In the United States, speed limits are set by each state or territory. States have also allowed counties and municipalities to enact typically lower limits. Highway speed limits can range from an urban low of to a rural high of . Speed limits are typically posted in increments of . Some states have lower limits for trucks; some also have night and/or minimum speed limits.
The highest speed limits are generally on the West Coast and the inland eastern states, in inland western states, along with Arkansas, Missouri Louisiana, Maine, and Michigan; and on the Eastern Seaboard. Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, and Vermont have a maximum limit of , and Hawaii has a maximum limit of . The District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands have a maximum speed limit of . Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands have speed limits of . American Samoa has a maximum speed limit of .http://www.asbar.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=583&Itemid=172 Asbar.org. Title 22 - Highways and Motor Vehicles. Chapter 03 - Rules of the Road. Retrieved July 7, 2019. Two territories in the U.S. Minor Outlying Islands have their own speed limits: in Wake Island, and in Midway Atoll.Midway Atoll Code Unusual for any state east of the Mississippi River, much of Interstate 95 (I-95) in Maine north of Bangor allows up to , and the same is true for up to of freeways in Michigan. Portions of the Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming road networks have posted limits. The highest posted speed limit in the country is and can be found only on Texas State Highway 130, a toll road that bypasses the Austin metropolitan area for long-distance traffic. The highest speed limit for undivided roads is 75 mph (121 km/h) in Texas. Undivided road speed limits vary greatly by state. Texas is the only state with a 75 mph (121 km/h) speed limit on 2 lane undivided roads, while most states east of the Mississippi are limited to 55 mph (89 km/h).
During World War II, the U.S. Office of Defense Transportation established a national 35 mph "Victory Speed Limit" (also known as "War Speed") to conserve gasoline and rubber for the American war effort, from May 1942 to August 1945, when the war ended. For 13 years (January 1974 –April 1987), federal law withheld Federal Highway Trust Funds to states that had speed limits above . From April 1987 to December 8, 1995, an amended federal law allowed speed limits up to on rural Interstate and rural roads built to Interstate highway standards.
Overview Speed limits This table contains the most usual posted daytime speed limits, in miles per hour, on typical roads in each category. The values shown are not necessarily the fastest or slowest. They usually indicate, but not always, statutory speed limits. Some states and territories have lower truck speed limits applicable to heavy trucks. If present, they are usually only on freeways or other high-speed roadways. Some states allow for higher speed limits pursuant to an engineering study that are not currently posted. For instance, Missouri and Washington allow for speeds up to , but the highest posted signs are . Mississippi allows speeds up to on toll roads, but no such roads exist. Other states, such as Alabama and Minnesota, do not have statutory restrictions on the highest allowed speed limits pursuant to an engineering study.
Legend:Freeway: Interstate Highway or other state or U.S. Route built to Interstate standards.
Divided rural: State or U.S. route, generally with four or more lanes, not built to Interstate standards, but with a median or other divider separating directions of travel.
Undivided rural: County, State, or U.S. route, generally with two to four lanes, with no separator between directions of travel.
Residential Street/residential: Residential streets, business districts, or School zones.
State or territoryFreeway (rural)Freeway (trucks)Freeway (urban)Minimum speed (freeways)Divided (rural)Undivided (rural)Residential Alabama Alaska American Samoano freeways or divided roads in American Samoahttp://www.frommers.com/destinations/americansamoa/3038010002.html Frommer's - Planning a Trip in American Samoa. Retrieved July 7, 2019. ArizonaArizona Statutes Chapter 3 Article 6 State Legislature Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut40 mph (64 km/h) Delaware District of ColumbiaDistrict of Columbia Municipal Regulations Title 18 – Vehicle and Traffic (March 1997), chapter 22 "Moving Violations" no rural freeways in D.C. no rural roads in D.C. Florida Georgia 40 mph (64 km/h) Guamno freeways in Guam Hawaii Idaho Illinois70 mph (113 km/h)60 mph (97 km/h) (seen in chicago suburbs)45 mph (72 km/h) Indiana Iowa40 mph (64 km/h) Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland40-65 mph (64-105 km/h) Massachusetts Michigan 45-55 mph (72-89 km/h) Midway Atollno freeways or divided roads in the Midway Islands Minnesota169.14, Minnesota Statute . Revisor.leg.state.mn.us (August 1, 2009).HEAT Speed Management Program . Dot.state.mn.us. Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New MexicoNew Mexico Statutes Chapter 66 Article 7 part 4 Mexico State Legislature or nmlaws.org New YorkNY State Vehicle and Traffic (VAT) Law § 1180-a Laws of New York State. Leginfo.state.ny.us. North Carolina North Dakota Northern Mariana Islandsno freeways in Northern Mariana Islands Ohio 40 mph (64 km/h)Ohio Transportation Map. Ohio Department of Transportation, 2015. US 30, cited in the Lima News as 70 mph from the Indiana line to Mansfield, is not shown as freeway. Oklahoma45-60 mph (72-97 km/h) Oregon Pennsylvania Puerto Rico§ 5122. Maximum lawful speed limits and penalties., Subchapter IV, Chapter 27, Title 9 of the Laws of Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota 40 mph (64 km/h) Tennessee Texas U.S. Virgin IslandsSection 494. speed limits, Chapter 43, Part II, Title 20 of the Virgin Islands Code , and from a NHTSA summary no freeways in the United States Virgin Islands UtahTroopers plan to strictly enforce new 80 mph speed limit. ksl.com (January 5, 2009).Utah Code 41-6a-601 – Speed regulations. le.utah.gov. Not PostedUtah Code 41-6a-602(3)(a) Vermont VirginiaVa. Code § 46.2-870. Virginia Legislative Information System. Law.lis.virginia.gov. Wake IslandWake Island Codeno freeways or divided roads in Wake Island Washington West Virginia WisconsinWisconsin Statute 346.57. (PDF). WyomingWyoming Statutes. Legisweb.state.wy.us.
legend:Freeway: Interstate Highway or other state- or federally numbered road built to Interstate standards.
