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==Jurisdictional distinctions==
==Jurisdictional distinctions==
===Alabama===
===Konya===


In [[Alabama]], trucks carrying [[Dangerous goods|hazardous materials]] are not to exceed 55&nbsp;mph. A speed limit of 30&nbsp;mph in urban areas and 35&nbsp;mph on unpaved rural roads is enforced. The speed limit for county paved roads is 45&nbsp;mph. All other 2 lane roads are limited to 55&nbsp;mph. The interstate limit is 70&nbsp;mph while other 4 lane highways are limited to 65&nbsp;mph.<ref>[http://www.legislature.state.al.us/codeofalabama/1975%2009feb2004/32%2D5a%2D171.htm Section 32-5A-171]</ref>
In [[Alabama]], trucks carrying [[Dangerous goods|hazardous materials]] are not to exceed 55&nbsp;mph. A speed limit of 30&nbsp;mph in urban areas and 35&nbsp;mph on unpaved rural roads is enforced. The speed limit for county paved roads is 45&nbsp;mph. All other 2 lane roads are limited to 55&nbsp;mph. The interstate limit is 70&nbsp;mph while other 4 lane highways are limited to 65&nbsp;mph.<ref>[http://www.legislature.state.al.us/codeofalabama/1975%2009feb2004/32%2D5a%2D171.htm Section 32-5A-171]</ref>

Revision as of 04:20, 3 October 2011

Main articles: Speed limit and Speed limits by country
See also: Speed limits in the United States (rail) and Road signs in the United States

Speed limits in the United States are set by each state or territory. Speed limits in the United States vary according to many factors, including each state or territory's laws, the type of road, land use, and more. Increments of five miles per hour are used. Additionally, these limits sometimes differ according to the type of vehicle and the time of day. Occasionally there are also minimum speed limits.

Most speed limits are set by the legislatures of states and territories as law statutes. States generally allow a statewide transportation agency and lesser authorities to change speed limits. The first speed limit in the territory which is now the United States was set in Boston in 1757 by the board of selectmen (ie a sort of city council). The speed limit for wagons, carriages, horses, etc. on Sunday was set at a walking pace. Anyone exceeding this limit would be fined 10 Shillings. [1]

For approximately thirteen years (1974–1987), no speed limit in the United States exceeded 55 mph (89 km/h). Prior to that, speed limits were mostly the same as today, but more often higher or nonexistent in rural areas. Montana and Nevada among others previously had no statutory speed limits for cars and motorcycles under certain conditions. Also, it should be noted that from 1995 to 2011, speed limits higher than 70 mph were restricted to the Great Plains and the Mountain west, except for in Oregon, California, and Washington.

The highest speed limits are usually found in the inland West, and the lowest limits are usually found in the Northeast with the exception of Maine, which raised its speed limit for a remote stretch of Interstate 95 through the northern part of the state to 75 mph in June 2011. Some limits fall outside these ranges. For example, some two-lane rural roads in Texas have 75 mph (121 km/h) speed limits, and there are two stretches of Interstate Highway in Texas with a daytime 80 mph (129 km/h) speed limit for passenger vehicles, as well as two stretches in Utah with 80 mph limits tested in 2009. In contrast, the highest speed limit on freeways in Hawaii is 60 mph (97 km/h). A statute effective June 17, 2011, authorizes 85-mph speed limits in Texas, although the new law requires traffic and engineering studies before the higher limit takes effect.[2]



A standard sign indicating a speed limit of 80 miles per hour (mph), a night-time speed limit of 65 mph, and a truck speed limit of 55 mph
A speed limit sign entering a school zone, along with a warning light above

Overview

Speed limits

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

State or territory Freeway (rural) Freeway (trucks) Freeway (urban) Divided (rural) Undivided (rural) County (rural) Residential divided (urban) Residential undivided (urban) School zone
Alabama[3] 70 60 65 55 35–45 25 25 15
Alaska 65 65 65 65 50 25 20
American Samoa[4] – – – – 25–30 – 15
Arizona[5] 75 65 65 65 65 25 15
Arkansas 70 65 65 60–65 55
California 70 55 55-65 65 55–65 55–65 25 25
Colorado 65-75 55–65 65 65 35–55 25–35 20–25
Connecticut 65 45-55 55 55 45 25-40 20
Delaware[6] 65 50-55 55 50 25-35 20
District of Columbia[7] - - 50 - - - 25 15
Florida[8] 70 55-65 65 60 55-60 30 10-20
Georgia[9] 70 55-65 65 55 - 30 25-45
Guam[10] - - - 35-45 35-45 -
Hawaii 55-60 50 45 45 45
Idaho 75 65 65 65 65 50-65 20
Illinois 65 55-65 65 55 55 30 20
Indiana 70 65 50-65 60 55 55 20-30 20-25
Iowa 70 55-65 65 55 45 25 20
Kansas 75 65 65-70 65 55 30 20
Kentucky[11] 70 55 55 55 55 25-35 25-45
Louisiana 70-75 60 65 55 45 10-30 10-30 20-45
Maine 65-75 55 55 55 50
Maryland 65 55-65 55 50-55 15-25
Massachusetts 65 55 55 55 30 20
Michigan[12] 70 60 55-70 55-65 55 55 25 25
Minnesota[13][14] 70 45-60 55-65 55-60 55 30
Mississippi 70 60-70 65 55 25
Missouri 70 45-65 55-70 55-65 55 25 20
State or territory Freeway (rural) Freeway (trucks) Freeway (urban) Divided (rural) Undivided (rural) County (rural) Residential divided (urban) Residential undivided (urban) School zone
Montana 75 65 65 70 55-70 55-70 25 15
Nebraska[15] 75 60 65 55-65 50-55 25 25
Nevada 75 60-65 65-70 55-70 55-70 25 15, 25
New Hampshire 65 55 55 55 35 30 20
New Jersey[16][17] 65 55 55 45-55 30-50 25 15-35
New Mexico[18] 75 65-75 65-70 55-65 25-55 25-30 15-20
New York 65 50-55 55 55 55 30
North Carolina[19][20][21] 70 60-65 55-60* 55 20-35 20-35 20-35
North Dakota[22][23] 75 55-75 70 40-65 40-55 30-55 20-45 15-25
Ohio[24] 65-70 55-65 55-65 55 55 25-35 20
Oklahoma 70-75 55-65 60-70 55-65 45 25 25
Oregon 65† 55 50-60 55 55 55 25 20
Pennsylvania 65 55-65 55 55 35-45 25-35 20-35 15
Puerto Rico[25] 60-65 50-55 45-55 - 25-35 15-25
Rhode Island[26] 65 55 55 50 - 25 20
South Carolina[27] 70 60 60 55 - 30
South Dakota[28][29] 75 55-65 65-70 45-65 35-55 25-45 15-25
Tennessee 70 55-70 65-70 55 35-45 20-45 15-20
Texas 75-80 55-65 70-75 70-75 30-60 30 15-55
U.S. Virgin Islands[30] - - - 55 35 - 20
Utah[31] 75-80 65 65 65 25-35 20
Vermont 65 55 55 50 50
Virginia[32] 65-70 55-65 55-60 55 25 15-35
Washington 70 60 60 65 65 50-55 25-50 20-25
West Virginia 70 60-65 65 55 55 25-55 15 or 35
Wisconsin[33] 65 55-65 55-65 55-65 55 25-35 15
Wyoming[34] 75 65 65 65

† Oregon state law permits a maximum statewide speed limit of 70 mph, but gives the Oregon Department of Transportation discretion in selecting which roads to post at 70 mph. Currently ODOT has not identified any roadways whose speed limits should be raised to 70 mph. Thus, the highest posted speed limit seen in Oregon is 65 mph.

