To Raise Speed Limits"
  172. ↑ "West Virginia Automotive Facts". CarInsurancePedia. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
  173. ↑ Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 346 "Rules of the Road", Subchapter IX, "Speed Restrictions" §57 (346.57). (PDF).
  174. ↑ Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 346 "Rules of the Road", Subchapter IX "Speed Restrictions" §57 subsections 2 & 3 (346.57). (PDF).
  175. ↑ Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 346 "Rules of the Road", Subchapter IX "Speed Restrictions" §59 "Minimum speed regulation" (346.59). (PDF).
  176. ↑ Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 346 "Rules of the Road", Subchapter IX "Speed Restrictions" §58 "Special speed restrictions for certain vehicles" (346.58). (PDF).
  177. 1 2 Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 346 "Rules of the Road", Subchapter IX "Speed Restrictions" §57 subsection 4 (346.57). (PDF).
  178. ↑ "2014 Report on the Evaluation of Certain Highway Speed Limits" (PDF). Minnesota Department of Transportation. January 2015.
  179. ↑ Rachelle Baillon (November 3, 2015). "Drivers take note: 70 m.p.h. speed limit added to several new routes in southeast Wisconsin". Fox6now.com.
  180. ↑ Article 3 - Speed Regulations
  181. ↑ Kyle Roerink (February 25, 2014). "Wyoming House endorses higher highway speed limit". Billings Gazette. Casper Star-Tribune. Retrieved February 25, 2014.

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