Speed limits in the United States

Speed limits in the United States are set by each state or territory. Highway speed limits can range from an urban low of 35 mph (56 km/h) to a rural high of 85 mph (137 km/h). Speed limits are typically posted in increments of five miles per hour (8 km/h). Some states have lower limits for trucks and at night, and occasionally there are minimum speed limits. Most speed limits are set by state or local statute, although each state allows various subdivisions (counties and municipalities) to set a different, generally lower, limit.

The highest speed limits are generally 70 mph (113 km/h) on the West Coast and the inland eastern states, 75–80 mph (121–129 km/h) in inland western states, along with Louisiana, and 65–70 mph (105–113 km/h) on the Eastern Seaboard. Alaska has a maximum limit of 65 mph (105 km/h), and Hawaii has a maximum limit of 60 mph (97 km/h). Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands have a maximum speed limit of 55 mph (89 km/h), and Guam and the Samoa have speed limits of 45 mph (72 km/h). Unusual for a state east of the Mississippi, much of I-95 in Maine north of Bangor allows up to 75 mph (121 km/h). Although Nevada law has allowed speed limits up to 80 mph (129 km/h) since October 2015, no 80 mph (129 km/h) limit had been posted in Nevada as of August 2016. Portions of the Idaho, Montana, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming road networks have 80 mph (129 km/h) posted limits. The highest posted speed limit in the entire country can be found in one single stretch of rural freeway in Texas, and it is 85 mph (137 km/h).

For 13 years (January 1974^[1]–April 1987^[2][3]), federal law prohibited speed limits above 55 mph (89 km/h). From April 1987 through December 8, 1995, an amended federal law prohibited speed limits above 65 mph (105 km/h).

A standard sign indicating a speed limit of 80 miles per hour (mph), a night-time speed limit of 65 mph, and a truck speed limit of 55 mph

A speed limit sign entering a school zone, along with a warning light above

Variety used in Oregon, omitting the word LIMIT. The typeface of the numerals varies significantly due to its non-standard design. See Oregon speed limits.

Overview

Speed limits

This table contains the most usual posted 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.

Legend:
Freeway: Interstate Highway or other state or U.S. Route built to Interstate standards. Divided rural: State or U.S. route, generally with four or more lanes, not built to Interstate standards, but with a median or other divider separating directions of travel. Undivided rural: County, State, or U.S. route, generally with two to four lanes, with no separator between directions of travel. Residential Street/residential: Residential streets, business districts, or School zones.
5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h) 10 miles per hour (16 km/h) 15 miles per hour (24 km/h) 20 miles per hour (32 km/h) 25 miles per hour (40 km/h)	30 miles per hour (48 km/h) 35 miles per hour (56 km/h). 40 miles per hour (64 km/h) 45 miles per hour (72 km/h) 50 miles per hour (80 km/h) 55 miles per hour (89 km/h)	60 miles per hour (97 km/h) 65 miles per hour (105 km/h) 70 miles per hour (110 km/h) 75 miles per hour (121 km/h) 80 miles per hour (130 km/h) 85 miles per hour (137 km/h)

