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[geek11111]

Why do some 2-lane undivided roads has speed limit 70 (and even 75)?
I don't think anyone, unless looking for trouble, may go more than 60 at night on these roads.

[kphoger]

You're obviously talking about Texas.  Did you mean to post this in General Highway Talk?

Why do some 2-lane undivided roads has speed limit 70 (and even 75)?

Because the state legislation that allows 75 mph speed limits in Texas does not differentiate between classifications of highway:  they're all just highways, legally speaking.  Therefore, it applies to two-lane highways just as it does to four-lane highways.

I don't think anyone, unless looking for trouble, may go more than 60 at night on these roads.

Depending on which part of the state you're in, and what time of year, anything above 55 will bag you a deer.

But, anyway, nobody's forcing you to drive over 60 at night.

[Max Rockatansky]

I must’ve have been looking for a shit load of trouble over the years then.

[froggie]

I must’ve have been looking for a shit load of trouble over the years then.

You just haven't paid your "bill" yet...

[webny99]

You're obviously talking about Texas.  Did you mean to post this in General Highway Talk?

To be fair, Texas is so huge that maybe the OP isn't aware that 75 mph on two-lane undivided roads is unique to Texas. And aren't there other states that have 70 mph, or am I misremembering...?

That said, I don't think it should be unique to Texas. 70 mph would be perfectly fine here, for example, where 55 mph feels like crawling.

[Max Rockatansky]

I must’ve have been looking for a shit load of trouble over the years then.

You just haven't paid your "bill" yet...

Perhaps, some of those open range two lane highways with 70 MPH plus speed limits get your attention at night. 

[Brandon]

You're obviously talking about Texas.  Did you mean to post this in General Highway Talk?

To be fair, Texas is so huge that maybe the OP isn't aware that 75 mph on two-lane undivided roads is unique to Texas. And aren't there other states that have 70 mph, or am I misremembering...?

That said, I don't think it should be unique to Texas. 70 mph would be perfectly fine here, for example, where 55 mph feels like crawling.

Yes, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, and Oregon all have rural undivided speed limits of 70 mph.  75 mph is unique to Texas.

[TheHighwayMan394]

I really wish Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin would go to 60 or 65 for 2-lane roads.

[kphoger]

I really wish Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin would go to 60 or 65 for 2-lane roads.

Yeah, even 60 is somewhat reasonable in that part of the country.

[geek11111]

I really wish Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin would go to 60 or 65 for 2-lane roads.

You mean they should be slowed down from like 65-70?

[HighwayStar]

70-75 on a 2 lane is perfectly reasonable in the western states where there are wide open spaces with many miles between intersections of any significance.

[TheHighwayMan394]

I really wish Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin would go to 60 or 65 for 2-lane roads.

You mean they should be slowed down from like 65-70?

No, they're capped at 55 and should be allowed to go higher (in my opinion). My state of Minnesota has increased most rural 2-lane mileage from 55 to 60 over the last decade after the state mandated studying 55 MPH roads for potential speed increases.

[Mapmikey]

Florida has 60 mph on 2-lane roads

[bugo]

Some Texas 2 lane highways have wide shoulders, and Texas drivers are well-known for pulling over and letting you by if you wanted to go faster than them. If everybody would drive that way and all 2 lane roads had wide shoulders, this would be an acceptable alternative to 4 lane highways in certain situations, but it probably wouldn't save a whole lot of money in the long run.

[I-55]

I really wish Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin would go to 60 or 65 for 2-lane roads.

You mean they should be slowed down from like 65-70?

In most of the Great Lakes states (excluding northern Michigan), 2-lane undivided highways are capped at 55 mph. Most states that have 65+ mph allowable on 2-lane routes also include Mountain time.

I had a bit of a chuckle reading this as in Iowa and Indiana, at least, non-interstate freeways are capped at 65 despite interstates being 70. We have a little more to cover before we get to raising 2-lane speed limits beyond our current freeway speeds.

