States' Attitudes Towards Speed Limits: Detailed List
This list shows a detailed breakdown of every states attitude
toward speed limits. This is the peace were I plan on putting
the full story of any possible increases. If you now of any more
detailed information please let me know at kevinatk@home.com,
or by using this form.
For a general summary of States' Attitudes Towards Speed Limits
see the summary version.
As of May 18, 1997 I have added a new section to this list called
News Summary which will give you a brief overview of what
is happening. For just the brief news summaries try the News Summary
version.
- Latest Changes (Ones in Bold and Stared Indicate a Significant
Change)
2/1/98: NJ*, VA*
12/19/98: NJ
More Changes
" usemap="#states" align=center alt="[Daytime Speed Limit Map (sl-attu2.gif)]">
(Change Map | Other Maps)
(Netscape 2.0+ and IE 2.0+ users click on the
"Post NMSL" map to jump to that state)
Alabama (5/23/97)
- Had a Pre-NMSL Speed Limit of 70
- Adopted the 65 mph speed limit on July 20, 1987
- Effective May 21, 1996 the speed limit on Alabama rural
interstates is now 70. The new limit is based upon House
Bill 4323, which also raises the speed limits on 4-lane
highways from 55 to 65, and urban interstates to 65.
- The bill also includes a provision which prevents
Interstate speed limit enforcement by municipal agencies
whose population is less than 19000 (read "speed
trap towns").
- Alabama
State Legislature (No Bill Info)
Alaska
- Had a Pre-NMSL Speed Limit of 70
- Adopted the 65 mph speed limit on January 15, 1988
- Administrative action by state DOT & public safety is
required to raise the speed limit.
- Alaska State
Legislature (Bill Text and Status, Current Law)
- State DOT Site: http://www.dot.state.ak.us/
Arizona (5/19/96)
- Had a Pre-NMSL Speed Limit of 75
- Adopted the 65 mph speed limit on April 15, 1987
- Went to 75 mph on rural interstates on December 8, 1995
- ADOT has raised the speed limit on AZ 85 (between Buckeye
and Lukeville with exceptions through Gila Bend and Ajo)
to 65 mph. This is the first non- interstate to see an
increased speed limit in many years. Many other primary
two-lane roads are under consideration as well, and the
possibility of urban interstate increases are very much
alive.
- State DOT Site: http://www.dot.state.az.us/
- ALIS Online
(Bill Text and Status, Current Law)
Arkansas (7/19/96)
- Had a Pre-NMSL Speed Limit of 75
- Adopted the 65 mph speed limit on April 12, 1987
- Administrative action by highway commission/department is
required to raise the speed limit.
- The Arkansas Highway Commission voted to wait six months
before deciding whether to raise the speed limit on state
highways. Goal: See how increased speeds affects fatality
rates.
- The wait is over! Arkansas has announced that they will
in the middle of August of 96 implement a 70 miles an
hour speed limit on rural interstates for cars only.
Trucks will remain at 65. Decision came from the Highway
Commission.
California (5/05/97)
- Had a Pre-NMSL Speed Limit of 70
- Adopted the 65 mph speed limit on May 28, 1987
- Raised many 55 Freeways to 65 on December 8, 1995
- Went to 70 mph on rural interstates on January 8, 1996
- Combination vehicles are limit to 55 mph.
- Due to the passage SB
848 all two lane roads will default to 55 mph as well
as any other non-freeways unless otherwise posted This is
only a temporary bill, designed to avoid confusion and
give traffic engineers time to conduct there studies,
that will be in effect only to January 1 of 97.
- Most two lane roads are now 55 however a there are a few
posted at 65. Highway 1 from the San Mateo/Santa Cruz
county line south for a few miles, and most of U.S. 97
from I-5 north to Oregon line is now posted at 65. There
may be other posted at 65 near death vally.
- Official
California Legislative Information (Bill Text, Status
and Current Law)
- State DOT Site: http://www.dot.ca.gov/
- California is known for its Anti Speed Trap Laws. In
Summary: To use radar, the enforced facility (road,
highway, etc) must have a valid Speed Zone Survey, as
your other correspondent noted and the posted speed limit
must correspond to that survey. In other words, if the
survey recommends a speed limit of 40 MPH, and the local
jurisdiction posts "30 MPH" signs, any ticket
written should be thrown out of court. "Airplane
surveillance" tickets are illegal in California. (Ref: {ca-speed})
Colorado (2/03/97)
- Had a Pre-NMSL Speed Limit of 70
- Adopted the 65 mph speed limit on April 10, 1987
- Legislative action is required to raise the speed limit.
- In the 1996 legislative session SB 78 has been introduced
which includes a provision limiting trucks to 55 mph
including the 75mph interstates. Separate truck speed
limits are a hazard to everyone.
- Colorado Governor Roy Romer signed into law 75 MPH
maximum speed limit on Friday, April 26, 1996. (HB 1069)
Specifically, the law permits the state highway
department to increase speeds at their discretion. So far
as I know the law puts no restrictions on what roads will
get what speeds. So this is really a motorists bill; the
traffic engineers, not bureaucrats make the decisions.
Count on long stretches of interstate (I-70, I-25, I-76)
getting raised to 75, particularly in eastern Colorado.
Increases are supposed to be posted around Memorial Day
of 1996.
- Apparently all other highways are now at 65 (with 2 and 4
lanes)
- Colorado
State Legislature Information (Bill Status but no
Text)
Connecticut (4/2/97)
- Had a Pre-NMSL Speed Limit of 60
- Never did adopted the 65 mph speed limit
- Has a 2 Lane Limit speed limit of 50 mph.
- Administrative action by state traffic commission is
required to raise the speed limit. Five bills have been
introduced to raise the maximum speed limit to 65 mph:
HB5255, HB5262, HB6439, SB118, and SB162.
- A committee has approved a substitute for HB5262, which
would increase the speed limit to 60 mph on several of
Connecticut's roads, but not on I-95. A state study
stated the limit on I-95 should remain 55 mph because of
heavy traffic and dense population along the highway.
- The House passed HB5262 by a vote of 96-50. The bill
would allow the State Traffic Commission to increase the
speed limit on qualified highways to 65 mph. Currently
Connecticut is one of only three states (in addition to
New Jersey and Hawaii) that still has a maximum limit of
55 mph.
- Unfortunately the Senate voted 27-9 to kill the bill on
the last day of this session, June 4.
- A survey of the state's AAA members found 72 percent
favor increasing the speed limit. AAA has asked the
legislature to increase the limit to 60 or 65 mph.
- A study by the state Department of Transportation shows
225 miles of Connecticut roads are physically suited for
60 and 65 mph speed limits. Despite this, the governor
opposes raising the speed limit.
- The legislature meets through June 4.
- State DOT Site: http://www.ctstateu.edu/state/trans.html
Delaware (2/18/97)
- Had a Pre-NMSL Speed Limit of 60
- Not eligible for the 65 mph speed limit.
- Has a 2 Lane Limit speed limit of 50 mph.
- Administrative action by state DOT was required to raise
the speed limit.
- In early January 1996, The Delaware Department of
Transportation, after a study that began in November
announced a 65 mile per hour limit for Delaware Rt.,
Dover -Smyrna Bypass and I-495 near Wilmington to take
effect Jan. 12, 1996. The posting of signs was delayed
until today 1/26/97 because of the weather. The 65 mile
per hour limit is the highest posted limit Delaware has
EVER had. The higher limit was rejected for I-95 due to
"congestion". They will re- examine the issue
in one year so see if the new limit caused more
accidents. For some reason they did not realize that the
higher limit might just REDUCE congestion on heavily
traveled I-95. The other 4 lane roads will remain at 55
for the time being.
- (2/18/97) According to Denise Gregory of the Delaware
Department of Transportation saying that legislation on
further speed limit increases are soon approaching for
the First State.
- Delaware's
State Government (No Leg Info Yet)
Florida (5/23/97)
- Had a Pre-NMSL Speed Limit of 70
- Adopted the 65 mph speed limit on April 29, 1987
- Administrative action by state DOT is required to raise
the speed limit.
- Florida law allows increases to 70 mph on case-by-case
basis
- Effective April 8th, 1996 the speed limit on I-10 between
Pensacola and Jacksonville in Florida was raised to 70
mph
- Other rural Interstate highways and rural portions of the
Florida Turnpike will be posted at 70 mph by end of May.
Florida DOT also says no speed limit increases are
planned for urban sections of Interstates and the
Turnpike, particularly in Dade and Broward counties. Some
four-lane divided highways will also go to 65 by the end
of May of 96.
- Effective May 28, 1996 the following South Florida
highways in Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties will
have increased speed limits:
I-75 from the Palmetto Expressway in Dade to Alligator
Alley in Broward: 65 mph to 70.
Alligator Alley: 65 mph to 70.
The Homestead Extension of the Florida Turnpike from mile
marker 11, near Old Cutler Road, to mile marker 27, just
north of the Dolphin Expressway in Dade County: 55 mph to
60.