State or territory	Freeway (rural)	Freeway (trucks)	Freeway (urban)	Divided (rural)	Undivided (rural)	Residential
Alabama[4]	65–70 mph (105–113 km/h)		55–65 mph (89–105 km/h)	65 mph (105 km/h)	35–55 mph (56–89 km/h)	15–25 mph (24–40 km/h)
Alaska	55–65 mph (89–105 km/h)		55–65 mph (89–105 km/h)	55–65 mph (89–105 km/h)	45–65 mph (72–105 km/h)	20–25 mph (32–40 km/h)
American Samoa[5]	–	–	–	45 mph (72 km/h)	25–45 mph (40–72 km/h)	15 mph (24 km/h)
Arizona[6]	65–75 mph (105–121 km/h)		55–65 mph (89–105 km/h)	65 mph (105 km/h)	45–65 mph (72–105 km/h)	15–25 mph (24–40 km/h)
Arkansas	70 mph (113 km/h)		65 mph (105 km/h)	65 mph (105 km/h)	55–60 mph (89–97 km/h)	30 mph (48 km/h)
California	65–70 mph (105–113 km/h)	55 mph (89 km/h)	50–65 mph (80–105 km/h)	55–65 mph (89–105 km/h)[7]	50–65 mph (80–105 km/h)	25–30 mph (40–48 km/h)
Colorado	65–75 mph (105–121 km/h)		55–65 mph (89–105 km/h)	55–65 mph (89–105 km/h)	35–65 mph (56–105 km/h)	20–35 mph (32–56 km/h)
Connecticut	65 mph (105 km/h)		45–65 mph (72–105 km/h)	55 mph (89 km/h)	45–55 mph (72–89 km/h)	20–40 mph (32–64 km/h)
Delaware[8]	65 mph (105 km/h)		50–65 mph (80–105 km/h)	55 mph (89 km/h)	50 mph (80 km/h)	20–35 mph (32–56 km/h)
District of Columbia[9]	–	–	45–55 mph (72–89 km/h)	–	–	15–25 mph (24–40 km/h)
Florida[10]	70 mph (113 km/h)		50–70 mph (80–113 km/h)	45–65 mph (72–105 km/h)	25–60 mph (40–97 km/h)	10–50 mph (16–80 km/h)
Georgia[11]	70 mph (113 km/h)		50–70 mph (80–113 km/h)	65 mph (105 km/h)	55 mph (89 km/h)	25–45 mph (40–72 km/h)
Guam[12]	–	–	–	35–45 mph (56–72 km/h)	35–45 mph (56–72 km/h)
Hawaii	55–60 mph (89–97 km/h)		35–55 mph (56–89 km/h)	45–55 mph (72–89 km/h)	45–60 mph (72–97 km/h)	25 mph (40 km/h)
Idaho	65–80 mph (105–129 km/h)	70 mph (113 km/h)	45–65 mph (72–105 km/h)	65–70 mph (105–113 km/h)	55–70 mph (89–113 km/h)	25–30 mph (40–48 km/h)
Illinois	70 mph (113 km/h)		45–65 mph (72–105 km/h)	65 mph (105 km/h)	55 mph (89 km/h)	20–30 mph (32–48 km/h)
Indiana	70 mph (113 km/h)	65 mph (105 km/h)	55–65 mph (89–105 km/h)	50–60 mph (80–97 km/h)	50–55 mph (80–89 km/h)	20–30 mph (32–48 km/h)
Iowa	70 mph (113 km/h)		55–65 mph (89–105 km/h)	65 mph (105 km/h)	45–55 mph (72–89 km/h)	25 mph (40 km/h)
Kansas	75 mph (121 km/h)		65 mph (105 km/h)	65–70 mph (105–113 km/h)	55–65 mph (89–105 km/h)	20–30 mph (32–48 km/h)
