States' Attitudes Towards Speed Limits: Original Summary Chart


This chart is designed to show the general attitude of states toward speed
limits and what the current post-NMSL speed limit is.  If this chart is too 
confusing for you check out the other Summary Chart which has almost all
the same information but in an easier to interpret format.  You may also
want to check out the Detailed List for the full story of any possible
speed limit increase or the News Summary version for just a quick
overview of what is happening in the states in terms of speed limits. 

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. /--Action(s) required to raise speed limits | | /--What the new limits will be now that mandate is gone | | (Rural Freeways/Divided/UnDivided//Urban Freeways) | | | | /--What the old interstate daytime speed limits | | | were before the mandate. | | | | | | /--Date the New Limit goes into effect/ | | | | Truck Weight | | | | /--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 | 75 | 95/12 | 87/04 | | |(--/65/65//65) | | | | Arkansas |h| 70 | 75 | 96/08 | 87/04 | | | 65t | | | | California | | 70/65/55//65 | 70 | 96/01 | 87/05 | Anti Speed Trap (SD) | | --/--/65* | | | | | | 55'c | | | | Colorado |l| 75/65/65 | 70 | 96/05 | 87/04 | | |(55't) | | | | 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 | 70 | 95\12 | 87/04 | | | --/--/--//65* | | | | | | 55't | | | | 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 | 70 | 97/01 | 87/11 | | | 55't | | | | | |(70//65t)? | | | | 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 | | 00/00/00d | None*| 95/12 | 87/04 | $5 Ticket (SD) | | 65/55/55n | | | | | | 65/60/60t | | 8000 | | 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| 70/65/65d | 75 | 96/07 | 87/04 | | | 70/55/55n | | | | Ohio |l| --/65//65 | 70 | 96\05 | 87/07 | | | 55't | | 8000 | | Oklahoma | | 70/70/65//60d | 70 | 95/12 | 87/04 | | | 70/65/55//60n | | | | | | 60/60/55//60t | | | | | | 55/55/55//55y | | | | | | 65/50~s | | | | | | 75*d | | | | | | 75*n | | | | | |[75/--/65//65] | | | | 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 | 75 | 96/04 | 87/04 | | | 65/55/55t | | | | Tennessee | | --/65//65 | 75 | 96\07 | 87/05 | Texas | | 70/70/70d | 70 | 95/12 | 87/05 | | | 65/65/65n | | | | | | //70*d | | | | | | 60/60/60t | | | | | | 55/55/55y | | | | | | 50's | | | | Utah |l| 75/65//65 | 70 | 96/06 | 87/05 | Vermont |T| | 65 | | 87/04 | 2 Lane Limit: 50 Virginia |l|(75/60) | 70 | | 88/07 | | |(Pos) | | | | Washington |D| 70/--/--//60 | 70 | 96/03 | 87/04 | | | --/70/65* | | | | | | 60't | | 10000 | | 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}

Copyright (c) 1997 by Kevin Atknson.

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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