State Typical fine Recklessness threshold or enhanced penalty Absolute/prima facie Ticket dismissal options Point system
Pennsylvania $35[35] plus court and other costs. All fines doubled in active work zones. >30 mph over limit Absolute None Point system leads to mandatory driver education and possible license suspension.
Texas $1–$200[36] plus court fees. Doubled in active school zone or construction zone when workers are present.[37] Various additional "fees" assessed by the state essentially increase the fine by around $100 on all tickets. None[38] Prima facie[39] Defensive driving[40] (once per year) or deferred disposition[41] (restrictions vary, but generally at least 4 per year), but only valid if:
  • Texas resident,
  • Speed < 25 mph above limit and < 95 mph, and
  • Not in construction zone where workers are present or active school zone.
  • Not a Commercial Driver License (CDL) holder.
 Point system is annual surcharge only. No provision for license suspension.[42]
Rhode Island Prima facie One dismissal every 3 years for speed 14 mph or less over limit.[43]
Virginia
  • Up to $250[44]
  • School zone: up to $250 additional[45]
  • Work zone: up to $500[46]
  • $100 civil penalty in certain towns[47]
 20 mph over limit or over 80 mph[48] or "exceeds reasonable speed".[49] Absolute[50] Point system[51] leading to fines, suspension, and mandatory driver education.[52]

Minimum speed limits

Speed minimum sign in Lubbock, Texas to keep tractors off the busy highways

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

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

Truck speed limits

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

Theory

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

However, the research record is mixed. A 1987 study finds that crash involvement significantly increases when trucks drive much slower than passenger vehicles,[53] suggesting that the difference in speed between passenger vehicles and slower trucks could cause crashes that otherwise may not happen. Furthermore, in a review of available research, the Transportation Research Board (part of the United States National Research Council) states "[no] conclusive evidence could be found to support or reject the use of differential speed limits for passenger cars and heavy trucks" (page 11) and "a strong case cannot be made on empirical grounds in support of or in opposition to differential speed limits" (page 109).[54]

Two thirds (67%) of truck/passenger car crashes are the fault of the passenger vehicle.[55]

Night speed limits

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

While the basic speed rule, which requires drivers to drive a reasonable and proper speed at all times, is usually relied upon to regulate proper night speed reductions, numeric night speed limits (which generally begin 30 minutes after sunset and end 30 minutes before sunrise, though this may vary by local law) generally may be established on roads where safety problems require a speed lower than what is self-selected by drivers. Exceptionally, Texas is the only state with default arbitrary nighttime speed limits.[citation needed] Montana also uses night speed limits statewide on federal, state and secondary roads. They were once used on interstates but only until 1999. Night speed limits are indicated on some streets in Tucson, Arizona without street lights. Some roads in Florida have night speed limits near SW Florida Int'l Airport near Cape Coral / Fort Myers. Colorado Highway 13 has a 65 day/55 night speed limit beginning 7.1 mi. north of I-70 from north of Rifle to CO. Hwy. 64 south of Meeker. Rural CO. Hwy. 13 is 55 mph at night north of Meeker all the way to the Wyoming state line.

Political considerations

Arbitrariness

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

Subjective or political influence on speed limits is evident by state-to-state speed limit variances that have no empirical justification, such as:

  • Rural sections of Interstate 84 in Oregon and Idaho have a 10-mph speed limit difference, Oregon being posted at 65 mph while Idaho maintains a 75 mph speed limit.
  • All 51 miles (82 km) of I-95 in Pennsylvania are posted at 55 mph, while in neighboring New Jersey, the speed limit on I-95 is primarily 65 mph, despite their common suburban environment.
  • Interstate 95 from the Newark Toll Plaza south of Exit 1 at DE 896 to the Maryland State line is 55 mph. The speed limit goes up to 65 mph at the Maryland State line. The stretch of roadway between Exit 109 at MD 279 and prior to Exit 1 at DE 896 before the Newark Toll Plaza are identical roadways.
  • The lowest class of state-maintained, two-lane road in Texas may have a 70 mph speed limit, but a two-lane US highway built to neighboring Arkansas's or Louisiana's highest standards may not have a speed limit over 55.
  • Only three states allow two-lane highways to be posted at 70 mph or higher: Texas (mostly 70, but some west Texas 2 lane roads have 75 mph limits), Nevada, and Montana. Nevada and Texas are the only states to allow 70 mph on two-lane roads at night as well as during the day.
  • Texas's rural Interstates highways generally have 65 mph night speed limits, but motorists may travel 70 or 75 mph at night on all adjacent states' rural Interstates.
  • Texas law in fact sets 70 mph as the default limit for all rural highways. Therefore, sometimes short stretches of Texas highway can have a 70 mph speed limit, such as:
    • FM 2249 (from 1/2 mile west of FM 1437 in Dell City to 2 miles west of FM 1437 at Wood Rd. where the pavement ends) 11⁄2 miles.
    • Texas Highway 17 (from I-10 to FM 1215 at Saragosa city limit) 11⁄2 miles.
    • Texas Highway 302 is 70 mph for 9/10 mile east of Texas Highway 115 approaching Kermit, even through a rail road crossing before the speed limit lowers to 55 and then 50 at the city limit. Or westbound on TX 302 it is 70 mph before coming to a stop at the 115-302 intersection. TX 302 is 75 mph west of TX 115.
    • Texas Highway 18 has a 75 mph speed limit for most of its route even for a 9 mile stretch north of Kermit to the New Mexico state line while Texas Highway 115 is 75 mph north of Kermit and 70 mph south of Kermit.
  • Texas 41 is 70 mph for 2 miles from I-10 before coming to a stop sign on TX 27 near Mountain Home.

Environmental concerns

Reduced speed limits are sometimes enacted for air quality reasons. The most prominent example includes Texas's environmental speed limits, which do not appear to significantly contribute to air quality.

Metric speed limits

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

Though not common in the United States, a speed limit may be defined in kilometers per hour (km/h) as well as miles per hour (mph). The Federal Highway Administration's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, which provides guidelines for speed limit signage, states that "speed limits shown shall be in multiples of 10 km/h or 5 mph."[56] If a speed limit sign indicates km/h, the number is circumscribed and "km/h" is written below. Prior to 2003, metric speed limits were designated using the standard speed limit sign, usually with yellow supplemental "METRIC" and "km/h" plaques above it and below it, respectively.[57][58]

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

Federal speed controls

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

National 55 mph limit

Further information: National Maximum Speed Law

In response to the 1973 oil crisis, Congress enacted the National Maximum Speed Law that created the universal 55 miles per hour (89 km/h) speed limit.

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

2000s

Two prominent members of the United States Senate have speculated on reimposition of federal speed limit controls.

In 2006, then-Senator (now U.S. Secretary of State) Hillary Clinton publicly supported reimposition of the 55 mph speed limit in a speech to the New York Press Club.[59]

On July 3, 2008, U.S. Senator John Warner, R-VA, wrote a letter to Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman asking to look into what speed limit would provide optimum gasoline efficiency given current technology. He said he wants to know if the administration might support efforts in Congress to require a lower speed limit.[60] In that same month, a Rasmussen poll of American voters found that 59% oppose reducing the speed limits in the United States to 55 mph.[61]

Definition of speeding

Either of the following qualifies a crash as speed-related in accordance with U.S. government rules:[62]

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

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

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

  1. When speed limits are set through political rather than empirical processes, the speed limit's relationship to safe speeds is questionable or intentionally eliminated. Therefore, a crash that occurs at a safe speed that happens to exceed a politically-determined speed limit (as opposed to a speed limit determined through empirical processes) can still be counted as a speed-related crash.
  2. Conditions exist where speed under the effective limit may still be too fast, such as limited visibility or reduced road traction[63] or even low-speed truck rollovers on exit ramps.[64]

Variable speed limits offer some potential to reduce speed-related crashes. However, due to the high cost of implementation, they exist primarily on freeways. Furthermore, most speed-related crashes occur on local and collector roads.[65]

Prima facie

Most states have absolute speed limits, meaning that a speed in excess of the limit is illegal per se. However, some states have prima facie speed limits.[66] This offers motorists a valid defense to a speeding charge if it can be proven that the speed was in fact reasonable and prudent.

A successful prima facie defense is rare. Not only does the burden of proof rest upon the accused, a successful defense may involve expert witnesses or other expenses well in excess of the cost of a ticket. Furthermore, because prima facie defenses must be presented in a court, such a defense is difficult for out of town motorists. Speed limits in Texas, Utah,[67] and Rhode Island are prima facie. Some other states have a hybrid system: speed limits may be prima facie up to a certain speed or only on certain roads.

Jurisdictional distinctions

Konya

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.[68]

Alaska

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.[69]

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. Exceeding these limits only in the best of driving conditions is considered prima facie evidence of speeding. Altered speed limits are not prima facie.[70]

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 is considered "excessive". Within "business or residential" districts, exceeding the speed limit by more than 20 mph is considered "excessive". 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. Nonetheless, exceeding these 55 mph limits, effective on some freeways in Phoenix, for example, is illegal.[71]

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.[72]

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".[70]

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.