[Roadgeekteen]

Because these roads are often straight and in the middle of nowhere, with no driveways, traffic lights, or any distruptions. Also for night, you are supposed to lower your speed to match conditions, which could mean slowing down below the speed limit at night. The speed limit is meant to be under ideal conditions.

[GaryV]

I could post that the speed limits on 2-lane rural roads should be 59 or 67 or 73. But I wouldn't do that. 

[Ted$8roadFan]

It depends on the location of the 2-lane undivided roads. Here in New England, the speed limit on many seems to be 55 (although the de facto speed limit is higher for many drivers). Given the relatively dense population and age of the roads and communities, it probably shouldn’t be much higher, although this depends on the specific location.

[Brandon]

I really wish Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin would go to 60 or 65 for 2-lane roads.

You mean they should be slowed down from like 65-70?

Believe it or not, not everywhere is like Texas.  Most states to the east and northeast of Texas have 55 mph limits on two-lane roads.

The table here is pretty accurate: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_limits_in_the_United_States

[thspfc]

55 is fine for Wisconsin. It’s not a plains state - the terrain is more rolly and curvy, and therefore the roads are as well. In addition, due to higher population density, two lane roads are busier on average here than they are in states where the limit is above 55 on two lane roads.

[JoePCool14]

55 is fine for Wisconsin. It’s not a plains state - the terrain is more rolly and curvy, and therefore the roads are as well. In addition, due to higher population density, two lane roads are busier on average here than they are in states where the limit is above 55 on two lane roads.

I second this. Maybe certain segments could be 60 or 65, but once you get into rural enough regions to justify it, you're more likely to hit a deer.

[TEG24601]

It all comes down to quality of the road, line of sight, and entrances.  There are a lot of places where it makes sense, with enough clear space.  But then again, a speed limit should be the speed at which 85% of drivers are comfortable driving.  So if you have a 55 MPH road with lots of people doing 70, maybe make it 65, adjust some of the clearances and run-off, and be better off for everyone.  Especially, because then people expecting one sort of speed, aren't blindsided by an entirely different speed.

[SEWIGuy]

55 is fine for Wisconsin. It’s not a plains state - the terrain is more rolly and curvy, and therefore the roads are as well. In addition, due to higher population density, two lane roads are busier on average here than they are in states where the limit is above 55 on two lane roads.

There are some highways in northern Wisconsin (WI-13 for instance) that could be higher, but by and large you are correct.

[Roadgeekteen]

It depends on the location of the 2-lane undivided roads. Here in New England, the speed limit on many seems to be 55 (although the de facto speed limit is higher for many drivers). Given the relatively dense population and age of the roads and communities, it probably shouldn’t be much higher, although this depends on the specific location.

Select stretches of 2 lane roads, especially in Maine, could be 60-65 but for most of New England 55 is more than enough. Some New England states won't even post 55 on 2 lane roads.

[SD Mapman]

55 is fine for Wisconsin. It’s not a plains state - the terrain is more rolly and curvy, and therefore the roads are as well. In addition, due to higher population density, two lane roads are busier on average here than they are in states where the limit is above 55 on two lane roads.

I second this. Maybe certain segments could be 60 or 65, but once you get into rural enough regions to justify it, you're more likely to hit a deer.

Well and you guys have all those trees, which makes it hard to see anything. The further west you go, the fewer trees (on average) are next to the road, which allows for earlier wildlife spotting.

As mentioned earlier, WY has 70-mph two lane roads (which is nice), but sometimes it doesn't line up nicely at state lines. Old US 14 at the SD/WY border jumps from 55 (the SD maximum for county roads) to 70 with no real difference in roadway design (except WY kept the wide shoulders from the US 14 days, would have liked Lawrence County to do that too instead of narrowing the shoulder when they repaved it back in the early 2000s but that's a personal pet peeve). I have not personally seen anyone really slow down at the border heading back from Beulah on my runs/bike rides.