Kentucky[13]	70 mph (113 km/h)		55–65 mph (89–105 km/h)	55–65 mph (89–105 km/h)	55 mph (89 km/h)	25–45 mph (40–72 km/h)
Louisiana[14]	60–75 mph (97–121 km/h)		50–60 mph (80–97 km/h)	55–65 mph (89–105 km/h)	45–55 mph (72–89 km/h)	10–45 mph (16–72 km/h)
Maine	70–75 mph (113–121 km/h)		50–65 mph (80–105 km/h)	—	45–55 mph (72–89 km/h)	25 mph (40 km/h)
Maryland	65–70 mph (105–113 km/h)		40–65 mph (64–105 km/h)	55 mph (89 km/h)	50–55 mph (80–89 km/h)	15–25 mph (24–40 km/h)
Massachusetts	55–65 mph (89–105 km/h)		55 mph (89 km/h)	55 mph (89 km/h)	45–55 mph (72–89 km/h)	20–30 mph (32–48 km/h)
Michigan[15]	70 mph (113 km/h)	60 mph (97 km/h)	55–70 mph (89–113 km/h)	55–65 mph (89–105 km/h)	55 mph (89 km/h)	25 mph (40 km/h)
Minnesota[16][17]	65 mph (105 km/h) (70 mph (110 km/h) Interstates)		45–65 mph (72–105 km/h)	65 mph (105 km/h)	55–60 mph (89–97 km/h)	30 mph (48 km/h)
Mississippi	70 mph (113 km/h)		60 mph (97 km/h)	65 mph (105 km/h)	55 mph (89 km/h)	25 mph (40 km/h)
Missouri	70 mph (113 km/h)		45–65 mph (72–105 km/h)	60–70 mph (97–113 km/h)	55–65 mph (89–105 km/h)	25–40 mph (40–64 km/h)
Montana	75–80 mph (121–129 km/h)	65 mph (105 km/h)	65 mph (105 km/h)	65–70 mph (105–113 km/h)	55–70 mph (89–113 km/h) (55–65 mph (89–105 km/h) Trucks)	15–25 mph (24–40 km/h)
Nebraska[18]	75 mph (121 km/h)		55–65 mph (89–105 km/h)	65 mph (105 km/h)	60–65 mph (97–105 km/h)	25 mph (40 km/h)
Nevada	65–75 mph (105–121 km/h)[19][20] [lower-alpha 1]		55–65 mph (89–105 km/h)	55–75 mph (89–121 km/h)	55–70 mph (89–113 km/h)	15–30 mph (24–48 km/h)
New Hampshire	65–70 mph (105–113 km/h)		35–65 mph (56–105 km/h)	55 mph (89 km/h)	35–55 mph (56–89 km/h)	20–30 mph (32–48 km/h)
New Jersey[21][22]	65 mph (105 km/h)		50–65 mph (80–105 km/h)	55 mph (89 km/h)	30–55 mph (48–89 km/h)	15–35 mph (24–56 km/h)
New Mexico[23]	75 mph (121 km/h)		55–75 mph (89–121 km/h)	55–75 mph (89–121 km/h)	55–65 mph (89–105 km/h)	15–55 mph (24–89 km/h)
New York[24]	65 mph (105 km/h)		35–55 mph (56–89 km/h)	45–55 mph (72–89 km/h)	35–55 mph (56–89 km/h)	15–45 mph (24–72 km/h)
North Carolina[25][26]	65–70 mph (105–113 km/h)		50–60 mph (80–97 km/h)	55–60 mph (89–97 km/h)[27]	55 mph (89 km/h)	20–35 mph (32–56 km/h)
North Dakota[28][29]	75 mph (121 km/h)		55–60 mph (89–97 km/h)	70 mph (113 km/h)	55–70 mph (89–113 km/h)	15–25 mph (24–40 km/h)
