I am trying to keep this chart as up-to-date as possible so if you know of any New Speed Limits and/or when it will take effect for your state please let me know at kevinatk@home.com; 7962 Helmart Dr. Laurel MD 20723. Or by using this form. Be sure to include how you found out about the information. With out it I have no way to judge how valid it is.
(Change Map | Other Maps) |
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A ? by a field means that I or the provider is unsure of it.
A \ on the dates means I or the provider is unsure of the exact date. A ~ After the New Speed Limits means I or the provider is unsure what type of roads it will apply for. A ' After a Speed Limits means the special limit applies for all classes of roads. A * After a Speed Limits means "kind of", see the Detailed List for more info (by cliking on the state's name). A Speed Limit in "()" means that it is being considered A Speed Limit in "()?" means that there is a chance of it happening but its not likely. A Speed Limit in "[]" means that the new limit has yet to go into effect. A date for the post-NMSL limits means that it is a done deal. No date means I am unsure. A %% Means the 85th percentile rule A 00 Means a Reasonable & Prudent Speed Limit A SD = See Detailed list (click on the states's name) Any name in {} is a filename at my site (http://metalab.unc.edu/rdu/) add .txt or .html. A "Study" means a study is underway A "Pos leg" means legislative action is possible or it is being considered A "Pos" means the state is considering increases |
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For a detailed breakdown of any state click on its name. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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State | a | Post-NMSL | Pre-55 | Change | 65 When | Notes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Alabama | g | 70 / 65 // 65 | 70 | 96/05 | 87/07 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Alaska | d | 70 | 88/01 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Arizona | | 75 (-- / 65 / 65 // 65) | 75 | 95/12 | 87/04 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Arkansas | h | 70 65 t | 75 | 96/08 | 87/04 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
California | | 70 / 65 / 55 // 65 -- / -- / 65* 55'c | 70 | 96/01 | 87/05 | Anti Speed Trap (SD) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Colorado | l | 75 / 65 / 65 (55't) | 70 | 96/05 | 87/04 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Conn. | T | (60) | 60 | NOT! | 2 Lane Limit: 50 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Delaware | D | 65 | 60 | 96/01 | N ELG | 2 Lane Limit: 50 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Florida | D | 70 / 65 | 70 | 96/04 | 87/04 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Georgia | l | 70 / 65 // 65 | 70 | 96/07 | 88/02 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hawaii | l | 70 | NOT! | 2 Lane Limit: 45 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Idaho | l | 75 / 65 / 65 | 70 | 96/05 | 87/05 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Illinois | D | -- / 65 / 55 -- / -- / -- // 65* 55't | 70 | 95\12 | 87/04 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Indiana | D | 65 | 70 | 87/06 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Iowa | l | // 65* | 75 | 96/03 | 87/05 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kansas | 70 / 70 / 65 | 75 | 96/03 | 87/05 | Was 80 on Turnpike (SD) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kentucky | l | 70 | 87/06 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Louisiana | h | 70 / 65 // 60 | 70 | 97/07 | 87/04 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Maine | D | 70 | 87/06 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mass. | l | 65 / 65 // 65 | 65 | 96/01 | 92/01 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Maryland | l | // 60* | 70 | 06/07 | 95/07 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Michigan | l | 70 // 65 55't (70 // 65 t)? | 70 | 97/01 | 87/11 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Minnesota | t | 70 / 65 // 65 | 65 | 97/06 | 87/06 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Miss. | t | 70 / 65 / -- // 60 | 70 | 96/03 | 87/04 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Missouri | 70 / 70 / 60 // 60 | 70 | 96/03 | 87/05 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Montana | | 00 / 00 / 00 d 65 / 55 / 55 n 65 / 60 / 60 t | None* | 95/12 8000 | 87/04 | $5 Ticket (SD) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nebraska | 75 / 65 / 60 | 75 | 96/06 | 87/04 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nevada | 75 / 70 / 70 // 65 | None | 95/12 | 87/04 | Resisted 55 (SD) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