California

California's "Basic Speed Law",[73] 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 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. Speed limits are typically set by monitoring traffic flow over a period of time and using the 85th percentile rule—the speed at which 85 percent of motorists travel at or below.

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.[74] 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"[75] 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."[76]

Rural freeways, such as parts of I-5, I-8, I-10, I-15, I-40, and U.S. 101 on the central coast, and SR 99 south of Madera and Fresno, have 70 mph (113 km/h) speed limits. Because I-80 passes exclusively through urban and mountainous areas, its highest speed limit is only 65 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.[77]

All of these highways feature supplementary signage stating "AUTOS WITH TRAILERS/TRUCKS 55 MAXIMUM". Maximum truck/autos with trailers limit applies to trucks with 3 or more axles and all vehicles when towing. As of 2007, these signs are being replaced with signage stating "ALL VEHICLES WHILE TOWING 55 MAXIMUM".

In California, the Maximum Speed in school zones is 25 mph, but is in effect only if children are present within that school zone.

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),[78] but this is not always posted.

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 Public Safety, 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 70 MPH on rural freeways.

Delaware

In Delaware, only two roads have a 65 mph (105 km/h) speed limit: I-495 and Delaware Route 1. Interstate 95 is 55 mph (89 km/h) and Interstate 295 is 50 mph (80 km/h).

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 and US 113 are normally 55 mph.

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 speed limit, but this limit changes to 55 mph on days when air quality is a concern.

Florida

Florida raised its speed limit from the federally mandated 55 mph national limit (1974–1987) to 65 mph in 1987. In 1996, after the 1995 repeal of federal speed limit controls, Florida raised the speed limit to 70 mph on expressways, including rural Interstate Highways, and limited access toll roads; 65 mph on rural 4-lane highways (including US and State highways); and 60 mph on rural 2-lane highways.

Florida is the only state east of the Mississippi River where a speed limit greater than 55 is allowed on two-lane roads. 60 mph on two-lane roads is usually allowed on United States Highways, some state highways and rarely posted on some county roads.

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.[79] 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.

County roads typically have 55 or 60 mph limits.

Florida's minimum speed limit on Interstate Highways is now 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.[80]

The State of Florida also does not impose a lower truck speed limit.

All interstate traffic is permitted to travel at the same speed.[citation needed]

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 which post the times these reduced speed limits are effective. All are strictly enforced and carry an increased penalty for violations.

Georgia

Interstates are posted at 70 mph. However, when an Interstate passes through a municipality or metropolitan area with a population over fifty-thousand, state law requires the speed limit to be 55 mph. Despite that, it is still 65 mph on the Athens northern perimeter (US 78) and Columbus on I-185. There are no 60 mph speed limits in Georgia.

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.

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 45 mph.

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 state's 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. Fines are not assessed for motorists going less than 5 mph over the speed limit.

Hawaii

Hawaii was the last state to raise its maximum speed limit after the National Maximum Speed Law was repealed in 1995. In 2002, after 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.[81] 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.[82]

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.

Illinois

Interstate Highways in Illinois are usually posted with both minimum and maximum speed limits, except in some urban areas, particularly Chicago. Most expressways in Cook, DuPage, and Lake counties, and some expressways in Will County maintain a 55 mph speed limit. Due to the high population density, the only expressways 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. In downtown Chicago, where all the major expressways merge together, the speed limit is reduced to 45 mph due to high-traffic density and frequent entering/exiting of the expressways. All other expressway areas in Illinois maintain a 65 mph speed limit, except in areas approaching a major city where the speed limit may be reduced to 50 or 55. A construction zone almost always has a light posted to the speed limit sign that, when flashing, indicates to the driver that the construction speed limit must be obeyed. When the light is not flashing, drivers may obey the regular speed limit. Illinois brought Senate Bill SB3668 to the floor for discussion. This bill if passed by both houses and signed by the governor will raise Illinois rural interstate speed limits to 70 mph. This will exclude the 6 county region around Chicago.[83]

The former "55" mph truck speed limit has been removed with the exception of Cook, DuPage, Lake, Kane, Will, and McHenry counties.

Indiana

In Indiana speed limits on Interstate Highways are usually 70 mph (113 km/h) for cars and 65 mph (105 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 (89 km/h) in city centers (except stretches of I-70 in Indianapolis where it is 50 mph) and 65 mph (105 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. Prior to July 5, 2005, all Interstate Highways were 65 mph and below.

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 (48–79 km/h) approaching urban areas, and within cities a speed limit of 20–30 mph (32–48 km/h) is not uncommon, though larger arterial roads within cities may reach as high as 45 mph (72 km/h).

Iowa

Iowa's rural Interstate's speed limits are typically 70 mph (113 km/h), with no distinction made for trucks. Urban Interstate speed limits are usually set at 65 mph (105 km/h), with 55 mph speed limits set within cities, such as Interstate 235 in Des Moines. The Iowa DOT just recently increased the suburban speed limit on Interstate 235 to 60 mph, with 55 mph still effective for the downtown Des Moines area; 60 mph speed limits also exist on IA 58 and US 218 in Cedar Falls/Waterloo and on Interstate 380 outside of downtown Cedar Rapids.

Non-Interstate divided highways are signed at 65 mph with speeds dropping to 55 mph in urban areas. Two lane rural state and county highways have a 55 mph speed limit. The Interstate 74 bridge from Davenport to Moline, Illinois, has a 50 mph limit; the bridge is much narrower than normal and shoulderless.

Rural Interstates have a minimum speed limit of 40 mph, and U.S. Highway 20 between Interstate 35 and Dubuque also has a 40 mph minimum speed, alongside a 65 mph maximum. Other four-lane divided rural highways are signed at 65 mph, with no minimum speed (with the purpose of allowing slow-moving farm vehicles to use the road as well).

Kansas

After the National Maximum Speed Limit was repealed, Kansas raised its general interstate speed limit to 70 miles per hour (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.".[84] In 2011 Governor Sam Brownback signed legislation raising Kansas' top speed limit to 75 miles per hour (121 km/h) on divided four-lane highways, effective July 1, 2011.[85] 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.[86] Prior to the National Maximum Speed Limit, the speed limit on the Kansas Turnpike was 80 miles per hour (130 km/h), but reduced to 75 mph on August 17, 1970.

The 75-mph speed limit on most of Interstate 70 matches that of neighboring Colorado. However, motorists driving into Oklahoma on Interstate 35 must drop their speed from 75 to 70, since Oklahoma's 75-mph limit applies only to turnpikes.

Kentucky

In July 2007, Kentucky raised its rural freeway speed limits from 65 to 70 mph.[87] Kentucky does still have limits of 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, and the U.S. 60 bypass in Owensboro). 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.

Louisiana

The state's maximum speed limit of 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.

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.[88]

Other laws

There are exceptions to the basic highway and speed laws[89]

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)

75 MPH exception

In 2011, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) raised the speed limit to 75 mph on a nearly 200-mile stretch of I-49 in Saint Landry, Avoyelles, Evangeline, Rapides, Natchitoches, and DeSoto parishes. The increase to 75 mph was authorized by a 2010 bill which allows DOTD to raise speed limits when the increase is shown by engineering and traffic studies to be safe.[90][91][92][93]

Maine

Interstates 95/Maine Turnpike and 295 are 65 mph, except for a small 55 mph zone near the New Hampshire border, a 55-mph zone on 95 in Portland vicinity and in Bangor, and 50-55 mph zones on 295 in Portland. The Saco stub I-195 is 55 mph, and 395 is 55 mph in Bangor and 60 mph in Brewer. A bill has been introduced to raise the speed limit between Old Town and Houlton from 65 to 75 mph. It unanimously passed in both chambers of the State Legislature and was sent to Governor Paul LePage for his signature on June 28, 2011 and it was signed on June 29 [94] The 75 mph speed limit will go into effect 90 days after the bill is signed into law.[95] Maine will be the first state east of the Mississippi River since the 1970s and the first state in the New England Region to establish a 75 mph speed limit.[96]

Maryland

The speed limit on Maryland's Interstate Highways are posted by default at 65 mph. Maryland's urban freeways normally have speed limits of 55 mph 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 the downtown area and on Interstate 68 through Cumberland, both sections being marked for 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 PA state line, MD 404 around Denton and US 29 between I-495 and I-70.