U.S. 27 in Broward: 55 mph to 65.
State Road 80 in western Palm Beach County from Royal
Palm Beach Boulevard to Belle Glade: 55 to 65 mph
- On May 22, 1997, in Broward and Palm Beach Counties,
Florida, the speed limit on I-95 was raised from 55 to 65
mph; this increase is applicable to all of I-95 in
Broward County, but in Palm Beach County, the speed limit
will remain 55 mph on I-95 from Linton Boulevard in
Delray Beach to Northlake Road in West Palm Beach until
current construction projects are completed. Also the 65
mph limit on I-95 from PGA Boulevard in Palm Beach County
to Ft. Pierce in St. Lucie County was raised to 70 mph on
May 22; these speed limit changes were reported in
today's edition (May 23, 1997) of the Miami Herald.
- The Florida
Legislature's Home Page (Bill Text and Status,
Current Law)
- State DOT Site: http://www.dot.state.fl.us/
Georgia (12/17/96)
- Had a Pre-NMSL Speed Limit of 70
- Adopted the 65 mph speed limit on February 22, 1988
- Legislative action is required to raise the speed limit.
- Speed limits should have go 70 on rural interstates, 65
on urban ones and 65 on other divided highways on July
1st, 1996 however on July 1 only rural interstes went up.
The urban speed was to go to 65, but the TV reports say
that will stay at 55 "for the time being". DOT
is also still trying to determine specifically which
parts of which 4-lane divided state roads will go up.
That is on a case by case basis.
- Georgia DOT is raising limits on December 17, 1996 from
55 to 65 on segments of I-75 in Cobb, Cherokee, Bartow,
Henry and Clayton Counties; I-85 in Gwinnett, Coweta, and
Fulton Counties; I-575 in Cobb and Cherokee Counties;
I-675 in Henry, Clayton and DeKalb Counties; I-20 in
Douglas, Cobb, Fulton, DeKalb, Rockdale, and Newton
Counties; as well as major parts of GA 4, 6, 316, 365,
400, and 515. The limits should be going up starting
December 17.
- DOT engineers have been studying roads around the state
and recommending increased speeds on some. This is the
first round, and the study continues. Many rural
four-lane roads are under consideration.
- The speed limit bill was attached to a bill tightening
seat belt laws. This bill was passed on the last day of
the legislative session.
- Georgia Online Network
(No Leg Info Yet)
- State DOT Site: http://www.dot.state.ga.us/
Hawaii
- Has a Pre-NMSL Speed Limit of 70
- Never did adopted the 65 mph speed limit.
- Has a 2 Lane Limit speed limit of 45 mph.
- Legislative action is required to raise the speed limit.
Idaho (12/01/96)
- Had a Pre-NMSL Speed Limit of 70
- Adopted the 65 mph speed limit on May 2, 1987
- Legislative action was required to raise the speed limit.
- On May 1, 1996 Speed Limits went to 75 mph on Interstates
and 65 on state highways both 2 and 4 lane. (Thanks to
S1432)
- Idaho
Legislature (Bill Text and Status)
- State DOT Site: http://www.state.id.us/itd/itdhmpg.htm
Illinois (12/01/96)
- Had a Pre-NMSL Speed Limit of 70
- Adopted the 65 mph speed limit on April 29, 1987
- Administrative action by state DOT was required to raise
the speed limit.
- Many 55 roads went to 65 on December 8, 1995.
- However the governor signed a bill setting two-lanes at
55 shortly after. He made it clear that 55 is the
absolute caps for these roads.
- The rural designation on interstates has been extended
slightly sometime after the repeal.
- Governor opposes changes but may support raising truck
limits equal to car limits (truck limit 55)
- Illinois
General Assembly (No Bill Info)
- State DOT Site: http://dot.state.il.us/
Indiana (5/23/97)
- Had a Pre-NMSL Speed Limit of 70
- Adopted the 65 mph speed limit on June 1, 1987
- Administrative action by state DOT is required to raise
the speed limit.
- Several bills have been introduced for the 1997
legislative session.
- SB
466 will raise the speed limit to 70 on rural
interstates and 65 on rural divided highways. The bill
will also remove the separate truck speed limit.
- HB
1077 will basically do the same as SB 466.
- However, nether bill left the committees before the 1997
session was over, except for a special session. Gary Cook
(D-Plymouth), Chair of the House Transportation Committee
and a Plymouth Police Officer, refused to give a hearing
for the speed limit hike. The chances of either bill
getting passed in the special session are slim.
- Last year, the amendment to raise the speed limit to 70
mph on interstates and 65 on divided state highways was
scratched at the last minute. Fortunately the amendment
to make Photo radar legal was also scratched. (HB 1261)
- Indiana
General Assembly (Bill Text and Status, Current Law)
- State DOT Site: http://source.isd.state.in.us/acin/dot/
Iowa (3/13/97)
- Had a Pre-NMSL Speed Limit of 75
- Adopted the 65 mph speed limit on May 12, 1987
- Legislative action is required to raise the speed limit.
- As passed by the House, SF 2140 raises speed limits on
more roads than the Senates version of the bill. The
House raises speed limits from 65 mph to 70 mph on
interstates and on all divided multi-lane highways from
55 mph to 65 mph. Motor trucks, at the urging of the Iowa
Motor Truck Association, would still be required to drive
65 mph. In contrast the Senate version would only raise
the speed limit to 65 and only on interstate
"look-a-likes". It's less than 200 miles of
roadway in Iowa.
- The Senate refused the House amendment. And the House
receded from its amendment and sent the bill (SF 2140)
back to the Senate as part of deal to get the
Transportation budget (HF 2421) moving. The bill passed
the Senate and now is awaiting the Governor signature.
- Apparently the bill has passed sometime in March of 96 as
non-interstate freeways went to 65, along with the
extension of the "rural" designation on
interstates in some places.
- A new bill, HF403
would increase the maximum limit to 70 mph. It was
approved by the House Transportation Committee with only
one dissenting vote, however the House voted 52-47 to
reject the bill.
- Gov. Terry Branstad says Iowa doesn't need higher speed
limits, according to States News Service. He said more
deaths would result if the speed limit is increased.
- Iowa General
Assembly (Bill Text and Status, Current Law)
Kansas (7/13/97)
- News Summary: Some more speed limits are going up
on I-70, I-635, and I-435.
- Had a Pre-NMSL Speed Limit of 75
- The Kansas Turnpike was once set a 80 mph but was then
lowered to 75 mph some time around 1970.
- Adopted the 65 mph speed limit on May 14, 1987
- Kansas limits on March 21st went up to 70 on separated
multilane highways (including interstates) and 60 on all
other highways however they can be raised to 65 if it is
deemed necessary based on a traffic study. With no
day/night or car/truck limits. (House Bill 2602). The
Interstates should be signed in 15 days, and other roads
will be signed in 2-3 months from 3/13/96
- This bill also prevents insurance companies to give
surcharges and the DMV from suspending licenses if you're
less than 10 over on an interstate, and less than 5 over
on other roads. The state, however still gets your money.
- Some more speed limits are going up on several Kansas
City area highways. The state transportation department
sets limits at what 85 percent of drivers are going, up
to the state's maximum 70 mph limit.
- Limits will go up from 65 to 70 mph on I-70 from I-635 to
Kansas 70; from 60 to 70 mph on I-435 from Shawnee
Mission Parkway to Kansas 10; from 60 to 65 mph on I-435
from Kansas 10 to the Missouri border; and from 60 to 65
on Kansas 10 west of I-435.
- INK
Kansas Legislative Services (Bill text, Bill Status
by Sub. Only)
- State DOT Site: http://proto1.dot.state.ks.us/
Kentucky (3/14/96)
- Had a Pre-NMSL Speed Limit of 70
- Adopted the 65 mph speed limit on June 8, 1987
- Legislative action is required to raise the speed limit.
- They seemed to have gone home in April without raising
the limit.
- Bill SB 83 (1996 session), which passed the house and
know goes to the senate, says The speed limit on highways
in Kentucky shall be as follows: (1)Seventy (70) miles
per hour on all interstates and four (4) lane limited
access highways; (2)Sixty-five (65) miles per hour on two
(2) lane limited access highways and four (4) lane
highways that are not limited access highways; and
(3)Sixty (60) miles per hour on all other highways.
- Bill SB 291 (1996 session) extends this to 65mph in urban
interstates.
- Kentucky
Legislature Home Page (Bill text Only)
Louisiana (7/02/97)
- News Summary: A Bill to raise the Speed limit to
70 mph (from 65) on interstates and 65 on other 4 lane
(from 55) passed the House and Sent and the Governor has
signed it into law. Speed limits started to go up after
the forth of July and were all up by the middle of
August.
- Had a Pre-NMSL Speed Limit of 70
- Adopted the 65 mph speed limit on May 9, 1987
- Administrative action by highway commission/department is
required to raise the speed limit.