Ohio[30][31]	70 mph (113 km/h)		50–65 mph (80–105 km/h)	55–70 mph (89–113 km/h)[32][33]	45–55 mph (72–89 km/h)	20–35 mph (32–56 km/h)
Oklahoma	70 mph (113 km/h) (75 mph (121 km/h) turnpikes)		55–70 mph (89–113 km/h)	60–70 mph (97–113 km/h)	45–65 mph (72–105 km/h)	25 mph (40 km/h)
Oregon	65–70 mph (105–113 km/h)	65 mph (105 km/h)	50–65 mph (80–105 km/h)	55–70 mph (89–113 km/h)	55–70 mph (89–113 km/h)	20–25 mph (32–40 km/h)
Pennsylvania	65–70 mph (105–113 km/h)		40–65 mph (64–105 km/h)	55 mph (89 km/h)	40–55 mph (64–89 km/h)	15–35 mph (24–56 km/h)
Puerto Rico[34]	60–65 mph (97–105 km/h)	50–55 mph (80–89 km/h)	50 mph (80 km/h)	55 mph (89 km/h)	45–55 mph (72–89 km/h)	15–35 mph (24–56 km/h)
Rhode Island[35]	65 mph (105 km/h)		50–55 mph (80–89 km/h)	55 mph (89 km/h)	50 mph (80 km/h)	20–25 mph (32–40 km/h)
South Carolina[36]	70 mph (113 km/h)		60–70 mph (97–113 km/h)	55–60 mph (89–97 km/h)	55 mph (89 km/h)	30 mph (48 km/h)
South Dakota[37][38]	75–80 mph (121–129 km/h)		65 mph (105 km/h)	65–70 mph (105–113 km/h)	55–65 mph (89–105 km/h)	15–45 mph (24–72 km/h)
Tennessee	65–70 mph (105–113 km/h)		55–65 mph (89–105 km/h)	55–65 mph (89–105 km/h)	35–55 mph (56–89 km/h)	30 mph (48 km/h)
Texas	75–85 mph (121–137 km/h)		60–75 mph (97–121 km/h)	75 mph (121 km/h)	60–75 mph (97–121 km/h)	25–55 mph (40–89 km/h)
U.S. Virgin Islands[39]	–		–	55 mph (89 km/h)	20–45 mph (32–72 km/h)	20 mph (32 km/h)
Utah[40][41]	75–80 mph (121–129 km/h)		55–75 mph (89–121 km/h)[42]	55–65 mph (89–105 km/h)[43]	55–65 mph (89–105 km/h)	20–35 mph (32–56 km/h)
Vermont	65 mph (105 km/h)		55 mph (89 km/h)	55 mph (89 km/h)	50–55 mph (80–89 km/h)
Virginia[44]	65–70 mph (105–113 km/h)		55–65 mph (89–105 km/h)	55–60 mph (89–97 km/h)	55 mph (89 km/h)	15–35 mph (24–56 km/h)
Washington	70 mph (113 km/h)[45]	60 mph (97 km/h)	60–65 mph (97–105 km/h)	60–70 mph (97–113 km/h)	55–65 mph (89–105 km/h)	20–50 mph (32–80 km/h)
West Virginia	60–70 mph (97–113 km/h)		55–65 mph (89–105 km/h)	65 mph (105 km/h)	55 mph (89 km/h)	15–55 mph (24–89 km/h)
Wisconsin[46]	70 mph (113 km/h)		55–65 mph (89–105 km/h)	65 mph (105 km/h)	55 mph (89 km/h)	15–35 mph (24–56 km/h)
Wyoming[47]	75–80 mph (121–129 km/h)		65–70 mph (105–113 km/h)	70 mph (113 km/h)	70 mph (113 km/h)	30 mph (48 km/h)