Two lane roads are generally posted at 50 mph but there are a handful of routes posted at 55 mph. It's more common to see 55 mph on the Eastern Shore than the Baltimore-Washington corridor and Appalachia.

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

Michigan

Speed limits in Michigan are governed by Public Act 85 fo 2006 which requires that speed limits be set based on formlua based the number of driveways and streets, or based 85th percentile of free flowing traffic, if none those methods are used a 55 mph default applies.[97] 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 to 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.[12]

  • Interstate speeds for passenger vehicles range from 55 mph to 70 mph.
  • Interstate speeds for trucks and military vehicles is 60 mph
  • If workers are present, then the speed limit is 45 mph.

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) such as sections of US-169, US-212, the divided sections of US-2 and most of US-10 have speed limits of 65 mph in rural areas and up to 55 mph in urban or suburban areas. Undivided sections have speed limits of 55 mph while most of US-71 and the undivided section of US-2 have a limit of 60 mph. County roads have speed limits of up to 55 mph for 2 lanes and 60 for divided sections.

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.[98]

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 which have a 70 mph speed limit.[99] 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

Missouri recently began a two-year experiment with variable speed limits along I-270 around St. Louis. Digital signs have 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.[citation needed]

Interstate freeways in Missouri generally have a maximum speed limit of 70 MPH in rural areas and 60 MPH in more populated areas. During the closure and major rebuild of I-64 (aka US-40) in St. Louis, an additional lane was added to I-44 and I-70, and the speed limit was thus reduced to 55MPH on those roads within the St. Louis County and City. Though I-64 (US-40) construction has been completed, the extra lanes will not be removed until spring through fall of 2010, and therefore the speed limit will remain 55 MPH on I-70/I-44. Freeways have minimum speed limits of 40 mph.[100]

Most two-lane roads have a 60 mph speed limit in Missouri. However US-54 west of El Dorado Springs has a 65 mph speed limit in Vernon County. A speed limit of 65 mph is also along Highway 67 between Bonne Terre and Festus, MO.

Montana

Reasonable and prudent

In the years before 1974's 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."

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

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,[101] 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 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.[102]

  • Montana's US, State, and even Secondary roads have speed limits posted similar to Texas — 70 mph/night:65; truck:60/night:55 (similar to the truck speed limit for secondary (Farm to Market) roads in Texas.)

75 mph speed limit

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.[103]

Nevada

The maximum speed limits in Nevada is 70*-75 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.

  • I-15 is posted 70 mph south of Las Vegas to match California's 70 mph posted limit.

New Hampshire

The highest speed limit in New Hampshire is 65 mph (105 km/h). It can be found on Interstate Highways and the Everett Turnpike. The minimum speed on Interstate Highways in New Hampshire is 45 mph where posted.

Antique New Hampshire speed limit sign.

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 when the highway narrows to one lane in each direction, but rises back to 65 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 through downtown Manchester falls to 50 mph as it runs along the Merrimack River, but increases in to 55 mph on either side of the city.

Prior to 1974, the New Hampshire Turnpike, along with rural sections of Interstate 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, NJ 15 and NJ 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 287, I-80 from the Delaware Water Gap to the Passaic River and I-78 from the Delaware River to the Newark border. Only the New Jersey Turnpike has variable speed limits on its entire length.

Four lane or greater divided state highways (with a jersey divider or grass median) are generally posted at 55 mph. County four lane highways and municipal maintained four lane roads (with a jersey divider or grass median) are never posted above 50 mph.

Two-lane rural state highways and county maintained roads generally have 40 to 50 mph limits. The only two lane roads posted at 55 mph in New Jersey are County Route 539, NJ 70, NJ 54, and NJ 72 in the Pine Barrens of Ocean County. The NJ 33 Freehold Bypass section where it is a super two is also 55 mph.

Urban two lane roads in boroughs and cities are 25 or 30 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 35 to 40 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 at 50 mph, County Route 537 in Freehold Township (south of NJ 18).

School zones through urban and suburban areas on two lane roadways are normally posted with one sign and often without prior warning. Also, it is not unusual to see "25mph when children are present" signs regardless of the road's default speed limit (Example would be going from 45 mph to 25 mph).

New Mexico

With the exception of wartime, New Mexico had no default numeric speed limit until the early 1950s.[104] 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.[105] Signs are posted on the vast majority of the mileage of Interstate routes to that effect.

New Mexico has six major freeway facilities which include three lengthy Interstate routes. Part of US-70 (as both a freeway and then a divided highway) between Las Cruces and Alamogordo is the only section of non-Interstate route to have the 75 mph limit. 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.

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.[106] 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 which are often altered, especially on urban arterials or even city or countywide:[107] 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.[108] 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.

  • The speed limit on NM 502 between San Ildefonso Pueblo and Pojoaque Valley High School had a 65-mph speed limit. In November 2005, the stretch between NM-4 and Pojoaque became a safety corridor. In 2007, the speed limit on the San Ildefonso-Pojoaque stretch was lowered to 55 mph.
  • On Highway 68, the speed limit is 60 mph on much of the four-lane stretch between Española and Velarde.
  • Minimum 65 left lane signs are posted on I-40 west of Albuquerque, a night speed limit of 30 mph is posted on State Highway 7 west of White's City going into Carlsbad Caverns.
  • Truck speed limit signs are rarely posted. One road has a posted limit of 45 mph/trucks:35 in Escondida, just north of Socorro, and US 82 east of Alamogordo has a posted limit of 55 mph/trucks:50 for approximately a two-mile stretch.
  • As of December 24, 2009, US 54 still has a 55 mph speed limit north of Tularosa. Yet NM-9 and CR-A003 have a 65 mph speed limit east of Columbus to NM 136 near Santa Teresa. CR-A003 (Columbus-Santa Teresa Highway) is the only county road in New Mexico to exceed the statutory maximum 55 mph speed limit for county roads.
  • Interstate 10 is 70 mph between the Texas-New Mexico state line and two miles south of I-25 in Las Cruces. While it is 75 mph in the rest of New Mexico, the speed limit is 65 mph in Las Cruces, Deming, and Lordsburg. I-25 is briefly posted 70 mph in Sandoval County from the Bernalillo-Sandoval county line to US 550.

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.

New York has a blanket statutory "Reasonable and Prudent" speed law.[109] While it was mentioned at the beginning of this page that motorists may be able to use laws of this type as a legal defense, in New York it is frequently used to the advantage of law enforcement, who will (and do) not hesitate to issue tickets for, say, driving 45 in a 55 mph zone if road conditions do not, in their opinion, permit safe travel at that rate.[citation needed]

The highest posted speed limit in New York is 65 mph (105 km/h), which is found on most of the New York State Thruway and other rural Interstate Highways. The State Speed Limit (a blanket or default speed limit for rural roads) is 55 mph (89 km/h), which is also the highest a non-expressway or parkway highway may have. Many 55 mph signs in New York thus read "State Speed Limit". The theme is followed, and many signs read "Area Speed Limit", "Town Speed Limit", "City Speed Limit" or "Village Speed Limit" with varying speeds shown below. In New York State, the default speed limit on any road not marked with a speed limit sign is 55 mph (unless local restrictions are stricter).[110] New York City and some other urbanized areas have a default speed limit of 30 mph (48 km/h) except where otherwise posted. The highest speed limit on expressways and parkways in New York City is 50 mph (80 km/h), with many freeways having a lower speed limit (such as the FDR Drive with its 40 mph limit) that may vary based on a section of road (like sections of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, having only a 35 mph speed limit).

Governor George Pataki signed legislation in September 2003 that enables NYSDOT and NYSTA 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 has been used on over 100 miles worth of highway. An example of this is a 3-mile section of NY Route 7 (locally known as "Alternate Route 7") which connects Exit 7 of Interstate 87 (the Adirondack Northway) with Interstate 787, the main highway into the city of Albany. Prior to the new law, consent of the state legislature was necessary to enact a 65 mph speed limit, a process that could take months or years. In fact, New York was one of the last states in the United States to enable speed limits above 55 mph on any roads.

A minimum speed limit of 40 mph has been set on the entire length of Interstate 787 and the entire length of 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.