- Currently there are 8 bills to raise the speed limit.
Here is a summary:
- Proposed maximum speed limits
Bill# Author Interstate 4-lane hwys 2-lane hwys.
HB 138 TRICHE & DOERGE 80 80 55
HB 112 WINDHORST 75 75 55
SB 194 HEITMEIR 75 75 65
HB 16 BRUN 70 70 70
SB 5 CAIN 70 65 60
SB 38 BEAN 70 70 70
SB 39 BEAN 70 65 65
SB 222 LANDRY 70 ?? ??
- And there may be others however I am not sure about the
exact status of all of them
- It looks like a 70 mph speed limit is very close
- On May 13, 1997 The House Transportation Committee voted
8-1 to raise the interstate speed limit to 70 mph from 65
mph. Other speed limits would be 65 mph on four-lane
highways with medians and 55 mph on two-lane state roads.
The proposal, SB222 by Sen. Ron Landry, D-LaPlace, has
been endorsed by a Senate committee, the 39-member Senate
and the House committee.
- The issue now goes to the 105-member House committee who
rejected an amendment by Rep. Robert Marionneaux,
D-Livonia, to keep the speed limit at 65 mph for
tractor-trailer rigs on interstate highways. Marionneaux
said the amendment should have been added because it's
tougher to slow down an 18-wheeler than a car. However,
Diez said, studies have shown it's safer to keep the
speed limit the same for all drivers.
- The vote according to the House journal was 93-3. I think
the Senate is scheduled to look at the bill today (July
5). An amendment by Rep. Robert Marionneaux-D, Livonia to
keep trucks at 65 mph on all roads failed 21-78. The
three representatives voting against SB 222 were: Robert
Faucheux-D, LaPlace, Donald Kennard-R, Baton Rouge, and
Robert Marionneaux-D, Livonia
- The House and Senate finally completed action on a speed
limit increase Monday. SB222, sponsored by Sen. Ron
Landry, D-LaPlace, has been sent to Gov. Mike Foster, who
said he will sign it into law.
- The new speed limit signes went up between the 4th of
July and mid-August. Pretty much all the rural
interstates went to 70. so far, it appears that urban
interstates wento 60 except for 50 to 55 in Baton Rouge.
Most 4 lane highways wen up to 65 mph.
- The Louisiana Department of Transportation and
Development supports a 70 mph speed limit.
- Unfortunately, the governor is against higher limits,
since he "doesn't like to drive fast."
- Louisiana State
Legislature (Bill Status, Summary, and Text under the
Senate page)
Maine (9/6/97)
- News Summary: A bill to raise parts of I-95 to 70,
other parts of I-95 to 75, and all of I-495 to 75 mph was
soundly defeated. Another bill which would have raised
some urban interstates to 65 also failed.
- Had a Pre-NMSL Speed Limit of 70
- Adopted the 65 mph speed limit on June 12, 1987
- Administrative action by state DOT is required to raise
the speed limit.
- A bill sponsored by Rep. Robert Cameron, R-Rumford, which
would have required the Maine DOT to study increasing the
speed limit from 55 to 65 mph on I-395 around Bangor and
I-295 around Portland was defeated. Interstate highways
outside the urban areas are posted at 65 mph. Cameron
argued that maintaining an artificially low maximum speed
limit in urban areas is needless and only serves as a
speed trap and revenue maker for police.
- Another bill, sponsored by Rep. Adam Mack, R-Standish was
sourly defeated. I would have increase the speed limit to
70 mph on I-95 below Exit ^A in Scarborough, and to 75
mph on I-95 above Exit 15 in Falmouth. The speed limit in
I-495 north of Exit 10 in Falmouth would have been
increased to 75 mph. Opposition was, unfortunately,
widespread. It came from the governor, transportation and
safety officials, and others.
- The chairman of the Transportation Panel believes that
they are a couple of members on the committee that
believe there is some justification for maybe increasing
the speed limit on some stretches of highway, such as
between Orono and Houlton and between Lewiston and
Gardiner
- The legislature meets through June 18.
Maryland (12/13/97)
- News Summary: I-95 between the Capital and
Baltimore Beltway finally went to 65 mph from 55 on
Monday December 15, 1997.
- Had a Pre-NMSL Speed Limit of 70
- Adopted the 65 mph speed limit on July 1, 1995
- Legislative action is required to raise the speed limit.
- Maryland will raise the speed limit from 55 to 60-65 mph
on 85 miles of highways by the end of July of 96.
- Some of the roads that went up to 65 include I-97 near
Annapolis and I-83 north of Shawan Road. Some of the
segments that went to 60 include I-70 and I-68 near the
intersection of the two, I-83 from Shawan Road to 695,
and US-50 from I-97 to US 301. (I am not sure I-70 from
29 to 695 went up as it was proposed).
- State officials said they may increase some of the new 60
mph limits to 65 on some routes if traffic seems to move
safely at 60. They also expect to introduce more 60 or 65
mph speed zones next spring, possibly on stretches of
Route 50 on the Eastern Shore.
- According to the MD DOT I-95 between the Capital and
Baltimore Beltway is going to go to 65 mph as soon as
road surface improvement project is done. This should be
sometime in mid July. There is talk of increasing the 60
segment of US 50 to to 65 (Important Note: the signs
themselves are 65 with a 0 stuck over the 5 for US 50).
- I-95 between the Capital and Baltimore Beltway finally
went to 65 mph from 55. The signs got posted on Monday
December 15, 1997.
- Current law allows MD DOT to set the speed limit to 65
mph on all freeways and 55 mph elsewhere. However,
with current law the only difference
between a 55 zone and a 65 mph zone is that cops can not
pull you over for going from 56-65 mph. Going from 66-85
is the same fine as it would be in a 55 zone and is a two
point violation in either zone. Going over 85 is a five
point violation in either zone and carries the same fine.
(Going from 56-65 mph in a 55 mph zone is a 1 point
violation)
- Maryland General
Assembly (Bill Text and Status)
- State DOT Site: http://www.inform.umd.edu/UMS+State/MD_Resources/MDOT
Massachusetts
- Had a Pre-NMSL Speed Limit of 65
- Adopted the 65 mph speed limit on January 5, 1992
- Legislative action was required to raise the speed limit.
- Effective January 29, 1996, the speed limit will rise to
65 mph on over 400 miles of divided highways. Some
affected routes are the entire Mass. Pike west of Route
128, and Interstate 190 between Worcester and Route 2 in
Legislator.
- The
Great and General Court (Bill Status Only)
Michigan (7/3/96)
- Had a Pre-NMSL Speed Limit of 70
- Adopted the 65 mph speed limit on November 29, 1987
- Legislative action was required to raise the speed limit.
- Most 55 MPH roads become 65 on the weekend of June 29 and
40th.
- On Aug 1 of 96 the following sections of road went to 70
MPH for testing (see below for more info): I-94 between
M-59 and Port Huron; I-69 between the Indiana border and
Port Huron; I-96 between Muskegon and Lansing; I-75 from
Standish to the Soo; and US 131 from Grand Rapids to
Cadillac.
- The 70 MPH test on portions of state freeways ended
October 31st. Now MDOT has until December 15th to present
their "findings" to the legislature. Then the
legislature has until January 1st to vote on the issue.
It is unclear if the number of freeways posted at 70 can
be increased.
- The Results are in! Most freeways will go to 70 MPH on
January 1, 1997. See the Press
Release for more info.
- Currently trucks and buses are still limited to 55 on all
highways. However, it repeal should happen in the near
future, since the truckers have a more powerful lobby
than the NMA does and also a 15 mph differential is just
pure dangerous.
- Senate substitute for HB-5123 successfully passed both
the Senate and the House and was signed into law on
6/27/96. The more significant points are as follows:
1) By July 1, MDOT in "consultation" with MSP
establishes five test segments with speed limits of 70.
The test ends September 30 and the "study"
completed by November 15. Then, MDOT sets permanent speed
limits of 70 mph based on the results no later than
January 1, 1997. (The allowing of test zones to 75mph was
scratched)
2) Speed limits on the remaining freeways are raised to
65-mph immediately, with the exception of up to 170
highway miles designated by MDOT at less than 65-mph.
3) Fines for speeding--but not points--are doubled in
construction and school zones. (Unsure if this is still
included)
4) Insurance companies may not consider speeding
violations of up to 10-mph over a 55-mph limit on a
limited access highway for eligibility or premiums.
5) Primary enforcement of seatbelt laws NOT included.
- Also, Governor Engler now perceives that "public
opinion" now supports higher speed limits! This is a
big success for Michigan Motorists and the National
Motorist Association. Without all of our letters and
phone calls 70 would never have happened.
- For more info see the Michigan
Motorist News page put out by the Michigan Chapter of
the National Motorists Association
- Michigan
Legislative Branch (No Bill Info)
- State DOT Site: http://www.mdot.state.mi.us/
Minnesota (7/02/97)
- News Summary: The Governor has decided to sign the
speed limit bill in spite if not getting enough money for
troupers. Speed limit to 70 mph on rural freeways, 65 on
urban ones and 65 mph on other divided highways. Speed
limits started going up on Tuesday, June 24.