Divided: State- or federally numbered road, generally with four or more lanes, not built to Interstate standards, but with a median or other divider separating directions of travel.
Undivided rural: County, State, or U.S. route, generally with two to four lanes, with no separator between directions of travel.
Residential Street/residential: Residential streets, business districts, or School zones.
Examples of penalties StateTypical fine and whether absolute or prima facie*Recklessness threshold or enhanced penaltyTicket dismissal optionsPoint system(Not available or information needed.)Prima facie (Absolute above ) Over in a school zone, or over above the posted speed limit. Defensive driving school (requires court approval for criminal speeding tickets). Point system leading to fines, potential license suspension, increased insurance rates, and potential jail time (if criminal).$35 for up to over, $70 for up to $100 for over 25 mph over. All traffic fines doubled in construction zones.Prima facie (Absolute above on a 2-lane road or above on a divided highway) Over results in a mandatory court appearance and possible 30-day license suspension Traffic school once every 18 months, except for offenses resulting in a mandatory court appearance. Point system with license suspensions.A minimum amount of $15 up to a maximum amount of $100 plus additional court surcharges and costs. In cases where the violation occurred in a maintenance, repair, or construction zone, the fine amount will be doubled by the court. A Class 2 Traffic Misdemeanor Offense and a conviction may result in a scheduled fine of $150 to $300 plus court costs and surcharges, a possible jail sentence of 10 to 90 days.Depends on violations. Point system between 0 and 12. A conviction for any 12-point Speeding Ticket will automatically result in a MANDATORY suspension of the driver's license for up to 1 year, regardless of the person's driving history.$10–$50 plus court costs. Speeding fines in work zones and school zones are $250 plus court costs.Absolute over limit at a traveled speed of greater than or over Prayer for judgment continued (PJC) available depending on the court and subject to their discretion, but not available for charges of exceeding a speed limit by more than .Point system may lead to license suspension. Exceeding the speed limit by more than with a speed of greater than or travelling faster than results in a minimum 30-day license suspension.$35 plus court and other costs. All fines doubled in active work zones.AbsoluteOver over limitNonePoint system leads to mandatory driver education and possible license suspension.$1–$200Transportation Code Chapter 542. General Provisions. Statutes.legis.state.tx.us. plus court fees. Doubled in active school zones when children are present or construction zones when workers are present.Transportation Code Chapter 542. General Provisions. Statutes.legis.state.tx.us. Various additional "fees" assessed by the state essentially increase the fine by around $100 on all tickets.Prima facieTransportation Code Chapter 545. Operation and Movement of Vehicles. Statutes.legis.state.tx.us.NoneTransportation Code Chapter 545. Operation and Movement of Vehicles. Statutes.legis.state.tx.us.Defensive drivingCode of Criminal Procedure Chapter 45. Justice and Municipal Courts. Statutes.legis.state.tx.us. (once per year) or deferred dispositionCode of Criminal Procedure Chapter 45. Justice and Municipal Courts. Statutes.legis.state.tx.us. (restrictions vary, but generally at least 4 per year), but only valid if: Texas resident, Speed under above limit and under , and Not in construction zone where workers are present or active school zone. Not a Commercial Driver License (CDL) holder.Point system is annual surcharge only. No provision for license suspension if surcharges are paid.Transportation Code Chapter 708. Driver Responsibility Program. Statutes.legis.state.tx.us.(Not available or information needed)
Prima facieOne dismissal every 3 years for speed or less over limit.Revised Statutes – Browse Document Up to $250Va. Code § 18.2–11. Leg1.state.va.us. School zone: up to $250 additionalVa. Code § 46.2-873. Leg1.state.va.us. Work zone: up to $500Va. Code § 46.2–878.1. Leg1.state.va.us (July 1, 2012). $200 civil penalty in certain townsVa. Code § 46.2–874.1. Leg1.state.va.us.
AbsoluteVa. Code § 46.2-878. Leg1.state.va.us. over limit or over Point systemVa. Code § 46.2-492. Leg1.state.va.us. leading to fines, suspension, and mandatory driver education.Commonwealth of Virginia, Department of Motor Vehicles, "Moving Violations and Point Assessments". Dmv.virginia.gov (May 14, 2007).
History One of the first speed limits in what would become the United States (at the time, still a British colony) was set in Boston in 1701 by the board of selectmen (similar to a city council):
Ordered, That no person whatsoever Shall at any time hereafter ride or drive a gallop or other extream pace within any of the Streets, lanes, or alleys in this Town on penalty of forfeiting three Shillings for every such offence, and it may be lawfull for any of the Inhabitants of this Town to make Stop of such horse or Rider the name of the offender be known in order to prosecution
Federal speed controls