Up until about the 1980s, it was not uncommon to see the somewhat cryptic phrases "End 30 Mile Speed" or "End Speed Zone" when exiting a speed zone (e.g. city, village or hamlet) on a rural road; by the 1990s, most of those signs were replaced by the more clear "End 30 m.p.h. Limit." On state highways, however, new speed limit signs reading "State Speed Limit 55" are the standard indication of leaving a speed zone.

Excepting school zones, the lowest speed limit that can be set by cities, towns, or villages is 25 mph.

New York's Criminal Procedure Law prevents law enforcement personnel from issuing a tickets 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.[111]

North Carolina

Along two-lane rural primary and secondary roads outside municipal limits in North Carolina, the statutory speed limit is 55 mph unless otherwise posted. 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, 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.

School zone speed limits are generally entail a 10 to 20 mph reduction below the original speed limit during open school hours of 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 the 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, Bragg Boulevard (also known as N.C. Highway 24) and the All American Freeway (a state secondary maintained freeway).

The state park speed limit is 25 mph unless otherwise posted. These are not limited to places like 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 under the state secondary road system where their route numbers are 1000 or greater. The speed limits are posted at the maximum of 55 mph.

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 568 miles, or 27%, of the total freeway mileage in North Carolina (384 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.

Freeways with 60 mph speed limits are found along I-40 between Asheville and Waynesville and through Greensboro; on I-85 in Gaston and Mecklenburg counties and through Durham; on I-440 along the northern half of Raleigh's Beltline; on I-26 between Asheville and Hendersonville; and on the US-311 High Point Bypass, US-74 Laurinburg bypass, US-23 Waynesville Bypass, and US-401 Fayetteville bypass.

60 mph speed limits along non-freeway segments are growing in popularity into replacing 55 mph 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. Some examples of the affected 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 and US 220 in Rockingham County only along bypass segments. 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.

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.[112]

North Dakota

The highest speed limit found in North Dakota is 75 mph, which can be found on Interstates 29 and 94. Urban speed limits are as follows: Fargo: 55 mph, Bismarck/Mandan 60 mph on I-94 in North Dakota and Bismarck Expressway is at 40-55 MPH, Grand Forks, Valley City, Jamestown, and Dickinson remain at 75 mph. Rural four-lane divided or undivided highway are 70 mph. Rural 2-Lane US numbered, and State Highways have 65 mph limits. Divided US numbered, and State Highways that pass through cities have 25–55 mph limits. undivided US numbered, and State Highways that pass through cities have 25–50 mph limits. 65 mph speed limits on county roads can be found in certain counties. Certain major county roads have 50–55 mph statutory limits for cars and 30–55 mph for trucks. A default 55 mph speed limit applies on other county roads. Speed limits on surface streets range from 30 to 40 mph. Residential streets are generally 10–25 mph. School zones are 15–25 mph. It is to uncommon see residential and business districts above 50 MPH.

Ohio

The maximum speed limit found on highways in Ohio is 70 miles per hour (110 km/h) on the Ohio Turnpike, 65 miles per hour (105 km/h) on Interstates, and a split speed limit of 65 miles per hour (105 km/h) for cars and 55 miles per hour (89 km/h) for trucks remains in effect on non-Interstate freeways. No non-divided highway in the state has a speed limit higher than 55 miles per hour (89 km/h). Historically, Ohio had speed limits of 70 mph (113 km/h) except on the Ohio Turnpike, which had speed limits up to 75 miles per hour (121 km/h) prior to 1974.[113]

Although Ohio does not have a separate urban and rural speed limit on Interstates by state law, 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.

As of July 1, 2009, trucks can travel at 65 miles per hour (105 km/h) on Interstate highways where cars are permitted to travel at 65 miles per hour (105 km/h), but not on freeways which are not Interstates. Previously, only trucks travelling the Ohio Turnpike were permitted to travel 65 mph. The speed limit on all other roads was, at most, 55 miles per hour (89 km/h) and will continue to be so on non-Interstate highways. On Interstate highways where cars have a speed limit of 55 miles per hour (89 km/h) or 60 miles per hour (97 km/h), trucks remain limited to 55 miles per hour (89 km/h). Unlike other states where the term truck usually only means vehicles requiring a Commercial Driver's License to operate, Ohio considers most vehicles with an empty weight of 8,000 pounds (3,600 kg) or more to be a truck for the purposes of the truck speed limit.[114][115][116][117][118]

A bill has been introduced in the State senate that would restore rural freeway speed limits back to 70 mph.[119]

On December 20, 2010, the Ohio Turnpike Commission voted to increase the speed limit of the Ohio Turnpike to 70 miles per hour (110 km/h). Despite opposition from the Ohio Trucking Association and the Ohio Motorists Association, the increase was approved by the Commission by a vote of 4 to 1 and went into effect on April 1, 2011.[120]

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 that 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, they 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, warning drivers that state troopers will write tickets for speeding for ANY violation of this higher limit.

Oregon

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

The highest posted speed limit in Oregon is 65 mph on rural freeways. While Oregon state statutes allow for a maximum speed limit of 70 mph on rural interstate highways, the law gives the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) discretion to define which freeway segments to post the 70 mph speed limit. Currently, ODOT has not identified any freeway sections that it believes should be raised beyond the maximum posted speed limit of 65 mph. In all rural areas in Oregon, the speed limit is 55 in less otherwise posted.

Up 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 spacing between and appearance of the numbers on the signs vary greatly depending on which jurisdiction made the sign. In 2002, the Oregon Department of Transportation required the inclusion of the word "limit" on speed signs on Interstate highways[121] (though the older "Speed" signs are still up in many locations), and left it up to local government agencies to decide on whether "limit"-branded signs would be installed on other roads. Most have chosen not to change over with a few exceptions to the rule. Speed Limit 60 signs can be found on Interstate 5 through Salem, on Interstate 84 through east Portland, 55 signs can be found on Interstate 205, and some new 50 signs are found on Interstate 405. The city of Beaverton has been the most liberal in retrofitting the standard-form Speed Limit sign, Whenever a "Speed" sign is damaged or vandalized in Beaverton city limits, a "Speed Limit" sign takes its place.

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 despite widespread public approval. 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. 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. Prior to the National Maximum Speed Law, the speed limit on Oregon interstates could be as high as 75 mph. Oregon 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.

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 fact, it is likely that this law has led to a reduced acceptance of school speed limits, regardless of how and when they are in effect[citation needed]. 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 p.m.). School crossings with flashing yellow lights remain. In many communities, school zones are strictly enforced and speed traps in these areas are commonly employed to generate revenue.

Pennsylvania

In 1940, when the Pennsylvania Turnpike was opened between Irwin and Carlisle, the entire 110 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 area 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, 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.

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, 35 mph (56 km/h) for major roads in residential areas, 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,[122] though the minimum is only sporadically posted. This is apparently not enforced in areas with steep grades as signs are posted which only 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).[123]

Section 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."

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.[25]

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. It is 6 lanes from SC 327 to I-20. It is one of three states (Pennsylvania at 55 mph and New Hampshire at 65 mph are the others) from Maine to Florida in which I-95 retains one speed limit throughout the entire state, from North Carolina to Georgia at 70 mph.

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 by default 55 mph. 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.

In November 2009, a South Carolina lawmaker announced plans to push for an 80 mph speed limit on several interstates, an increase of 10 mph from the current maximum of 70 mph.[124] There is little chance it will win support in the South Carolina legislature.

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.[125]

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 mph.

Four-lane roadways regardless whether they are "control access" or not are posted as high as 65 mph but are generally found to be a 55 mph. These are often hotbeds for speed camera enforcement leading into a municipality.[citation needed]

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.

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 greatly weaken TennDOT's ability to sign predictable speed limits in a reasonable and prudent matter.[citation needed] Also, Tennessee has a high percentage of roadways maintained by the counties.

Several counties, including Anderson, Blount, Hamilton, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, Sevier, Shelby, and Sullivan counties, have enacted environmental speed limits, affecting rural freeways. These restrictions cap speed limits at 65 mph (55 mph for trucks). Although the Nashville Metropolitan Area is the state's largest, Davidson County has yet to impose a similar speed limit. Since Nashville encompasses nearly all of the county, speeds are limited to 55 mph or 65 mph (with no separate truck restrictions) along most (but not all) of the county's freeways.

Prior to 1974, the maximum speed limit on Tennessee's Interstate highways was 75 mph day and 65 at night for cars and 65 mph day and 55 at 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

Main article: Speed limits in 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.