- Had a Pre-NMSL Speed Limit of 65
- Adopted the 65 mph speed limit on June 17, 1987
- Administrative action by transportation commissioners is
required to raise the speed limit.
- The Transportation Commissioner James Denn has the
authority to change speed limits without legislative
action. However, Denn says won't do it alone.
- A 1997 bill, SB592
would raise the maximum speed limit to 70 mph on rural
freeways and to 65 mph in other locations. The bill also
would repeal the law barring the recording of speeding
violations that are less than 10 mph over the speed
limit.
- Speed limits on almost every mile of divided highway and
freeway in the state would be increased under a bill
passed by the Senate on Tuesday April 22. The house
passed a similar bill about a month ago. Under the bill
speed limits will become:
70 mph on 717 miles of rural interstates from 65 mph.
70 mph on 913 miles four-lane state highways from 55 mph.
65 mph on 198 miles of metropolitan interstate freeways
from 55 mph
103 miles of divided four-lane metropolitan interstate
freeways from 55 mph
- The bill now goes back to the House, where legislators
are expected to ask for a House-Senate conference
committee to resolve differences between the two
versions.
- Unlike the Senate version, the House would not increase
the limit on metropolitan freeways. The House bill would
lift the 45 mph limit on the parkway-like stretch of
I-35E between I-94 and W. 7th St. in St. Paul, placing it
at 55 mph. The Senate bill would keep the limit at 45
mph.
- Both the House and the Senate agreed on a bill that will
set the speed limit to:
70 mph on rural interstates
65 mph on four-lane state highways (both metropolitan and
rural)
65 mph on urban interstates.
The bill passed 40-16 in the Senate, and 120-13 in the
House
- It now awaits Gov. Arne Carlson signature. Whether the
governor will sign the bill is unclear. Carlson has said
he wants money for 75 state troopers before he would
agree to raise speed limits, and legislators have not
decided how many extra troopers to authorize. Also, the
governor's spokesman said Tuesday that Carlson was
troubled by the increase in metro-area speed limits.
- ..This is the second time in two years the Legislature
has raised speed limits on most highways. Last year, the
governor used his executive power to cancel speed limit
increases authorized by the Legislature. The bill
approved this week takes away that power unless the
transportation commissioner first conducts speed and
engineering studies of sections of highways where he
intends to alter speed limits. The 1996 speed limit bill
would have increased limits on rural four-lane highways
to 65. This year's bill goes further, increasing the
legal speeds on urban interstate freeways and four-lane
highways.
- The Governor has decided to sign the speed limit bill on
July 3, 1997 in spite if not getting enough money for
troupers!
- Speed limits started going up Tuesday, June 22, a week
before they were planned to go up which was July 1!
- Bill(s) to raise the speed limit to 70 mph were
introduced in 1996. However, both the House and Senate
committees dropped the idea. The plan ran into opposition
from all sides. The speed limit on rural interstates
would have been increased to 70 mph, on urban interstates
and other 4-lane divided highways to 65 mph, and on other
2 - lane highways under State jurisdiction to 65 mph
during day time and 60 mph at night. No change would have
made on highways under city or county jurisdiction.
- The legislature meets through May 19.
- Minnesota State
Legislature (Bill Text and Status, Current Law)
- State DOT Site: http://www.dot.state.mn.us/main/mndot.html
Mississippi (12/13/96)
- Had a Pre-NMSL Speed Limit of 70
- Adopted the 65 mph speed limit on April 14, 1987
- Administrative action by transportation commissioners was
required to raise the speed limit.
- On March 12, 1996 speed limits on freeways went to 70 mph
thanks to a bill signed into law on Fed 29, 1996. This
bill also allows the Mississippi Transportation
Commission to increase speed limits to 65 on other roads.
- However by now rural freeways are 70, other divided
highways are 65, and most two lane roads stayed at 55
mph. Urban freeways are now at 60.
- Apparently some urban interstates are now 60.
- Mississippi State Gov.
Home Pages (Doesn't appear to have Leg. Info)
Missouri (3/18/96)
- Had a Pre-NMSL Speed Limit of 70
- Adopted the 65 mph speed limit on May 1, 1987
- Bill HB1047 was signed into law on March 13, 1996, this
bill will set the speed limits as follows: 70 miles per
hour on rural interstates and freeways; 65 miles per hour
on four-lane divided expressways in rural areas; 60 miles
per hour on interstate highways, freeways, or expressways
within urbanized areas; 60 miles per hour on two-lane
numbered roads; and 55 miles per hour on two-lane
lettered routes. The Highways and Transportation
Commission may set the speed limit higher or lower than
the uniform maximum speed limit if such is recommended by
the Department of Highways and Transportation but not
greater than 70 mph.
- Missouri General
Assembly (Bill Summaries and Status)
Montana (2/16/97)
- Had no Daytime Speed limit before the NMSL
- Adopted the 65 mph speed limit on April 16, 1987
- Went to no daytime speed limit on December 8, 1995
- Nighttime speed limit of 65 mph for interstates, 55 for
others
- Truck (over 8,000 lbs) limit to 65mph on interstates and
60 on other roads.
- Triples held to 55
- Speeds are up about 2mph and fatalities are up slightly;
however, MODOT feels that there is no correlation between
this increase and the change in speed limits. The highway
patrol still wants speed limit. The Governor too.
(revenue concerns, political pressure) DOT says one is
not warranted. Patrol very worried about staffing levels.
DOT has decided to pay for patrol personnel to cover the
reduced revenues, which were way down, from citations.
This agreement runs out at end of year. They (MODOT) are
very determined to keep the limit as is. Local judges
from what I've heard are not dismissing too many tickets.
Even though the officers have "no training" in
what constitutes a safe speed, they are in court daily
claiming speeds too fast for conditions. New quasi limit
90 mph.
- The days of a "reasonable and prudent" speed
limit in Montana may be coming to an end. SB 64
was introduced by Crippen, Brunce and is scheduled for a
hearing on January 30 at 1:00 pm in the Senate. The bill
would post a 75 mph daytime limit for intestates, 65
elsewhere and would make speeding up to 10 mph over the
limit a $25 fine with no points. (Representative Daryl
had a similar bill that never got introduced)
- However, the Senate overwhelmingly rejected
establishing a 80-mph daytime speed limit. The February
14 vote was 41-8 against Senate Bill 64. The governor had
asked for a 75-mph daytime limit.
- "I went door to door during the election," Sen.
Barry Stang told AP. "A good percentage didn't think
government had any business interfering in how fast
people want to drive." (State DOT Site)
- Montana
Legislative Branch (Bill Text and Status)
- Montana is known for its clever way around the NMSL when
it was in effect. It had a $5 no points daytime
"energy waste" speeding ticket. The nighttime
speed tax was and still is $70. As soon as the NMSL got
repealed the went back to a "reasonable and
prudent" limit. (Ref:
{mt-law})
Nebraska (12/01/96)
- Had a Pre-NMSL Speed Limit of 75
- Adopted the 65 mph speed limit on April 27, 1987
- On June 1, 1996 the speed limit on rural interstates went
to 75 mph, 4-laners went to 65, and 2-laners went to 60
all thanks to the passage Bill 901.
- Nebraska
Legislative Documents (Bill Text and Status, Current
Law)
Nevada (5/17/96)
- Did not have any Speed Limit before the NMSL
- Adopted the 65 mph speed limit on April 13, 1987
- Went to 75 mph for rural interstates and 65 for urban
ones December 8, 1995
- Went to 70 mph on other roads sometime after (not sure
what type of roads this includes)
- I-15 from the California Border to Las Vegas - 70 mph
US 95 North of Las Vegas - 70 mph
I-15 Northeast of Las Vegas to Arizona - 75 mph
I-80 From Reno to Utah - variable from 55 to 75 mph
Areas US 50 from Lake Tahoe to Ely and Utah - 65mph
US 395 North of Carson to Reno - 70 mph
US 95 THROUGH downtown Las Vegas is now 65 mph!
All other interstates within any city limits - still 55
mph
- State of Nevada
(Couldn't access site)
- Nevada was the last state to give into the federally
imposed 55-mph limit in 1975 and was the first state to
try to officially break it. In July of 1986 they upped
the speed limit to 70 mph on a short stretch of I-80.
They hoped that coupling the higher speed limit with a
mandatory seat-belt requirement would induce the feds to
exempt Nevada from the 55-mph restriction. No such luck.
When the Federal Highway Administration promptly
announced a cutoff of road-building funds the state just
as quickly backed of. But not without vowing to fight:
the state filed a suite against the Federal Government,
calling it a violation of states' rights! (Source: Time,
July 13, 1986: p 27)
New Hampshire (3/23/96)
- Had a Pre-NMSL Speed Limit of 70
- Adopted the 65 mph speed limit on April 16, 1987
- Administrative action by governor is required to raise
the speed limit.
