Signs denoting Beginning and Ending of speed zones

[xonhulu]

This is a common practice in Oregon which annoys me: when leaving a town, there is posted an "END SPEED ZONE" or "END XX SPEED ZONE" sign, when they could just say "SPEED XX" indicating the return to whatever the rural speed limit was prior to the town.   Does this happen in any other states?  And is a local thing, or some state policy here?  I know it's not everywhere in Oregon, but seems pretty frequent.

[Scott5114]

Oklahoma is unique with regards to speed zones approaching and leaving towns. The new speed limit is phased in (out) in 10 mph increments. So, on southbound SH 24 (65 mph) going into Washington (25 mph), you get speed limits of 65, 55, 45, 35, and finally 25, which are reversed as you leave town.

[mapman]

I've actually seen both in California, but only in a few locations.  The "END XX SPEED ZONE" signs are rather old signs and are not current Caltrans practice.  I've also seen a stepped-down speed limit on a Caltrans highway -- CA 129 as it enters and exits Watsonville -- although it wasn't as gradual as in Oklahoma.  CA 129 transitions from 55 to 50 to 40 to 25 MPH when entering the city, and 25 to 40 to 50 to 55 MPH when leaving the city.  This highway is a major trucking corridor, so that might be the reason for this type of transition (just speculating).

[roadfro]

This is a common practice in Oregon which annoys me: when leaving a town, there is posted an "END SPEED ZONE" or "END XX SPEED ZONE" sign, when they could just say "SPEED XX" indicating the return to whatever the rural speed limit was prior to the town.   Does this happen in any other states?  And is a local thing, or some state policy here?  I know it's not everywhere in Oregon, but seems pretty frequent.

From a cursory glance of the 2009 MUTCD, I cannot find an "End Speed Zone" sign anywhere. There are "End School Zone", "End School Speed Limit" and "End Fines Higher Zone" signs, though. I think I've seen such a sign before, but am not certain that it was documented in a previous MUTCD.

The use as described doesn't make that much sense to me though. If you've stopped in the town for a long period, it's possible to forget what the speed was before you enter the town. It's just as easy to post a new speed limit sign and remove any ambiguity.

Oklahoma is unique with regards to speed zones approaching and leaving towns. The new speed limit is phased in (out) in 10 mph increments. So, on southbound SH 24 (65 mph) going into Washington (25 mph), you get speed limits of 65, 55, 45, 35, and finally 25, which are reversed as you leave town.

Oklahoma isn't unique in this regard. Nevada does a similar incremental speed limit reduction when approaching a town on a two-lane highway, then reverses those increments as you leave town. The increments are always 10 mph, going down to the town speed of 25 mph (or the occasional 35 mph).  The exception comes on many of the U.S. routes with rural speed limits of 70, in which the first reduction is to 55 mph then dropping by 10 mph from there.

[corco]

This is a common practice in Oregon which annoys me: when leaving a town, there is posted an "END SPEED ZONE" or "END XX SPEED ZONE" sign, when they could just say "SPEED XX" indicating the return to whatever the rural speed limit was prior to the town.   Does this happen in any other states?  And is a local thing, or some state policy here?  I know it's not everywhere in Oregon, but seems pretty frequent.

I hate when Oregon does this and they do it a lot- especially when there's a multiple speed speed decline where it goes 55-45-25 then END SPEED ZONE. I always get confused- should I go 45 or 55? Just post a sign, please.

Oklahoma is unique with regards to speed zones approaching and leaving towns. The new speed limit is phased in (out) in 10 mph increments. So, on southbound SH 24 (65 mph) going into Washington (25 mph), you get speed limits of 65, 55, 45, 35, and finally 25, which are reversed as you leave town.