legend:
Freeway: Interstate Highway or other state- or federally numbered road built to Interstate standards. Divided: State- or federally numbered road, generally with four or more lanes, not built to Interstate standards, but with a median or other divider separating directions of travel. Undivided rural: County, State, or U.S. route, generally with two to four lanes, with no separator between directions of travel. Residential Street/residential: Residential streets, business districts, or School zones.
5 miles per hour (8 km/h) 10 miles per hour (16 km/h) 15 miles per hour (24 km/h) 20 miles per hour (32 km/h) 25 miles per hour (40 km/h)	30 miles per hour (48 km/h) 35 miles per hour (56 km/h) 40 miles per hour (64 km/h) 45 miles per hour (72 km/h) 50 miles per hour (80 km/h) 55 miles per hour (89 km/h)	60 miles per hour (97 km/h) 65 miles per hour (105 km/h) 70 miles per hour (113 km/h) 75 miles per hour (121 km/h) 80 miles per hour (129 km/h) 85 miles per hour (137 km/h)

Examples of related laws

State	Typical fine	Recklessness threshold or enhanced penalty	Absolute/prima facie	Ticket dismissal options	Point system
North Carolina	$10–$50 plus court costs.[48] Speeding fines in work zones and school zones are $250 plus court costs.	>15 mph over limit (at a travelled speed of greater than 55 mph) or over 80 mph	Absolute	Prayer for judgment continued (PJC) available depending on the court and subject to their discretion, but not available for charges of exceeding a speed limit by more than 25 mph.	Point system may lead to license suspension. Exceeding the speed limit by more than 15 mph with a speed of greater than 55 mph or travelling faster than 80 mph results in a minimum 30-day license suspension.[49]
Pennsylvania	$35[50] 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–$20[51] plus court fees. Doubled in active school zones when children are present or construction zones when workers are present.[52] Various additional "fees" assessed by the state essentially increase the fine by around $100 on all tickets.	None[53]	Prima facie[54]	Defensive driving[55] (once per year) or deferred disposition[56] (restrictions vary, but generally at least 4 per year), but only valid if: Texas resident, Speed < 25 mph above limit and < 95 mph, and Not in construction zone where workers are present or active school zone. Not a Commercial Driver License (CDL) holder.	Point system is annual surcharge only. No provision for license suspension if surcharges are paid.[57]
Rhode Island			Prima facie	One dismissal every 3 years for speed 14 mph or less over limit.[58]
Virginia	Up to $250[59] School zone: up to $250 additional[60] Work zone: up to $500[61] $200 civil penalty in certain towns[62]	20 mph over limit or over 80 mph[63] or.[64]	Absolute[65]		Point system[66] leading to fines, suspension, and mandatory driver education.[67]

History

One of the first speed limits in what would become the United States (at the time, still a British colony) was set in Boston in 1701 by the board of selectmen (similar to a city council):

Ordered, That no person whatsoever Shall at any time hereafter ride or drive a gallop or other extream pace within any of the Streets, lanes, or alleys in this Town on penalty of forfeiting three Shillings for every such offence, and it may be lawfull for any of the Inhabitants of this Town to make Stop of such horse or Rider untill the name of the offender be known in order to prosecution^[68]

Federal speed controls

In 1973, Congress enacted a national speed limit of 55 mph (89 km/h). Some states, such as Washington, enacted lower speed limits.

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

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

Minimum speed limits

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

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

Truck speed limits

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

Theory

The research record is mixed. A 1987 study finds that crash involvement significantly increases when trucks drive much slower than passenger vehicles,^[69] 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).^[70]

One study has claimed that two thirds (67%) of truck/passenger car crashes are the fault of the passenger vehicle.^[71]

Night speed limits

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

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

Examples include:

• Some streets in Tucson, Arizona without street lights.
• Some Florida roads near Southwest Florida International Airport near Cape Coral/Fort Myers. (Most of these roads are labeled as "Panther Zones" or "Panther X-ing" areas.)
• Daniels Parkway Ext., a four-lane divided highway near SW Florida International Airport with 50 mph daytime limit, and a night speed limit of 45 mph is considered by many to be a speed trap. This road joins neighboring SR 82, a two-lane road with a 60 mph speed limit.
• Colorado Highway 13, with a 65 mph day/55 mph night speed limit beginning 7.1 miles north of I-70 from north of Rifle to Colorado Highway 64 south of Meeker. Rural Colorado Highway 13 is 55 mph at night north of Meeker all the way to the Wyoming state line.

