States' Attitudes Towards Speed Limits: Original Summary Chart

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.

" align=center alt="[Daytime Speed Limit Map (sl-attu2.gif)]"> (Change Map | Other Maps)
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
For a detailed breakdown of any state click on its name.
a = Action(s) required to raise speed limits Post-NMSL = What the new limits will be now that mandate is gone (Rural Freeways/Divided/UnDivided//Urban Freeways) Pre-55 = What the old interstate daytime speed limits were before the mandate Change = Date the New Limit goes into effect / Truck Weight 65 When = Date the 65 went into effect
State	a	Post-NMSL	Pre-55	Change	65 When	Notes
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.
Actions required to raise speed limits: a = administrative action d = administrative action by state DOT & public safety D = administrative action by state DOT g = administrative action by governor h = administrative action by highway commission/department l = legislative action t = administrative action by transportation commissioners T = administrative action by state traffic commission Post NMSL Speed Limits: d = daytime speed limit n = night speed limit c = combination vehicles speed limit t = truck speed limit = may include combination vehicles y = truck night speed limit s = school bus speed limit

Summary

       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)

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