Idaho actually does this on a fairly regular basis- sometimes not perfect 10 MPH, but the same general idea- around where I am on Idaho 55 (this being the non-Interstate I drive on most frequently and therefore have memorized the speed limit patterns), you have (heading northbound)

Horseshoe Bend- 60-35-25-35-55
Cascade- 65-50-35-25-35-50-65
Donnelly- 65-45-35-25-35-45-65
McCall 55-45-35-25-35-45-55
New Meadows 55-45-35-25-35-45-65

Why Cascade gets 50 while the others get 45 is a mystery- I'd guess it's because the zone is roughly 1/3 mile long on each end, whereas it's more like 1/8 in the other towns

[papaT10932]

This is also common in New York State. A sign will be posted that says "End 35 MPH speed zone". This means a return to the state speed limit of 55. But I notice this only happens on roads when the state speed limit is posted on both sides of the speed zone. In other words, 55-35-55. You would rarely see in New York 40-35-"E.S.Z."- 55.

[vdeane]

Not quite true.  On US 11 in Potsdam, it goes 30 to 45 and then end 45 mph limit (to 55).

[Revive 755]

Pennsylvania has a few similar signs around Pittsburgh, but they are 'end speed limit xx' IIRC.  Never liked them because most of the roads didn't appear fit to be posted at 55.

[Truvelo]

Does each state have a default limit for each type of road? In NY I've seen plenty of signs on rural 2-lane roads saying STATE SPEED LIMIT 55. Therefore if NY uses end speed signs I would assume it meant the limit from then on is 55.

In the UK and some other countries like France we use to indicate the end of a speed limit. Specifically it means 60mph on undivided and 70 on divided roads in the UK.

[74/171FAN]

I know in my area there is an "end 45 mile speed" on VA 106 near the courthouse in Prince George and I also remember a few on SR 602 in Chesterfield Co. but I don't know if they're still there.

[J N Winkler]

Does each state have a default limit for each type of road? In NY I've seen plenty of signs on rural 2-lane roads saying STATE SPEED LIMIT 55. Therefore if NY uses end speed signs I would assume it meant the limit from then on is 55.

Yes, states do have default limits.  The problem is that the limits vary from state to state and you are typically never given an opportunity to familiarize yourself with them as you cross the state line, unlike the case with most countries on the European continent where you see a sign indicating the default limits as you cross the border (or, in Italy, leave an international airport).  Texas is the only exception that comes to mind.

It is for this reason that the MUTCD encourages agencies to sign a numerical speed limit rather than to use "END SPEED ZONE" signage.  Some states like New York, and Arizona many years ago, split the difference by using signs identifying the default speed limit ("STATE SPEED LIMIT 55," etc.) to indicate the ends of speed zones.

I think "END SPEED ZONE" may have been in the MUTCD at one point, but I cannot recall having seen it in any recent edition.  In addition to "END 35 SPEED" in California, which may still exist as a Caltrans sign spec, Caltrans also has "MAXIMUM SPEED" signs which I think are used for differential speed limits for trucks and autos hauling trailers.

[deathtopumpkins]

In Virginia we gradually step down speed limits when entering a town (example that comes to mind is US-60 eastbound at Cape Henry in Virginia Beach, where it rejoins the beach. 55-45-35-25). Once out of the town, however, they just post a standard speed limit sign that states the (generally highest) speed limit encountered before the town.

Also, most state border crossings I've seen have a speed limit sign on each side, sometimes with a plaque that says something like "Unless Otherwise Posted". Virginia does have a state speed limit of 55 though, and we do (WAY out in the middle of nowhere) use "End XX Mile Speed" signs, such as this one in Gloucester County:
,
but these are so rare that it really isn't important to know the state speed limit. I've never found a situation like this on any primary road.

[myosh_tino]

I think "END SPEED ZONE" may have been in the MUTCD at one point, but I cannot recall having seen it in any recent edition.  In addition to "END 35 SPEED" in California, which may still exist as a Caltrans sign spec, Caltrans also has "MAXIMUM SPEED" signs which I think are used for differential speed limits for trucks and autos hauling trailers.

Yes, the "END 35 SPEED LIMIT" sign is still in the Caltrans sign spec.  The "MAXIMUM SPEED XX" sign was deleted a few years ago and replaced with the standard "SPEED LIMIT XX" sign although there are a few "MAXIMUM SPEED" signs still around.

As I understand it, when the NMSL (National Maximum Speed Limit... 55 MPH) was implemented, California state laws regarding speed limits were written in such a way that the limits were defined by the "Basic Speed Law" and was whatever was "reasonable and prudent" for the conditions.  When the NMSL went into effect, Caltrans had to create a new sign (MAXIMUM SPEED) to tell drivers that the "Basic Speed Law" did not apply.