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

Political considerations

Inconsistency

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

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

• All 51 miles (82 km) of I-95 in Pennsylvania are posted at 55 mph (89 km/h), while in neighboring New Jersey, the speed limit on I-95 is primarily 65 mph (105 km/h), despite their common suburban environment.
• Cars and trucks traveling on US Route 30 from Indiana to Ohio can increase their speeds from 60 mph to 70 mph while cars and trucks traveling on the same roadway westbound from Ohio into Indiana will need to drop their speeds from 70 mph to 60 mph despite similar scenery and road configurations.^[32][33]
• Ohio has no separate truck speed limit on its interstates, but Michigan on the other hand has a 10 mph reduction for trucks. (If the speed limit for cars is 70, then the truck speed limit is 60). Interstate 75 in Ohio just south of the Michigan state line has a uniform 65 mph limit. Thus, cars traveling north on I-75 into Michigan are allowed to speed up by 5 mph, but trucks actually have to do the exact opposite and slow down by 5 mph on the same roadway.
• The following states as of May, 2016 allow 70 mph and higher speed limits on non freeway roads: Idaho, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Ohio,^[32][33] Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming.
• Only 3 of the mentioned states above have a speed limit of 75 in their non-freeways: New Mexico (On U.S. Route 70), Nevada (On U.S. Route 95), and many roads in Texas.
• The lowest class of state-maintained, two-lane road in Texas may have a 75 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, whereas a state road crossing through New Mexico and Oklahoma 's highest standards as a two-lane road is reduced to 65 mph.
• Several roads in Minnesota and Missouri such as U.S. Routes 75, 59, and 71 have 60 mph limits while Iowa has only 55 mph limits for the same roads.
• Trucks traveling westbound on I-10 or I-40 from Arizona (which has no separate truck speed limit) into California see their legal speed limit drop from 75 mph to 55 mph, despite similar road conditions.
• Only 6 states allow two-lane highways to be posted at 70 mph or higher: Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon (on US Route 95), Texas and Wyoming. *(Texas as of 2015 allows 70- 75 mph limits on some two lanes, mainly rural roads)
• While most states have a 65 mph speed limit in urban areas, a handful of states have up to 70 mph in their urban freeways, but the only states with as high as 75 mph in their urban areas are New Mexico (I-25 across Santa Fe and Las Vegas), Texas (I-20 across the Abilene suburbs), and Utah (I-15 towards Cedar City).
• From 1995-1999 Montana set a daytime non-absolute speed limit of "Reasonable and Prudent". The Montana Supreme Court overturned the speed limit in December 1998 ruling the speed limit as too vague to enforce.^[72]

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

• Before 1963: 60 mph day/55 mph night
• 1963–1974: 70 mph day/65 mph night
• 1974–1986: 55 mph (National Maximum Speed Law)
• 1986–1995: 65 mph (NMSL 65 mph amendment)
• 1995–2001: 70 mph day/65 mph night
• 2001–2006: 75 mph day/65 mph night
• 2006–2012: 80 mph day/65 mph night
• 2012–: 80 mph

Financial concerns

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

• Westlake, TX took in $42,000 per citizen over nine years for its speed traps.^[73]
• Insurance companies may receive several billions of dollars annually in traffic ticket surcharges.^[74]
• A study by the Federal Reserve of St. Louis found that traffic ticket writing increases when government revenue decreases.^[75]
• 2008 debates over traffic enforcement in Dallas County, TX involved concerns of lost profits if ticketwriting decreased.^[76][77][78]
• In Massachusetts, half of the ticket money goes to the police department that writes the speeding ticket, the other half goes to fund the court that convicts the speeder or collects the fine from them.

Thus, an authority that sets and enforces speed limits, such as a state government, regulates and taxes insurance companies, who also gain revenue from speeding enforcement. Furthermore, such an authority often requires "all" drivers to have policies with those same companies, solidifying the association between the state and auto insurers. If a driver cannot be covered under an insurance policy because of high risk, the state will assume that high risk for a greater monetary amount; thus resulting in even more revenue generation for the state.^[79]

When a speed limit is used to generate revenue but has no safety justification, it is called a speed trap. The town of New Rome, Ohio was such a speed trap, where speeding tickets raised up to $400,000 per year to fund the police department of a 12-acre village with 60 residents.^[80]

Environmental concerns

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

Metric speed limits

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

Though not common in the United States, a speed limit may be defined in kilometers per hour (km/h) as well as miles per hour (mph). The Federal Highway Administration's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, which provides guidelines for speed limit signage, states that "speed limits shown shall be in multiples of 10 km/h or 5 mph."^[81] 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.^[82][83]