Texas is the only state that does not prescribe a different speed limit for each road type in the state highway system. Any rural road—two lane, four lane, freeway, or otherwise—that is numbered by the state or federal government (United States Numbered Highways and Interstate Highways) has a 70 mph (113 km/h) statutory limit.[39]

Texas law generally has 60 mph statutory limits for all county roads and 30 mph limits for all city roads.

The law allows reducing the statutory limit only if a study recommends a different limit.[126]

Texas allows a 75 mph speed limit to be posted on virtually any road provided that 75 mph is determined to be a reasonable and safe speed for that part of the highway system.[127] As of summer 2011, The Texas Department of Transportation is reviewing 50,000 miles of highway that are currently posted at 70 mph for a possible increase to 75 mph. TxDOT expects this process to be completed, and all new 75 mph speed limits to be posted, by early 2013.[128]

Texas formerly had a 60 mph (97 km/h) day/55 mph (89 km/h) night truck speed limit. This speed limit did not apply to buses or to trucks transporting United States Postal Service mail. This was partly repealed in 1999 and fully repealed in 2011.

Night speed limits

Before September 1, 2011, Texas statutorily prescribed a 65 mph (105 km/h) night speed limit on all roads with a higher daytime limit.[39] As of September 1, 2011, Texas abolished night speed limits.[127]

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[129] 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.[130] This was instituted as part of a plan to reduce smog-forming emissions in areas out of compliance with the federal Clean Air Act.[131]

Initial studies found that lower speed limits could bring the areas roughly 1.5% closer to compliance.[132] 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.[133]

In mid-2002, all speed limits in the Houston–Galveston area were capped at 55 mph (89 km/h).[134] Facing immense opposition,[135][136] poor compliance,[137] and the finding that lowered speed limits produced only a fraction of the originally estimated emissions reductions,[138] the TCEQ relented and reverted to the 5 mph reduction scheme.[139]

Due to the enormous unpopularity of a 55 mph speed limit cap that was imposed on the greater Houston area in 2002, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality examined alternatives. Analysis suggested that the vast majority of emissions reductions from a 55 mph limit was 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 indefinitely; no new miles of roadway may be subjected to environmental speed limits, however.[140]

This law has allowed interesting inconsistencies. Generally, all primary arterial roads within the inner loops of Texas cities have speed limits of 60 mph (95 km/h) or lower, so they were not subjected to environmental speed limits. Arterial roads between the inner loop and the outer loop generally have 65 mph (105 km/h) limits, and arterial roads outside the outer loop generally have 70 mph (113 km/h) limits.[citation needed] (Note that this is only the typical pattern and is not prescribed by law.) In at least one case—TX 121 between I-35W and I-820 in Ft. Worth—the speed limit rises from 60 mph to 65 mph as one crosses I-820 approaching downtown,[citation needed] contravening the standard.

2009–2010 relaxation of environmental speed limits

In 2009, the North Texas Tollway Authority generally raised the speed limit by 10 mph on two tollways. Several miles of these tollways originally had 60 mph environmental speed limits. They were re-zoned for 70 mph.[141] These 70 mph limits exceeded what is allowable under the environmental speed limit regime.[142] NTTA was allowed to raise the speed limits by offsetting the higher limits' theoretical emissions increases with other transportation-related emissions reduction measures.[143]

In response to this development, the TCEQ has switched the Dallas/Fort Worth area's environmental speed limits to a "transportation control measure".[144] Effectively, instead of explicitly requiring the reduced speed limits, the State Implementation Plan only requires the reduced limits' theoretical emissions reductions. This makes it far simpler to eliminate environmental speed limits as long as some other, novel emissions reduction measure offsets the higher limits' theoretical emissions increase.

File:IMG 3389 80mph i20 9 mi w of pecos 2007-01-11.jpg
Example of 70 mph truck speed limit sign immediately behind an 80 mph speed limit sign.

80 mph limits

Texas statutorily allows 80 mph (129 km/h) speed limits on I-20 and I-10 in certain counties named in the statute, all of which happen to be rural, in west Texas, and have a low population density.[126]

Texas Legislator Pete Gallego unveiling a new 80 mph speed limit sign on Interstate 10 near Fort Stockton, Texas.

On May 25, 2006, the Texas Transportation Commission has approved 80 mph speed limits,[145] and signs are posted.

In a widely printed Associated Press story about the 80 mph speed limit,[146] Texas is incorrectly reported as having legalized 75 mph limits in 1999. In fact, the bill that would have done this, HB 3328[147] by Pete Gallego, died in conference committee just before the Texas Legislature's session ended. This bill would have, in effect, set 75 mph as the statutory speed limit on any rural road numbered by the state or federal government, and it would have enacted—not simply allowed—an 80 mph speed limit on I-10 and I-20 in any county with fewer than 25,000 residents.

While Texas's 80 mph limit is higher than any limit authorized by another state except Utah, it is lower than the 130 km/h recommended speed on the Autobahn and the actual 130 km/h rural expressway speed limit in thirteen other European countries.[148]

85 mph limits

As of June 17, 2011, Texas statutorily allows 85 mph limits on any part of its state highway system, provided that that part of the highway system is designed to accommodate travel at 85 mph or higher, and that 85 mph is found to be a reasonable and safe speed for that part of the highway system.[2] As of September 2011, TxDOT has not announced plans to evaluate any roads for a potential 85 mph speed limit.

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 twenty miles per hour.[149]

"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 ten miles per hour within towns.[149]

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 65 mph in cities and, on most highways, 75 mph elsewhere. In January 2009, the speed limit on two sections of I-15 together totaling 35 miles was raised to 80 mph as a "test."[150] Although still posted as "experimental", the Utah DOT announced at the end of 2009 that the test had been successful [151] and the speed limit is still posted as 80 mph.

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."[152] "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."[153] 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."[153] This provision allows speed limits of up to 70 mph on Interstate highways; multilane, divided, limited-access highways; and high-occupancy vehicle lanes if said lanes are physically separated from the regular travel lanes. (As of July 2010, Virginia has two such barrier-separated HOV facilities, one on I-95 and I-395 and the other on I-64.) The statute also allows 60-mph speed limits on a number of specified non-limited access, multilane, divided highways.[153]

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."[154] 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).[155] 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.[156] Notably, while the amended statute allows 70-mph speed limits on routes other than Interstates, as of October 2010 VDOT had not considered any such roads for the higher speed limit. Even though there are 70-mph speed limits, traveling just 11 mph over that limit in such a zone is prosecutable as a misdemeanor with penalties of up to a $2,500 fine and/or 12 months in jail.[157][158]

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.

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.[159]

Virginia is the only US state that prohibits the use of radar detectors.

West Virginia

The speed limit for all vehicles in West Virginia is 55 mph unless otherwise posted. There are designated speeds set by law for highways and certain areas such as school zones, business and residential districts. Although speed limits are posted, a driver may not drive faster than is reasonable and prudent for conditions. In 1997 the speed limit of 65 mph on most interstates in West Virginia was increased. Now most West Virginia interstates have a posted speed limit of 70 mph for all vehicles with no truck or night speed limit with a few exceptions. A section of The West Virginia Turnpike through a very curvy portion is posted at 60 mph. I-64 is posted at 65 mph through Huntington, WV. Much of the interstate highways around Charleston, WV are posted at 60 mph due to the heavy urban traffic. There is a truck speed limit of 45 mph (along with other traffic at 70 mph) at the 7% downgrade of Sandstone Mountain on I-64. Divided multilane highways that are not interstates have a speed limit of 65 mph with a few cases of them having a limit of 55 mph (lower in urban areas.) An example of a multilane highway with a 65 mph limit in West Virginia would be U.S. Route 19/Mountaineer Expressway. 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 (depending on where the road is, width, lanes, traffic, etc.) Until 2011, school zones in West Virginia had a statutory speed limit of 15 mph no matter the normal speed of the road. Implemented at the start of the 2011-2012 school year, roads with a speed limit of 55 mph or higher now have an advisory speed of 35 mph in school zones when children are present. A school zone includes 200 feet abutting in both directions of the school or school entrance road. Speed limits may be changed due to construction. Work zone speed limits vary, usually dropping about 15 mph from the original speed limit. All penalties are doubled for traffic violations in a work zone.