N. Hamp. | g | 70 | 87/04 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
New Jersey | a | [65] | 60* | 98/04 | NOT! | 2 Lane Limit: 50 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
New Mexico | h | 75 / 70 / 65 | 70 | 96\02 | 87/04 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
New York | l | // 65* | 65 | 96/07 | 95/08 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
N Carolina | D | 70 // 65 | 70 | 96/08 | 87/08 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
N Dakota | D | 70 / 65 / 65 d 70 / 55 / 55 n | 75 | 96/07 | 87/04 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ohio | l | -- / 65 // 65 55't | 70 | 96\05 8000 | 87/07 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Oklahoma | | 70 / 70 / 65 // 60 d 70 / 65 / 55 // 60 n 60 / 60 / 55 // 60 t 55 / 55 / 55 // 55 y 65 / 50~s 75*d 75*n [75 / -- / 65 // 65] | 70 | 95/12 | 87/04 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Oregon | D | 75 | 87/09 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Penn. | l | ( // 65) | 65 | 95/07 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
R. Island | T | 65 | 60 | 96/05 | NOT! | 2 Lane Limit: 50 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
S Carolina | D | 70 | 87/08 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
S Dakota | | 75 / 65 / 65 65 / 55 / 55 t | 75 | 96/04 | 87/04 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tennessee | -- / 65 // 65 | 75 | 96\07 | 87/05 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Texas | | 70 / 70 / 70 d 65 / 65 / 65 n // 70*d 60 / 60 / 60 t 55 / 55 / 55 y 50's | 70 | 95/12 | 87/05 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Utah | l | 75 / 65 // 65 | 70 | 96/06 | 87/05 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Vermont | T | 65 | 87/04 | 2 Lane Limit: 50 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Virginia | l | (75 / 60) (Pos) | 70 | | 88/07 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Washington | D | 70 / -- / -- // 60 -- / 70 / 65* 60't | 70 | 96/03 10000 | 87/04 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
W Virginia | h | 70 / 65 // 60 | 70 | 97/08 | 87/04 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wisconsin | l | 70 | 87/06 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wyoming | 75 / 65 / 65 // 60 | 75 | 95/12 | 87/05 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
* For Montana: Daytime only, 55 non-interstate/65 interstate night limit
* For New Jersey: The Atlantic City Expressway was 70 mph and the southernmost 80 miles the Garden State Parkway was posted at 65. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Daytime Interstate Speed Limit: # Of States | 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 None ---------------------------------------------------- Pre-NMSL 0 4 5 29 10 0 0 2 Post-NMSL 3 0 20 16 10 0 0 1 Prevailing Speed: | 60 65 70 75 None -------------------------------------------------------- Pre-NMSL (1) | 65-70 66-69 71-76 72-76 76-77 See a pattern here? Note how the pre-NMSL speed limits generally equaled the speed of traffic. Also notice how when there was NO speed limit traffic didn't go above 80. Something that will hopefully comeback once the NMSL is repealed. Notice also how only 10 states had speed limits of 65 or less. (1) Estimated speed. They didn't use the the 85th percentile rule (prevailing speed) back them. Source: "Pre NMSL data" {pre-NMSL}
A service of the "Reasonable Drivers Unanimous" home page available at http://metalab.unc.edu/rdu/.
Special thanks to the National Coalition for the Abolition of Speed Limits (NCASL) and the National Motorist Association (NMA) for providing a lot of this info. The NCASL is a newly formed group that advocates the abolition of all speed limits except in large cities, business districts, and residential areas. For more information see there web page at http://www.missouri.edu/~c669885/ncasl/. The NMA is the only real drivers rights organization in North America. They are the ones that got the NMSL repealed in the first place. For more information see there web page at http://www.motorists.com/ or contact them at 608/849-6000; nma@motorists.com or 6678 Pertzborn Road, Dane, Wisconsin 53529.
All of the information in this chart comes from official or semi-official sources.
Source for Pre-NMSL speed limits: Federal Highway Administration, 1972 except for NC and NJ.
Sources for the 65 dates:
High Risk States, Table 3
Unknown Risk States, Table 4, States at Risk. AHAS Press Release, Nov13 1995.
Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
Unknown source from the insurance company.
Some of the sources for the post-NMSL data:
NCASL
NMA
AAA
"A state-by-state look at speed limits" by the associated press, USA Today
Online
"DOA States" by Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
(http://www.saferoads.org/press/95/strisk/table2.html)