- HB 758 Calls for raising the interstate speed limit to 75
on interstates and 65 elsewhere however it was rejected
by the house.
- HB 306 would also increase the maximum speed limit to 75
mph.
- The legislature meets through mid-June.
- The
New Hampshire General Court (No Leg. Info)
New Jersey (2/1/97)
- News Summary:
The governer
conditionally vetoed a bill raising the state's maximum speed limit to 65 mph.
The conditional veto allows the 65 mph limit to take effect for 18 months on a trial basis.
- Had a Pre-NMSL Speed Limit of 60 for the most part.
- The Atlantic City Expressway was 70 mph and parts of
other expressways were 65
- Never did adopted the 65 mph speed limit.
- Has a 2 Lane Limit speed limit of 50 mph.
- Administrative action is required to raise the speed
limit.
- Assemblyman Guy Gregg has introduced bills to raise the
speed limit because the administration is not moving to
raise the limit administratively. (A-731 and A-732)
However, they contain the old language from the pre-NMSL
repeal days since they were simply reintroduced with no
changes. They will be changed in committee to reflect the
language now in the aforementioned senate bills.
- Senator Dick LaRossa has also introduced two bills to
raise the speed limit in the senate, S-1278 for state
highways and S-1105 for NJ's three toll roads. These
bills contain NMA's language for forcing this issue on
the administration.
- The chances of NJ speed limits going up are likely thanks
to the outcome of a assembly
committee legislative hearing however further
legislative action is are not likely until September.
- The two speed limit bills (A-731 and A-732) were combined
into one committee substitute bill (AB 731) and it easily
passed the Assembly Law and Public Safety committee by a
5-1 vote on Monday, June 9. This bill will increases the
speed limit on the state's interstates and toll roads to
65 mph. No one from the administration showed up this
time and, again, there was no one from the public or
another group that came to support the 55 mph speed
limit.
- However, it is questionable if the governor will sign a
bill increasing New Jersey's speed limits.
- NMA's approach is to call for a 65 mph statutory limit
but not to place a maximum cap. Therefore, if 85th
percentile is properly adopted as DOT's procedure, NJ
could have 70 mph speed limits again, hopefully in more
places.
- A speed limit bill (A-731) that will raise the state
speed limit to 65 on freeways passed the Senate committee
on thurday September 11 very easily.
- The bills (A-731 and S-1105) to raise the speed limit to
65 mph on limited access highways in New Jersey, such as
on the interstate system and the state's three toll
roads, passed both houses of the legislature by wide
margins. The vote in the Assembly was 53-21 with one
abstention and the vote in the Senate a few hours later
was 31-5. Forty-one votes were needed for passage in the
Assembly and 21 in the Senate. The bill now goes to the
Governor who has softened her past opposition. A 65 mph
speed limit in New Jersey could be a reality by the time
the session ends in mid-January.
- The bills add a 65 mph statutory limit for limited access
highways on the state roads (i.e., interstates and
non-interstate freeways) and, for the toll roads, words
are added to the law for each toll road that says the
limit should be 65 mph unless by a traffic and
engineering investigation, the toll road authorities find
the limit should be higher or lower than 65 mph.
- Gov. Christine Whitman conditionally vetoed a bill raising the state's maximum speed limit to 65 mph. The conditional veto allows the 65 mph limit to take effect for 18 months on a trial basis.
- Transportation Commissioner John Haley's preliminary plan would raise the speed limit to 65 mph on the following roads:
I-80: west of Dover from Rt. 15
I-287: from I-80 to New York
I-78: from Delaware River to Rt. 24
I-295: sections south of Rt. 1 until Milepost 4
I-195: east of Rt. 130 to Garden State Parkway
I-95 (N.J. Turnpike): south of Exit 8 in Highstown
Garden State Parkway: from Perth Amboy to Milepost 14 in Cape May County
Atlantic City Expwy.: All but the last two miles into and out of Atlantic City
- Speed limits are expected to start changing in April under a new law signed by Gov. Christine Whitman. The new law doubles traffic fines for drivers who travel 10 mph above the speed limit in 65 zones and 20 mph above the limit in other zones.
- State DOT Site: http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/
- New Jersey State
Legislature (Bill Text)
New Mexico (12/01/96)
- Had a Pre-NMSL Speed Limit of 70
- Adopted the 65 mph speed limit on April 2, 1987
- Administrative action by highway commission/department
was required to raise the speed limit.
- Went to 75 mph on interstates probably sometime in
February.
- 4-lane highways with shoulder are now signed at 70.
- 2-lane federal/state highways with shoulder with
shoulders are now signed at 65 and 2-lane Federal/state
highways with no shoulder are signed 60 or 55 mph.
- State
of New Mexico - 1996 Bill Locator (Bill Text and
Status)
New York
- Had a Pre-NMSL Speed Limit of 65
- Adopted the 65 mph speed limit on August 1, 1995
- Legislative action is required to raise the speed limit.
- MORE 65 in NY!!!! Well, about 40 more miles, at this
time. Basically, those urban areas around Albany,
Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse that were posted 55 will
be raised to 65 on or about July 14, 1996. Actually, the
signs will be up before then. It is important to note
that the NYDOT is NOT raising the limit on these
stretches, the NYS Thruway Authority is. This is an
important distinction. The NY Thruway Authority is not
really a state agency, like NYDOT, and plays by a
different set of rules. So basically, the Authority said
"plbbbt" to the Legislature and said 65 is the
way to go.
- Inside info aside: (1) Don't be surprised if all of a
sudden you see, in the next year, the NYDOT do the same,
but as an "independent test". (2) Don't be
surprised if you see 70mph signs on the Thruway in 2
years time. from NY NMA SCC
- New York State
Assembly (Bill Text and Status, Current Law)
North Carolina (11/25/96)
- Had a Pre-NMSL Speed Limit of 70
- Adopted the 65 mph speed limit on August 14, 1987
- Administrative action by state DOT was required to raise
the speed limit.
- Transportation officials can already raise limits to 70
mph on interstate highways without legislators'
permission. Now, about 600 miles of N.C. interstates are
set at 65 mph, and 370 miles at 55 mph.
- North Carolina has passed S1270 (1996), allowing the
state DOT to raise the limit to 70 on interstates (and
non-interstate freeways on Oct 1, 1996 thanks to a
passage of a separate bill) and making it a misdemeanor
to do 15 over or more than 80. The bill is now law as
North Carolina is the only state in the country whose
governor has no veto power. Once a bill is passed by both
houses of the General Assembly, it becomes law, period.
- On Monday, Aug 5, 1996, 206 miles of rural interstate
highways went to 70 and 75 miles of urban interstates
went to either 60 or 65. Some of the roads that will go
to 70 are I-40, I-95, and I-75. (See NCDOT's Press
Release for more info)
- On May 5, 1886, 165 miles of interstate highway will be
signed at 55, 29 miles will be signed at 60, 470 will be
signed at 65, and 206 miles will be signed at 70.
- On Sept 6, 1996, SCDOT announced that 306 miles of non
interstate freeways will go to 65 and another 33 to 60.
(See NCDOT's Press
Release for more info)
- State DOT Site: http://www.dot.state.nc.us/DOT/
- North Carolina
General Assembly (Bill Info and Status)
North Dakota (3/23/97)
- Had a Pre-NMSL Speed Limit of 70
- Adopted the 65 mph speed limit on April 16, 1987
- Legislature considering increase
- Legislative action is required to raise the speed limit.
- On July 1, 1996, Interstates went to 70, and US 2,83, and
281 went to 65 day/ 55 night. Part of these roads were 4
lane divided, part of them were 2 lane. Both parts went
65.
- This was the result of North Dakota's Dep't of
Transportation. The DOT can do so without the
legislature's permission. One of the reason they went to
70 and not 75 was for minimal cost. Gov. Schafer says.
Raising the limit to 75 mph would cost about $1 million
for guardrails and approaches.
- In 1997 the House sent the Senate legislation (HB1074)
that would raise the speed limit on all state two-lane
highways to 65 mph during the day (although according to
my info it is already 65) and 60 mph at night, but
rejected raising the maximum speed limit to 75 mph.
- The House bill is now in the Senate Transportation
Committee, where Chairman Bob Stenehjem says he wants the
maximum limit raised to 75 mph.
- Apparently this bill (HB 1074) got killed.
Ohio (9/6/97)
- News Summary: A bill (HB 305) which would make
truck speed limits the same as cars was defeated 8-4 in a
committee.
- Had a Pre-NMSL Speed Limit of 70
- Adopted the 65 mph speed limit on July 15, 1987
- Legislative action was required to raise the speed limit.
- Ohio HB 305 was defeated 8-4 in committee. It would have
allowed the same speed limit for cars as for trucks.
- Another bill, which is still pending in the committee)
would allow trucks to have the same speed limit as cars
on the Ohio Turnpike for one year. After that, the
General Assembly would decide to allow trucks to do 65
wherever cars can or if the limit for trucks reverts to
55.
