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Speed Limit Laws

Setting speed limits has traditionally been the responsibility of states, except for the period of 1973-1994. During that time, the federal government enacted mandatory speed limit ceilings on interstate highways and similar limited access roads through a National Maximum Speed Limit.

Congress repealed the National Maximum Speed Limit in 1995. Since then, 32 states have raised speed limits to 70 mph or higher on some portion of their roadway systems.

Several states have set different speed limits for cars and trucks. Speed limits also may vary depending on whether the roadway is urban or rural. The chart below lists speed limits for both urban and rural interstates, as well as other limited access roads.

NOTE: Some states apply different speed limits to the same type of roadway, depending on various conditions.

State Rural Interstates Urban Interstates Other Limited Access Roads
Cars
(mph)		 Trucks
(mph)		 Cars
(mph)		 Trucks
(mph)		 Cars
(mph)		 Trucks
(mph)
Alabama 70 70 65 65 65 65
Alaska 65 65 55 55 65 65
Arizona 75 75 65 65 65 65
Arkansas 70 65 55 55 60 60
California 70 55 65 55 70 55
Colorado 75 75 65 65 65 65
Connecticut 65 65 55 55 65 65
Delaware 55 55 55 55 65 65
D.C. N/A N/A 55 55 N/A N/A
Florida 70 70 65 65 70 70
Georgia 70 70 65 65 65 65
Georgia ‘Super Speeder Law’ adds on $200 in state fees for any driver convicted of speeding at >75 on any two-lane roads or >85 on multiple lane roads anywhere in the state.
Hawaii 60 60 50 50 45 45
Idaho 75 65 75 75 65 65
Illinois 65 65 55 55 65 55
Indiana 70 65 55 55 60 60
Iowa 70 70 55 55 65 65
Kansas 70 70 70 70 70 70
Kentucky 65* 65* 65 65 65 65
*70 on specific segments based on an engineering and traffic investigation
Louisiana 70 70 70 70 70 70
Maine 65 65 65 65 65 65
Maryland 65 65 65 65 65 65
Massachusetts 65 65 65 65 65 65
Michigan 70 60 70 60 70 60
Minnesota 70 70 65 65 65 65
Mississippi 70 70 70 70 70 70
Missouri 70 70 60 60 65 65
Montana 75 65 65 65 day: 70
night: 65 		day: 70
night: 65
Nebraska 75 75 65 65 65 65
Nevada 75 75 65 65 70 70
New Hampshire 65 65 65 65 55 55
New Jersey 65 65 55 55 65 65
New Mexico 75 75 65 65 60-70 60-70
New York 55* 55* 55* 55* 55* 55*
*Except for certain designated highways
North Carolina 70 70 70 70 70 70
North Dakota 75 75 75 75 70 70
Northern Mariana Islands None None 45 25 None None
Ohio 65 65* 65* 65* 65* 55
*Speed limits may be posted lower in some locations
Oklahoma 75 75 70 70 70 70
Oregon 65 55 55 55 55 55
Pennsylvania 65 65 55 55 65 65
Rhode Island 1 65 65 55 55 55 55
South Carolina 70 70 70 70 60 60
South Dakota 75 75 75 75 70 70
Tennessee 70 70 70 70 70 70
Texas day: 75
night: 65 		day: 70
night: 65 		day: 70
night: 65 		day: 70
night: 65 		day: 75
night: 65 		day: 75
night: 65
Utah 75; 80 on specified segments 75; 80 on specified segments 65 65 75 75
Vermont 65 65 55 55 50 50
Virgin Islands 40 40 55 55 20 20
Virginia 70 70 70 70 65 65
Washington 70 60 60 60 60 60
West Virginia 70 70 55 55 65 65
Wisconsin 65 65 65 65 65 65
Wyoming 75 75 60 60 65 65
1 Rhode Island speed limits not set by law, but by state traffic commission.

Sources: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and State Highway Safety Offices.