Wisconsin

The state of Wisconsin's speed limits are set out in statutory law but may often be modified by the maintaining government entity.[160] 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.[161] Although there is no numeric minimum speed limit, state law prohibits the impediment of traffic by unreasonably slow speeds.[162] Vehicles which lack rubber tires filled with compressed air have a hard limit of 15 mph.[163]

The state of Wisconsin has four default speed limits.[164] 15 mph limits apply in school zones, 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. 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.

Along with the aforementioned default speed limits, there are other statutory speed limits which more often require signs to be effective.[164] 65 mph limits on freeways and 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.

References

  1. ^ "First Speed Law in America" Popular Mechanics, December 1930
  2. ^ a b http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=82R&Bill=HB1201
  3. ^ Alabama Department of Public Safety rem New link for Alabama DPS Speed Limits http://www.dps.alabama.gov/Home/wfContentTableColumned.aspx?ID=40&PLH1=HPSPEEDLIMITS
  4. ^ American Samoa Code Section 22.0323 [1], and Frommer's [2]
  5. ^ Arizona Statutes Chapter 3 Article 6 State Legislature
  6. ^ "Subchapter VIII. Speed Restrictions". Delaware State Legislature. May 19, 2008.
  7. ^ District of Columbia Municipal Regulations Title 18 - Vehicle and Traffic (March 1997) , chapter 22 "Moving Violations" [3][4]
  8. ^ http://www.dot.state.fl.us/trafficoperations/FAQs/SpeedLimitFAQ.shtm
  9. ^ "HB 674 - Maximus Speed Limots; vehicles having greater than 6 wheels". Georgia House of Representatives. May 21, 2008.
  10. ^ Guam Code Annotated Title 16 Chapter 3 Article 3 § 3301.[5], [6] and [7]
  11. ^ "SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE APPROVES SPEED LIMIT INCREASE". Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. February 1, 2006.
  12. ^ a b "Public Michigan Vehicle code: Speed Restrictions". Michigan Legislature. November 9, 2006. Retrieved April 30, 2007.
  13. ^ 169.14, Minnesota Statute
  14. ^ HEAT Speed Management Program
  15. ^ http://www.nebraskatransportation.org/docs/speed-limit.pdf
  16. ^ "Chapter 4 Safe Driving Rules & Regulations, (N.J.S.A. 39:4-98)". New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. April 24, 2008.
  17. ^ "Appendix A Designated 65mph Roadway Segments" (PDF). State of New Jersey & New Jersey Department of Transportation. April 24, 2008.
  18. ^ [New Mexico Statutes Chapter 66 Article 7 part 4 Mexico State Legislature or nmlaws.org
  19. ^ "North Carolina General Statutes § 20-141(d)(2). Speed restrictions" (PDF). North Carolina State Legislature. April 23, 2008.
  20. ^ "NCDOT, Strategic Highway Corridors, Facility Types and Control Of Access Definitions". North Carolina Department Of Transportation. April 23, 2008.
  21. ^ "North Carolina General Statutes § 20-141. Speed restrictions". North Carolina State Legislature. April 23, 2008.
  22. ^ http://www.legis.nd.gov/cencode/t39c09.pdf
  23. ^ http://www.dot.nd.gov/spdzones.html
  24. ^ http://onlinedocs.andersonpublishing.com/oh/lpExt.dll?f=templates&fn=main-h.htm&cp=PORC
  25. ^ a b § 5122. Maximum lawful speed limits and penalties., Subchapter IV, Chapter 27, Title 9 of the Laws of Puerto Rico [8]
  26. ^ "Rhode Island Division Of Motor Vehicles: General Information". State Of Rhode Island, Division Of Motor Vehicles. May 27, 2008.
  27. ^ "S.C. Code Of Laws Title 56 Chapter 5 Uniform Act Regulating Traffic On Highways". South Carolina State Legislature. May 1, 2008.
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  29. ^ "What are the speed limits in South Dakota?". South Dakota Highway Patrol. Retrieved July 2, 2009.
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  31. ^ http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=5241169
  32. ^ Va. Code § 46.2-870
  33. ^ Wisconsin Statute 346.57
  34. ^ Wyoming Statutes
  35. ^ Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code Chapter 33
  36. ^ TRANSPORTATION CODE CHAPTER 542. GENERAL PROVISIONS
  37. ^ TRANSPORTATION CODE CHAPTER 542. GENERAL PROVISIONS
  38. ^ TRANSPORTATION CODE CHAPTER 545. OPERATION AND MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES
  39. ^ a b c TRANSPORTATION CODE CHAPTER 545. OPERATION AND MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES
  40. ^ CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CHAPTER 45. JUSTICE AND MUNICIPAL COURTS
  41. ^ CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CHAPTER 45. JUSTICE AND MUNICIPAL COURTS
  42. ^ TRANSPORTATION CODE CHAPTER 708. DRIVER RESPONSIBILITY PROGRAM
  43. ^ Revised Statutes - Browse Document
  44. ^ Va. Code § 18.2-11
  45. ^ Va. Code § 46.2-873
  46. ^ Va. Code § 46.2-878.1
  47. ^ Va. Code § 46.2-874.1
  48. ^ Va. Code § 46.2-862
  49. ^ Va. Code § 46.2-861
  50. ^ Va. Code § 46.2-878
  51. ^ Va. Code § 46.2-492
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  53. ^ table V-4
  54. ^ Managing Speed: Review of Current Practices for Setting and Enforcing Speed Limits
  55. ^ The Unsafe Driving Acts of Motorists in the Vicinity of Large Trucks
  56. ^ FHWA - MUTCD - 2003 Edition Revision 1 Chapter 2B
  57. ^ MUTCD and metric road signs in the US
  58. ^ New York Roads - I-87 - Northway
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  62. ^ U.S. federal government brochure
  63. ^ Synthesis of Safety Research Related to Speed, Publication No. FHWA-RD-98-154
  64. ^ Vehicular Stability Systems (VSS) - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
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  66. ^ State Traffic and Speed Laws
  67. ^ http://www.le.utah.gov/UtahCode/getCodeSection?code=41-6a-601
  68. ^ Section 32-5A-171
  69. ^ 65 mph on most of George Parks Hwy between Anchorage and Fairbanks. Also 65 mph on Alaska Hwy between Tok and Fairbanks. Transportation & Public Facilities, Alaska Department of. "Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities Winter Transportation Study" (PDF). Retrieved April 18, 2009.
  70. ^ a b Arizona Statutes Chapter 3 Article 6 28-701 State Legislature
  71. ^ Arizona Statutes Chapter 3 Article 6 28-701.02, 28-702.01, 28-702.04 State Legislature
  72. ^ Arizona Statutes Chapter 3 Article 6 28-709 State Legislature
  73. ^ section 22350-22351
  74. ^ Speed Law Violations California Vehicle Code, section 22351(b)
  75. ^ Brown, David W. (2005). "Speed Violations and Radar". Fight Your Ticket & Win in California (11th edition ed.). Berkeley, CA: Nolo. pp. 4/2. ISBN 9781413306415. {{cite book}}: |edition= has extra text (help)
  76. ^ Brown, David W. (2005). "Speed Violations and Radar". Fight Your Ticket & Win in California (11th edition ed.). Berkeley, CA: Nolo. pp. 4/10. ISBN 9781413306415. {{cite book}}: |edition= has extra text (help)
  77. ^ WAIS Document Retrieval
  78. ^ Connecticut General Statutes §14-220
  79. ^ "Tamiami Trail—Miami to the Western Everglades". Retrieved August 13, 2008.
  80. ^ http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.183.html
  81. ^ Honolulu Star-Bulletin Hawaii News
  82. ^ Hawaii Highways - FAQs page 2
  83. ^ http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/96/SB/09600SB3668sam002.htm
  84. ^ http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/11000/11100/11138/KSU983.pdf
  85. ^ http://www.kansas.com/2011/04/20/1815851/top-kansas-speed-limit-rising.html
  86. ^ http://www.ksdot.org/PDF_Files/Kansas-routes-designated-for-75-mph-speed-limit.pdf
  87. ^ "Governor Fletcher Signs Speed Limit Bill" (Press release). Commonwealth of Kentucky. March 21, 2007. Retrieved March 22, 2007.