In the latest version of the Caltrans' sign specs, there are speed limit signs for trucks w/3+ axles and for all vehicles when towing.  So when you're driving along a California freeway with a posted limit of 65 MPH or greater, you will normally see three speed limits signs.  The first is the standard "SPEED LIMIT 65" sign followed by the "TRUCKS 3 AXLES OR MORE 55 MAXIMUM" sign followed by the "ALL VEHICLES WHEN TOWING 55 MAXIMUM" sign.

END XX SPEED LIMIT...


Trucks and Towing Limits...

[agentsteel53]

I get the distinct idea that the MAXIMUM SPEED and SPEED LIMIT signs were not posted in rigorous adherence to the law.  On the Bay Bridge lower deck there is a pair of 50 signs: the left one says SPEED LIMIT, the right one says MAXIMUM SPEED.  Whatever the difference may be there, I do not know.

[joseph1723]

Ontario dosen't use the "END SPEED ZONE" signage for a return to a higher spped limit instead we used signs that say "MAXIMUM XX km/h BEGINS" like the one shown.

MAXIMUM XX km/h BEGINS:             Slower speed limit ahead sign:


The speed usually just steps directly from the higher rural limit which is usually 80km/h to the town limit which is usually 50-60km/h and then directly to the rural limit again.

[hbelkins]

,
but these are so rare that it really isn't important to know the state speed limit. I've never found a situation like this on any primary road.

Kentucky uses these; they are typically followed by a 55 mph sign. There are several cases in Kentucky where the speed limit goes from 55 to 35 and vice versa without an intervening 45 limit.

[mightyace]

^^^

I've seen these here in TN.  But, like most other signage, their application is about as consistent as a NASCAR official.

[Mr_Northside]

Pennsylvania has a few similar signs around Pittsburgh, but they are 'end speed limit xx' IIRC.

The fustercluck of municipalities around here also contributes to unecessary "end speed limit" signs on the smaller roads...

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Bellevue,+PA&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=49.176833,79.013672&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Bellevue,+Allegheny,+Pennsylvania&ll=40.495314,-80.028212&spn=0.005809,0.013733&z=17&layer=c&cbll=40.495277,-80.028323&panoid=Z-B9aesDXFgkLZ2xUurESw&cbp=12,91.36,,0,3.59

(To get the real effect from that location, you need to "drive" forward a little bit)


That's an example of passing an "END" Speed Limit 25 (where this road leaves Ross Township), a couple of feet later, when entering the City of Pittsburgh, you pass a "Speed Limit 25" sign.
(They're far enough apart they don't show up in the same image with Street View)

[Hellfighter]

Many Michigan roads, espcially rural, have the speed limit, with a ENDS sign under the Speed limit sign, like here...

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=14920+Cavour,+Livonia,+Wayne,+Michigan+48154&layer=c&cbll=42.436489,-83.512897&panoid=828soFYZtWkVskwulMr03A&cbp=11,314.92,,0,1.68&ll=42.436489,-83.512898&spn=0.000659,0.004506&z=19

[Hellfighter]

Apart from the city of Detroit, I have never seen one of these signs anywhere else. When the speed limit changes, the first sign will have at the top, "BEGIN" followed by the speed limit. Do they have these anywhere else, or is this just isolated here? BTW, here's an example of the sign...

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=14920+Cavour,+Livonia,+Wayne,+Michigan+48154&layer=c&cbll=42.372252,-83.217094&panoid=v6zwAauCj_GkouDkBd8CTA&cbp=11,127.8,,1,0.77&ll=42.372258,-83.21664&spn=0.002639,0.018024&z=17

[Bryant5493]

Never seen that. Just've seen the increase or decrease in speed limit.


Be well,

Bryant

[Truvelo]

I've seen BEGIN SCHOOL ZONE.

[rawmustard]

"BEGIN" and "END" signs have been used in conjunction with speed limit signs throughout Indiana for as long as I can remember.

[Brian556]

The City of Dallas uses the BEGIN signs.

[SSOWorld]

merging the begin and end speed signs - were essentially talking the same subject - just on opposite ends