- On Feb 29, 1996 the Governor signed a bill allowing car
speed limits to rise to 65 on freeways/interstates
currently posted at 55. The Ohio DOT must complete its
studies and post signs by June 28, 1996, on Interstates
and other freeways. ODOT has until March 25, 1997, to
implement 65-mph limits on other divided highways that
are part of the National Highway System. The bad news is
that freeways have not returned to their pre-1974 70-mph
limits, plus the 55-mph truck limit was retained. The
good news is that other divided highways will get 65-mph
limits, even though they only had 50-mph to 60-mph limits
before the National Maximum Speed Limit was imposed in
1974.
- On around 5/24/96 I-675 around Dayton became the first
Ohio freeway to benefit from the national speed limit
repeal. Until May 24 1996, the road had two 55 mph zones
sandwiched in between three 65 mph speed zones. It is now
all 65 mph.
- ODOT and its districts have basically decided what urban
freeways and divided highways will receive a speed limit
increase. Changes will be posted by July 28. See ODOT's Press
Release for more info or see the link below.
- Governor opposed to increases beyond 65. The Chairman of
the Ohio House Transportation and Public Safety
Committee, Rep. Samuel T. Bateman, Jr. would like to see
75 mph limits on rural interstates. It is not a
guaranteed move however, since Bateman's counterpart in
the Senate, Sen. Scott Oelslager, is not a supporter of
higher limits and is sponsoring a bill to keep speed
limits where they are now. Governor Voinovich does not
support higher limits either. (Not sure on the chances of
Ohio going beyond 65 now that the above bill has passed)
- State DOT Site: http://www.dot.state.oh.us/
- Ohio
Legislative Branch (No Bill Info)
Oklahoma (2/18/97)
- Had a Pre-NMSL Speed Limit of 70
- Adopted the 65 mph speed limit on April 6, 1987
- Went to 75mph on the turnpike, 70 mph for cars on rural
interstates and other divide highways and 65 day/55 nigh
on others on December 15, 1995. Urban interstates are now
60 mph. Truck speed limit was 65 before December 15 but
they are now restricted to 60 day/55 night. (What the
pre-NMSL limit was)
- Senate Bill 685 was passed on 2/26/96 to set the speed
limit on interstates at 75 MPH for ALL vehicles,
including all trucks. Minimums will be set at 55 on the
turnpikes and 50 on other interstates. The bill also sets
the speed limit at 65 on all 2-lane roads for all
vehicles, with no night restriction. This ends all
non-uniform speed limits in the state.
- The House added amendments to it and sent it back to the
Senate. Final action is expected soon. Both houses agreed
on bringing truck speeds in line with car speed limits,
and removing the nighttime speed limits, but are
bickering over what speed limit to set.
- On around 6/12/96 The Senate voted to permit 75mph speed
limits on Oklahoma's interstates recently. Senate Bill
685 was approved and sent to the House. It sets a 70 mph
limit on four-lane highways, and sets a 65 mph limit for
two-lane roads except county roads which will be capped
at 55 unless the county commissioners want to raise it.
The bill also includes language to prevent cities from
turning remote roads into speed traps. It's unknown if
the bill will repeal the state's night and truck speed
limits.
- (2/18/97) Oklahoma has passed HB 685, the governor has
signed it (but I am not sure when he did), the new speed
limit is 75 on all rural interstates. Signs have not been
erected yet, and I am not sure as to when the new speed
limit will be implemented.
- State DOT Site: http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/
- Oklahoma
Legislature (No Bill Info)
Oregon (7/13/97)
- News Summary: The legislature has adjourned
without passing a speed limit increase. The Senate passed
two bills but they both died in the House Transportation
Committee. One bill would have raised the rural
interstate limit to 75; another would have repealed speed
limits and let the transportation department set whatever
limits are deemed safe.
- Had a Pre-NMSL Speed Limit of 75
- Adopted the 65 mph speed limit on September 27, 1987
- Administrative action by state DOT is required to raise
the speed limit.
- The Oregon legislature meets in January 1997 (the first
time since repeal) and is expected to take up the issue.
Oregon is the only western state hanging on to 65 mph.
- Oregon State Senator Randy Miller will be introducing a
bill to raise Oregon's freeway limits sometime in early
February. They will probably go to 75.
- HB 2553 would repeal the 65 mph maximum speed limit and
allow the Department of Transportation to set appropriate
speed limits
- SB 458 which has strong support, will *permit* (not
require) ODOT to raise freeway limits, no higher than 75
(I assume it is by State Senator Randy Miller but I am
not sure yet) raced through the Senate of the week
of May 10, 1997.
- However it hid a speed bump when it went to the house.
The House Transportation Committee is refusing to pass it
to the full house for a vote. Not even one member is
willing to make a motion to send the bill to the House
floor. The Committee Chair reportedly was impressed by
testimony from the State Patrol suggesting that raising
limits would require the hiring of at least 100 more
troopers. (With a vast improvement in speed limit
compliance, what does he suppose these new troopers will
do, exactly?) Another Committee member (Josi) admitted
that he drives over 70 mph now, but is afraid that if the
limit were 75, he'd drive 80.
- SB458 still appears to be stuck in the House
Transportation Committee.
- The Senate Committee on Rules and Elections introduced
SB1218 June 9 to repeal the speed limit on rural
interstates. It also allows the Department of
Transportation to set speed limits on other roads. It is
not clear from reading the bill whether the DOT would be
able to set a reasonable speed limit on rural
interstates, or whether there would be no speed limit. It
passed through the senate shortly after.
- However, it never made it past the House Transportation
Committee. Not a single member was willing to vote for
it.
- Oregon is the only state in the West to hold onto the old
65 mph limits, while the rest have shown that increasing
limits doesn't increase actual speeds.
- Unfortunate the the legislature has adjourned without
passing a speed limit increase. The House didn't even
vote on either bill that passed through the senate.
- The ODOT proposed plan sets rural interstates at 70 mph,
and urban at 60 mph.
- Hearings and a vote have not yet been scheduled.
- The Oregon
Legislature gopher server (Text of Bills but doesn't
include an index).
- State DOT Site: gopher://gopher.odot.state.or.us/
Pennsylvania (4/27/96)
- Had a Pre-NMSL Speed Limit of 65
- Adopted the 65 mph speed limit on July 15, 1995
- Legislative action is required to raise the speed limit.
- Transportation Secretary Bradley L. Mallory today
authorized the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
to increase the maximum speed limit to 65 mph on an
additional 103 miles of selected, limited access highways
across the state that could not be raised before the
NMSL. Signs should be posted sometime in May of 96.
- Additional 65 mph Non-Interstate Highways:
US 15 -- from Maryland to 2.5 miles North of PA 234 (23
mi.)
US 22/322 -- from Mifflintown Exit to one miles west of
the Amity Hall Interchange (32 mi.)
US 119 -- from US 422 to PA 110 (6 mi.)
US 220 -- from Salona Exit to PA 287 (17 mi.)
US 222 -- from US 30 to the Brownstown Exit (3 mi.)
US 422 -- from PA 6422 to the Pikes Peak Exit (13 mi.)
US 422 -- from PA 60 to Ellwood Road (5 mi.)
PA 43 -- from the US 40 to near I-70 (4 mi.)
- A PADOT engineer says that the 1995 65 enabling
legislation codified the "outside urbanized
area" requirement from the old NMSLs. Therefore, it
would take additional legislative action to raise limits
on urbanized freeways. That same engineer thought that
this might happen soon. Interestingly enough, any
political pressure exerted during the evaluation of those
additional 65 zones FAVORED increases.
Rhode Island (4/12/96)
- Had a Pre-NMSL Speed Limit of 60
- Never did adopted the 65 mph speed limit
- Has a 2 Lane Limit speed limit of 50 mph.
- Administrative action by state traffic commission is
required to raise the speed limit.
- On May 12,1996 the speed limit went to 65 on all of I-295
and I-95 from the CT line to the Rt 4 interchange. The RI
State Traffic Commission voted 4-2 just before 11 am
April 12 from this increase. This was solely the result
of the work done by our RI coordinator, Tom Frank. If no
one else had pushed 65, the RI State Police's anti-65
attitude would have carried the day.
- Rhode Island State
Archives (No Leg. Info Yet)
South Carolina (5/18/97)
- Had a Pre-NMSL Speed Limit of 70
- Adopted the 65 mph speed limit on July 16, 1987
- Administrative action by state DOT is required to raise
the speed limit.
- The higher speed limits (70 on interstates and all
others, for 1996) lost out to lawmakers' desire to go
home. Senators killed the measure on a 30-7 vote after
Senate Transportation Chairman John Land made it clear he
wouldn't let them finish their work Thursday unless they
did. Land, a Clarendon Democrat who has refused to let
his committee take up the bill, said faster speeds could
lead to more deaths on the road. He said senators need to
study data from other states on death rates before
deciding to raise the limits here.