  88. ^ Lower Speed Limits and Lane Restrictions for Trucks on I-10 over Atchafalaya Basin
  89. ^ [12] -Louisiana divided highway speed limit.
  90. ^ The Advocate: I-49 speed limit increased to 75 mph Retrieved 2011-09-14.
  91. ^ nola.com: Interstate 49 speed limit increased to 75 mph between central, north Louisiana Posted 2011-07-11; retrieved 2011-09-14.
  92. ^ La. DOTD: DOTD announces speed limit increase along I-49 in DeSoto Parish Retrieved 2011-04-13.
  93. ^ La. DOTD: DOTD announces speed limit increase along I-49 in Avoyelles, Natchitoches and Rapides parishes Retrieved 2011-09-14.
  94. ^ {{cite news}}: Empty citation (help)
  95. ^ Lawmakers OK 75-mph speed limit between Old Town, Houlton, Bangor Daily News, June 29, 2011
  96. ^ Miller, Kevin (May 12, 2011). "Bill would boost speed limit to 75 mph on northern highway". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
  97. ^ "NMA Michigan". National Motorist Association. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
  98. ^ HB 3 (As Sent to Governor)
  99. ^ Mississippi Code §63-3-509
  100. ^ Missouri Revised Statutes §304-011
  101. ^ FindLaw for Legal Professionals - Case Law, Federal and State Resources, Forms, and Code
  102. ^ Official Montana Department of Transportation site
  103. ^ Section 4 Language of the road: signs, signals and pavement markings
  104. ^ history of speed limits, Ibiblio, 1998
  105. ^ New Mexico Statutes Chapter 66 Article 7 Part 4 Statute 66-7-301 (and in subsequent references -303, -305, -308, -311, -316, -317) New Mexico State Legislature or nmlaws.org
  106. ^ New Mexico Statutes Chapter 66 Article 7 Part 4 Statute 66-7-305, -308, -311, -316, -317 New Mexico State Legislature or nmlaws.org
  107. ^ New Mexico Statutes Chapter 66 Article 7 Part 4 Statute 66-7-301, -303 New Mexico State Legislature or nmlaws.org
  108. ^ City of Santa Fe Code Chapter XXIV ExhibitA 12-6-1.2A
  109. ^ http://public.leginfo.state.ny.us/LAWSSEAF.cgi?QUERYTYPE=LAWS+&QUERYDATA=$$VAT1180$$@TXVAT01180+&LIST=LAW+&BROWSER=BROWSER+&TOKEN=18192391+&TARGET=VIEW
  110. ^ NYS DMV drivers Handbook
  111. ^ http://public.leginfo.state.ny.us/LAWSSEAF.cgi?QUERYTYPE=LAWS+&QUERYDATA=$$CPL140.10$$@TXCPL0140.10+&LIST=LAW+&BROWSER=BROWSER+&TOKEN=18192391+&TARGET=VIEW
  112. ^ North Carolina General Statutes §20-141(c)
  113. ^ "Speed Limit Laws". Ohio Insurance Institute. Retrieved November 4, 2008. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  114. ^ http://www.landlinemag.com/Special_Reports/2009/Apr09/040209_ohio_split.htm
  115. ^ "Ohio Governor Signs $10B transportation budget". examiner.com. Retrieved April 5, 2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) [dead link]
  116. ^ "Governor Signs Transportation Budget Bill". Ohio.gov. Retrieved April 5, 2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  117. ^ "Effective Dates of Legislation" (PDF). Ohio.gov. Retrieved April 11, 2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  118. ^ http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/4511.21
  119. ^ "Bill would increase Ohio's speed limit to 70 mph". Dispatch.com. Retrieved July 3, 2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  120. ^ Ewinger, James (December 20, 2010). "Ohio Turnpike Commission votes to raise toll road's speed limit to 70 mph". Cleveland Plain Dealer. Retrieved December 20, 2010.
  121. ^ "Chapter 3" (PDF). oregon.gov. Retrieved 2010-12-08). {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  122. ^ [13]
  123. ^ [14]
  124. ^ http://www.foxcharlotte.com/dpp/news/south_carolina_higher_speed_limit_112109
  125. ^ http://www.sddot.com/pe/data/Docs/SPEED2006.pdf
  126. ^ a b TRANSPORTATION CODE CHAPTER 545. OPERATION AND MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES
  127. ^ a b http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=82R&Bill=HB1353
  128. ^ http://txdot.gov/news/032-2011.htm
  129. ^ "Texas Transportation Commission meeting minutes". Texas Department of Transportation. May 25, 2000. Retrieved July 24, 2007. Search for words "environmental speed limits", and refer to the paragraphs containing the first instance of the word and subsequent paragraphs.
  130. ^ http://www.tnrcc.state.tx.us/oprd/sips/speedlimit.html
  131. ^ Vehicular Speed-Limit Reduction - Texas Commission on Environmental Quality - www.tceq.state.tx.us
  132. ^ Effectiveness of ESLs
  133. ^ Letter to EPA about Environmental Speed Limits
  134. ^ http://www.tnrcc.state.tx.us/oprd/sips/dec2000hga.html
  135. ^ http://www.ghasp.org/publications/55chronicle.html
  136. ^ Scientist testifies against 55 mph speed limit - by Environment & Climate News staff - The Heartland Institute
  137. ^ TTI: Groups: :
  138. ^ EPA Region 6 News Release: Speed Limits in Houston/Galveston Area May Be Increased 11/04/2002
  139. ^ http://www.tnrcc.state.tx.us/oprd/sips/dec2002hga.html
  140. ^ ;North Central Texas Council of Governments - NCTCOG.org
  141. ^ http://www.ntta.org/NR/rdonlyres/60659628-D501-4A53-842A-79C81A6C4D72/0/SpeedLimits_raisedonPGBTDNT_FAQ.pdf
  142. ^ For clarity, a substantial portion of NTTA roadways were never subjected to environmental speed limits, including the parts of the Dallas North Tollway which never had a 65 mph or higher limit or any road segment opened after the Texas Legislature's prospective environmental speed limit ban.
  143. ^ http://www.ntta.org/NR/rdonlyres/D3CC0131-2958-463C-92B6-AAA1EF4CE202/0/20090810speedlimits.pdf
  144. ^ http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/assets/public/implementation/air/sip/dfw/080610/SIP_WEB_06AUG10.pdf
  145. ^ TxDOT Odessa District News Release
  146. ^ FOXNews.com - Texas Raises Rural Speed Limits to 80 MPH - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News
  147. ^ http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/cgi-bin/db2www/tlo/billhist/billhist.d2w/report?LEG=76&SESS=R&CHAMBER=H&BILLTYPE=B&BILLSUFFIX=03328
  148. ^ http://wiki.riteme.site/wiki/Speed_limit#Table
  149. ^ a b Section 494.speed limits, Chapter 43, Part II, Title 20 of the Virgin Islands Code [15]
  150. ^ Arave, Lynn (January 9, 2009). Speed limit of 80 mph now legal on parts of I-15. Deseret News (retrieved February 4, 2009).
  151. ^ http://autos.aol.com/article/utah-speed-limit-tests/
  152. ^ Va. Code § 46.2-870, "Maximum speed limits generally"
  153. ^ a b c Id.
  154. ^ Va. Dept. of Transportation, Speed Limits, [16] (posted June 7, 2010; accessed June 16, 2010).
  155. ^ Stretch of I-295 will have 70-mph speed limit. Richmond Times-Dispatch (2010-06-25, retrieved July 1, 2010).
  156. ^ Gov. McDonnell: Interstate speed limits can increase to 70 mph. Roanoke Times (2010-10-20, retrieved 2010-10-20).
  157. ^ Virginia code 46.2-862 retrieved 2011/01/14
  158. ^ Law firm summary of Reckless Driving in Virginia retrieved 2011/01/14
  159. ^ Va. Code § 46.2-877, "Minimum speed limits"
  160. ^ Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 346 "Rules of the Road", Subchapter IX, "Speed Restrictions" §57 (346.57)
  161. ^ Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 346 "Rules of the Road", Subchapter IX "Speed Restrictions" §57 subsections 2 & 3 (346.57)
  162. ^ Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 346 "Rules of the Road", Subchapter IX "Speed Restrictions" §59 "Minimum speed regulation" (346.59)
  163. ^ Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 346 "Rules of the Road", Subchapter IX "Speed Restrictions" §58 "Special speed restrictions for certain vehicles" (346.58)
  164. ^ a b Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 346 "Rules of the Road", Subchapter IX "Speed Restrictions" §57 subsection 4 (346.57)

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