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

Definition of speeding

Either of the following qualifies a crash as speed-related in accordance with U.S. government rules:^[84]

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

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

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

1. When speed limits are arbitrary, such as when set through political rather than empirical processes, the speed limit's relationship to the maximum safe speed is weakened or intentionally eliminated. Therefore, a crash can be counted as speed-related even if it occurs at a safe speed, simply because the speed was in excess of a politically determined limit.
2. The effective limit may still be too fast for certain conditions, such as limited visibility or reduced road traction^[85] or even low-speed truck rollovers on exit ramps.^[86]

Variable speed limits offer some potential to reduce speed-related crashes. However, due to the high cost of implementation, they exist primarily on freeways. Furthermore, most speed-related crashes occur on local and collector roads, which generally have far lower speed limits and prevailing speeds than freeways.^[87]

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.^[88] This allows motorists to defend against a speeding charge if it can be proven that the speed was in fact reasonable and prudent.

Speed limits in Texas,^[89] Utah,^[90] 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. For example, speed limits in California up to 55 mph, or 65 mph on highways, are prima facie, and those at or above those speeds are absolute.^[91]

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

See also

• Driver License Compact
• Non-Resident Violator Compact
• Solomon curve
• Traffic violations reciprocity

Notes

1. Nevada law has allowed 80 mph speed limits since October 2015; however, as of July 2016, no such limits are posted anywhere in the state.^[20]

References

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3. "H.R.2 - 100th Congress (1987-1988): Surface Transportation and Uniform Relocation Assistance Act of 1987". Congress.gov. Library of Congress. 2 April 1987. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
4. 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
5. American Samoa Code Section 22.0323 , and Frommer's
6. Arizona Statutes Chapter 3 Article 6 State Legislature
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9. District of Columbia Municipal Regulations Title 18 – Vehicle and Traffic (March 1997), chapter 22 "Moving Violations"
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11. "HB 674 – Maximus Speed Limots; vehicles having greater than 6 wheels.". Georgia House of Representatives. May 21, 2008.
12. Guam Code Annotated Title 16 Chapter 3 Article 3 § 3301., and
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14. Louisiana Revised Statutes § 32:61
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20. Mark Robison (2016-01-25). "Ask the RGJ: Why can't Nevadans drive 80 mph yet?". Reno Gazette-Journal. Retrieved 2016-07-26.
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28. http://www.legis.nd.gov/cencode/t39c09.pdf
29. North Dakota Speed Zone Map
30. Ohio Revised Code 4511.21
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33. Ohio Transportation Map. Ohio Department of Transportation, 2015. US 30, cited in the Lima News as 70 mph from the Indiana line to Mansfield, is not shown as freeway.
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43. Utah Code 41-6a-602(3)(a)
44. Va. Code § 46.2-870. Virginia Legislative Information System. Law.lis.virginia.gov.
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46. Wisconsin Statute 346.57. (PDF).
47. Wyoming Statutes. Legisweb.state.wy.us.
48. http://www.nccourts.org/Courts/Trial/Documents/01_traffic-waiv2013.pdf
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51. TRANSPORTATION CODE CHAPTER 542. GENERAL PROVISIONS. Statutes.legis.state.tx.us.
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Law Review

• R. A. Vinluan (2008). "Indefiniteness of automobile speed regulations as affecting validity". American Law Reports--Annotated, 3rd Series. 6. The Lawyers Co-operative Publishing Company; Bancroft-Whitney; West Group Annotation Company. p. 1326.
• C. C. Marvel (2010). "Meaning of "residence district," "business district," "school area," and the like, in statutes and ordinances regulating speed of motor vehicles". American Law Reports--Annotated, 2nd Series. 50. The Lawyers Co-operative Publishing Company; Bancroft-Whitney; West Group Annotation Company. p. 343.