- The state Transportation Department already has studied
speed limits and recommended letting motorists drive 70
mph on interstate highways in sparsely populated areas,
65 mph in metropolitan areas and 60 mph on other
multilane divided highways in rural areas.
- A spokeswoman said Gov. David Beasley's staff was looking
into whether he could raise the speed limits himself.
Beasley punted the issue to lawmakers last year after
Congress abolished federal speed limits. (From a News
Article in May, 1996)
- State Senator John Land, the roadblock for 70 mph in
South Carolina last year, was re-elected in November of
96. Here is his homepage, with e-mail, snail mail, and
phone info. http://www.lpitr.state.sc.us/sdist36.htm .
He's been in the senate since 1977.
- However, several bills got introduced for the 1997
Legislative Session:
- GB
3150 would allow speed limits to be 70 on freeways,
and 60 on other divided highways.
- GB
3173 would allow the speed limit to be 70 mph on
portions of the interstate highway system.
- CR
3232 would make the maximum speed limit along
Interstate Highway 77 between Exits 22 and 77 is seventy
miles an hour.
- Unfortunately all of these bills failed to get
approval before the end of the legislative session
(April 30, 1997). This means they will be reintroduced
next year.
- South Carolina
General Assembly (Bill Text and Status)
South Dakota (7/8/96)
- Had a Pre-NMSL Speed Limit of 75
- Adopted the 65 mph speed limit on April 15, 1987
- The speed limit on Interstates went to 75 on April 1,
1996.
- The speed limit for all STATE and U.S. highways other
than the Interstates is 65 MPH; however, Counties are
authorized to either raise County road speed limits OR
maintain the original speed limit of 55. This was done,
in part, due to the factors of road wear AND slow-moving
traffic (e.g. farm equipment) on such roads.
- Trucks are still limited to 65 on interstates and 55 on
others.
- State DOT Site: http://www.state.sd.us/state/executive/dot/dot.html
- Legislative
Research Council (No Bill Info Yet)
Tennessee (5/18/97)
- Had a Pre-NMSL Speed Limit of 75
- Adopted the 65 mph speed limit on May 5, 1987
- On around April 4, the full House has approved
legislation to set a cap at 65 miles per hour (mph) on
the speed limit for Tennessee's highways. The bill, that
is sponsored by Rep. Ed Haley (R-Millington) is in
response to federal action to give states more authority
in setting their own speed limits.
- In 1996 Tennessee safety and transportation officials
will be looking at 840 miles of divided four-lane
highways that are currently set at a speed limit of 55
mph to determine the safety factors for increasing the
speed to 65 mph," said Rep. Haley "The
legislation also effects the federally mandated speed
limit in metropolitan areas where a 55 mph was imposed
even in the outlying portions that may not be congested.
Counties and cities would still have control over the
speed limit in their boundaries under the bill."
- Apparently some of the changes have taken effect as new
limits are posted in some areas, in particular interstate
181 between Kinsport and Johnson City.
- The Department of Transportation is expected to look at
surrounding states as they alter their limits and come
back in 1997 with recommendations in regard to the safety
of any further action to lift limits higher. These
experts will be carefully considering the safety factors
as they come forth with their report.
- A new Bill, SB 54 would raise the maximum speed limit to
70 mph. It is being opposed by the state Safety
Department, which claims speed is the top contributing
factor in highway deaths.
- A similar bill is sponsored in the House by Rep. Tim
Burchett (R-Knoxville). Consideration of the bill has
been postponed until April 1. The Senate should consider
SB54 March 26.
- However, With Gov. Don Sundquist applying pressure, state
lawmakers have slammed the brakes on legislation to raise
the speed limit to 70 mph on Tennessee's interstate
highways. The prime House sponsor, a Republican
motorcycle enthusiast from Knoxville, gave up on the
proposal when he realized he couldn't muster enough votes
to free his bill from a subcommittee. But after delaying
consideration of his bill until next year, Rep. Tim
Burchett vowed to try again then.
- Tenn. WWW Home Page
(No Leg Info)
Texas (9/6/97)
- News Summary: Cites now have the option of
increasing the speed limits for urban interstates from 55
to 70 mph under a new law signed into law. Some speed
limits in the Houston area will be increased this fall.
The bill which would have lowered speed limits from
70 to 60 on some 2 lane roads was defeated.
- Had a Pre-NMSL Speed Limit of 70
- Adopted the 65 mph speed limit on May 9, 1987
- Went to 70 mph on interstates and divided highways on
December 8, 1995
- The speed limit on undivided U.S., State, farm-to-market,
and ranch-to-market roads will go to seventy (70) as soon
as signs are posted, which should be in early May of
1996. Nighttime speed limits on these roads should revert
back to the pre-NMSL limit of 65.
- However not all Texas farm-to-market roads will stay 70.
TXDOT will has evaluated the conditions of all FM roads
and decided not all can handle 70. About a quarter will
be 55, some will be 60 or 65, and the rest will stay 70.
See TDOT's Press
Release on the issue for more info.
- Trucks limit to 60 mph day, 55 night.
- School buses limit to 50 mph
- Texas House Bill 122 (1997) would have essentially
eliminates separate truck limits which are currently set
at 60 day/55 night. However, it apparently died
when the Legislature adjourned. It won't meet again until
1999. It also would have allowed school busses to travel
55 MPH only on interstate highways, which is up from the
current blanket limit of 50 MPH everywhere. It also
leaves in place the 45 MPH speed limit for house trailers
longer than 32 feet or heavier than 4500 lbs. House Bill
390 will basically do the same thing. House Bill 869 will
keep the speed limit for trucks but raise the speed limit
for house trailers to 55 and for school buses to 55 on
freeways.
Both of these bills apparently died too.
- Gov. Bush signed SB161. It allows the governing bodies of
counties with more than 2.8 million people to establish
speed limits of up to 70 mph on limited-access highways
in their jurisdiction.
- Higher speed limits will come to the Houston area this
fall. The Harris County Commissioners Court unanimously
passed a bill on the week of July 4th directing the
county's toll authority to increase the speed limit on
county toll roads from 55 to 70 mph for cars during the
daytime to take advantage of this new bill. Cars will be
limited to 65 mph at night; trucks may not drive faster
than 60 mph during the daytime and 55 mph at night.
Higher limit will not take effect until signs are posted,
and that could take until November 1 since the toll
authority must accept bids and award a contract for sign
replacement.
- Speed limits on some farm-to-market and ranch-to-market
roads would have droped from 70 mph to 60 mph during the
day and go from 65 mph to 55 mph at night under the bill,
which passed the senate but was defeated in the house.
Ogden's bill would affect two-lane rural roads that don't
have paved shoulders and that have a pavement width of 20
feet or less. Many of the roads cut through small towns,
carry slow-moving agricultural traffic, and are
crisscrossed by low-speed side roads.
- (5/23) The Texas DOT is holding statewide hearings on
speed limits.
- State DOT Site: http://www.dot.state.tx.us/
- Texas
Legislature Online (Bill Text and Status)
Utah (5/22/96)
- Had a Pre-NMSL Speed Limit of 70
- Adopted the 65 mph speed limit on May 21, 1987
- Legislative action was required to raise the speed limit.
- House Bill 29 was signed into law on Feb 29,1996. This
bill sets the maximum speed limit at 75 mph on
Interstates and 65 in other locations.
- Most rural interstates went to 75 on June 1, 1996. (See
UDOT's Press
release for more info) Most urban interstates and
other four-laners have been raised to 65 sometime between
Feb 29 and Jun 1.
- Utah State
Legislature (Bill Info and Status)
- State DOT site: http://www.sr.ex.state.ut.us/
Vermont
- Had a Pre-NMSL Speed Limit of 65
- Adopted the 65 mph speed limit on April 22, 1987
- Has a 2 Lane Limit speed limit of 50 mph.
- Administrative action by state traffic commission is
required to raise the speed limit.
- General
Assembly Information (Bill Info, Current Law)
Virginia (1/01/98)
- News Summary:
Two bills have been introduced that will raise the speed limit.
One will raise the limit to 75 on interstates 65 on other freeways and 60
on other divided highways. The other will give VDOT the authority to raise speed limits.
- Had a Pre-NMSL Speed Limit of 70
- Adopted the 65 mph speed limit on July 1, 1987
- Legislative action is required to raise the speed limit.
- In the Virginia House of Delegates, House Bills 934 and 1167 would
allow the speed limits to be raised there.
- HB 934 would raise the limit to 75 on interstates, 65 on other
limited-access four-lane highways, and 60 on other four-lane highways.
The reckless driving law would be amended to repeal the provision that
makes driving faster than 80 regardless of the limit reckless driving,
but 20 or more over a limit of other than 35 or 60 or more in a 35 would
still be reckless driving.
- HB 1167 would give VDOT the authority to raise the speed limits the same
way it has authority to lower them. It does not specifically call for
higher limits, but does cancel out the 55/65 mph speed limit caps currently
in place.
