Fact #410: February 6, 2006
Maximum Speed Limits by State, 2005
Since 1995, when the federal speed limit law was repealed, each state has set its own speed limits. Rural interstate highways are usually assigned the highest speed limits. The graphics below show the maximum rural interstate speed limit in each state for cars (top) and heavy trucks (bottom).
Though many states, particularly in the Southeast and Northeast, have the same speed limits for cars and heavy trucks, some states have lower posted speed limits for trucks.
Supporting Information
Maximum Posted Speed Limits on Rural Interstates: 2005 (miles per hour)
| State | Heavy Trucks | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 70 | 70 |
| Alaska | 65 | 65 |
| Arizona | 75 | 75 |
| Arkansas | 65 | 70 |
| California | 55 | 70 |
| Colorado | 75 | 75 |
| Connecticut | 65 | 65 |
| Delaware | 65 | 65 |
| District of Columbia1 | 55 | 55 |
| Florida | 70 | 70 |
| Georgia | 70 | 70 |
| Hawaii | 60 | 60 |
| Idaho | 65 | 75 |
| Illinois | 55 | 65 |
| Indiana2 | 65 | 70 |
| Iowa2 | 70 | 70 |
| Kansas | 70 | 70 |
| Kentucky | 65 | 65 |
| Louisiana | 70 | 70 |
| Maine | 65 | 65 |
| Maryland | 65 | 65 |
| Massachusetts | 65 | 65 |
| Michigan | 55 | 70 |
| Minnesota | 70 | 70 |
| Mississippi | 70 | 70 |
| Missouri | 70 | 70 |
| Montana | 65 | 75 |
| Nebraska | 75 | 75 |
| Nevada | 75 | 75 |
| New Hampshire | 65 | 65 |
| New Jersey | 65 | 65 |
| New Mexico | 75 | 75 |
| New York | 65 | 65 |
| North Carolina | 70 | 70 |
| North Dakota | 75 | 75 |
| Ohio | 55 | 65 |
| Oklahoma | 75 | 75 |
| Oregon | 55 | 65 |
| Pennsylvania | 65 | 65 |
| Rhode Island | 65 | 65 |
| South Carolina | 70 | 70 |
| South Dakota | 75 | 75 |
| Tennessee | 70 | 70 |
| Texas | 65 | 75 |
| Utah | 75 | 75 |
| Vermont | 65 | 65 |
| Virginia | 65 | 65 |
| Washington | 60 | 70 |
| West Virginia | 70 | 70 |
| Wisconsin | 65 | 65 |
| Wyoming | 75 | 75 |
|
1Urban Interstate. 2Indiana and Iowa increased speed limits for both cars and trucks by 5 miles per hour beginning July 1, 2005 | ||
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Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Freight Facts and Figures 2005, November 2005. | ||
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