- There was a special commission studying the speed limit
issue in Nov 96. It is important to note that the
Governor supports higher limits, so the time to strike is
now. Remember how badly these efforts failed earlier this
year? Make sure it doesn't happen again by writing your
Delegate and Senator. Parts of North Carolina and Georgia
are already posted at 70, so that should help.
- However, it appears that the 1997 legislative session
passed with out any speed limit bills being passed.
- In the 1996 session The Virginia Senate Transportation
Committee killed a bill that would have raised speed
limits to 70 mph on some rural highways and The House
voted 64-35 to kill a proposal allowing the Department of
Transportation to raise the speed limit to 65 mph on all
interstate highways and to 60 mph on some four-lane
highways. Sen. Emmett Hanger, the Augusta County
Republican who sponsored the Senate bill, said the
measure is dead. He said senators wanted to study speed
limits before raising them. However, a bill raising the
speed limit to 65 on the Dulles greenway passed and is
now in effect
- Virginia General
Assembly (Bill test and Status)
- State DOT Site: http://www.vdot.state.va.us/
Washington
- Had a Pre-NMSL Speed Limit of 70
- Adopted the 65 mph speed limit on April 20, 1987
- Administrative action by state DOT was required to raise
the speed limit.
- The State announced a Speed limit increase of 70 mph on
rural interstates and 60 mph on urban interstates on
March 8, 1996. Crews will begin posting new speed limit
signs on March 11. Even the state AAA praised the
increase. Apparently the "rural" designation
will be extended slightly into at least one area that had
always been "urban."
- By the end 1996, the WA Secretary of Transportation
expects to propose "other" speed limit
increases for state highways.
- 60 mph for vehicles over 10,000 pounds gross weight
(large trucks) and vehicles in combination (trucks with
trailers, for instance).
- The state has also increased sections of US 2, US 195,
and SR 26 to 60-65mph on the on the week of July 22.
(Some sections were divided, but most sections were
undivide) And US 395 between the two interstates to 70.
See their Press
Release for more info.
- Washington
Interstate Speed Limit Proposal
- Washington State
Legislature (Bill Text and Status)
- State DOT Site: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/
West Virginia (12/13/97)
- News Summary: Accidents are down since the change.
West Virginia speed limits just got increased from 65 to
70 on rural interstates, 55 to 65 on most divided
highways and 60 on some urban stretches.
- Had a Pre-NMSL Speed Limit of 70
- Adopted the 65 mph speed limit on April 20, 1987
- Administrative action by the commissioner of highways is
required to raise the speed limit.
- Highway Commissioner Fred VanKirk has been opposed to
higher speed limits because he says the law is too
lenient on those who break the speed limit on interstates
and other divided highways by 1-10 mph (the penalty is a
$5 plus court costs fine and no indication on your
driving record)
- An increase in the maximum speed limit on West Virginia
freeways may be very near. On Monday, March 30, the house
of Delegates passed a resolution calling on the Division
of Highways to raise the speed limit to 70 on interstates
and 65 on other four-lane roads. The resolution goes back
to the Senate. Originally, the resolution only called for
a study on US 50 between Clarksburg and Parkersburg and
on US 119 south of Charleston. The Senate passed a 65 mph
speed limit for almost all four-lane roads last year. It
will come up for a final vote sometime this week. If
passed, West Virginia motorists would get to legally
drive at 70 for the first time in 24 years. This would,
if passed, make West Virginia the 25th state with a speed
limit of 70 or higher.
- The Senate passed on a voice vote the House Concurrent
Resolution requesting the Division of Highways to
increase the speed limit on all interstates to 70 mph and
on all four-lane highways to 65. Sen. Frank Deem, R-Wood,
later asked the Senate to reconsider its action, but his
motion was defeated by a 22-12 margin.
- As a result of HCR 21, the state Division of Highways is
now studying the speed limit raises it prescribes. One
problem. They will be using radar guns to measure
people's speeds.
- The research is done and speed limits are going up this
week and next! On August 22, West Virginia Transportation
Secretary Richard Jemiola announced that, starting August
25, the speed limit will be raised to 70 on rural
interstates, 65 on other rural four-lane highways, and 60
on certain, not all, urban interstates.
- Thee following speed limits went up:
Interstate 64: from 65 to 70 between exits 15 and
53; 55 to 60 between exits 53 and 58A; 65 to 70 from the
I-77 split in Beckley to the Virginia state line; trucks
still 45 on Sandstone Mt. downgrades
Interstate 68: from 65 to 70, entire length;
trucks still 50 on Cheat Mt. downgrades
Interstate 70: from 65 to 70 from Wheeling to
Pennsylvania state line
Interstate 77: from 65 to 70 from Virginia state
line to exit 60; from 65 to 70 between exits 85 and 95;
from 55 to 60 between exits 95 and 98; from 65 to 70
between exit 102 and Ohio state line
Interstate 79: from 65 to 70, entire length
Interstate 81: from 65 to 70, entire length
U. S. 19: from 55 to 65 from Beckley to Oak Hill,
from Fayetteville to Summersville, and north of
Summersville to I-79 after 4-laning completed
U. S. 22: from 55 to 60, entire length
U. S. 33: from 55 to 65 from I-79 to end of 4-lane
segment at Elkins; will be 65 as new sections built north
and east of Elkins
U. S. 50: from 55 to 65 between I-77 and
Clarksburg; proposed Parkersburg bypass will be 65 to the
Ohio state line.
U. S. 119: from 55 to 65 south of Southridge
Center in South Charleston to Kentucky state line
U. S. 340 and Charles Town Bypass: from 55 to 60
on 4-lane segments
U. S. 460: from 55 to 65 from I-77 to Virginia
state line at Glyn Lyn, Virginia
- The change in the number of accidents on West Virginia's
interstates and other four lane highways during the first
two months of higher limits was the exact opposite of
what opponents had predicted. According to the West
Virginia Division of Highways, the number accidents on
highways affected by August's speed limit increase have
dropped dramatically in the September-October period
compared to 1996.
On interstate highways raised to 70, the number of
accidents dropped from 505 to 369, a 27 percent drop.
Fatalities went up by 2. However, one of these was
because of the moonshine truck driver on I-81 in Berkeley
County. On other four lane highways raised from 55 to 65,
the number of accidents dropped from 130 to 80, a 39
percent drop.
However, these are only preliminary results. A thorough
look needs to be made at statewide data over a long rage
period (e.g. 3 years before and after the raise) and
should include such factors as the benefits from drivers
switching from the back roads to the freeways, an
increase in
traffic, and, most importantly, an expression of
fatalities in terms of the fatality rate, not total
number.
- According to the DOT, the 85th percentile speed went from
70.7 to 72.2 on the interstates raised to 70 and from 62
to 66 on other four lane highways raised to 65 (a 2 mph
speed increase for every 5 mph the limit was increased).
- A local West Virginan (James M. Mullins, Jy. ) have also
learned from several people that I know that some
insurance companies raised their rates solely because of
the speed limit hike. Apparently, they know they will
lose money due to fewer speeding tickets. This proves
that they know the truth but won't admit it.
- Last year, Senator Randy Schoonover (D-Greenbrier)
introduced SB 253, which would have raised the speed
limit to 70 on all rural interstates and 65 on all other
divided and interstate highways
- Governor Cecil
Underwood has not stated his opinion on the speed
limit issue. There is a link to e-mail him if you will
follow the link on his name.
- See the Raise
West Virginia's Speed Limits! page for more info and
to help get the limit raised in 1997.
- State DOT Site: http://www.state.wv.us/wvdot/wvtrans.htm
- State of West Virginia
(No Leg. Info Yet)
Wisconsin (5/16/96)
- Had a Pre-NMSL Speed Limit of 70
- Adopted the 65 mph speed limit on July 17, 1987
- Legislative action is required to raise the speed limit.
- Governor Thompson signed a bill allowing 65 mph speed
limits to be posted on certain limited-access roads, both
two-lane and four-lane. WI DOT has been surveying the
state's roads since December of 1995 so the changes
should be made soon.
Some of the affected roads are: US 151, I-94, I-43, I-90,
US 12, US 41, US 16.
- State DOT Site: http://www.dot.state.wi.us/
- Wisconsin
State Legislature (Bill Text and Status)
Wyoming (5/22/96)
- Had a Pre-NMSL Speed Limit of 75
- Adopted the 65 mph speed limit on May 19, 1987
- Went to 75 mph on most interstates on December 8, 1995.
- The speed limits on Interstate 25 through Cheyenne and
Casper is 60 mph. All other Interstate speed limits are
75 mph. (There are no other urban areas by NMSL
standards) MOST other two-lane roads are 65, but there
are several exceptions; urban areas, mountains, canyons
etc. Non-Interstate divided highways are 65 or lower.
Copyright (c) 1997 by Kevin Atkinson.
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)
Comments/New Information for this page
Menu | Back Home
| Start