Current state speed limit increase proposals

[JoePCool14]

Even if you're passing someone even slower in the right lane...? Seems a bit harsh.

[kphoger]

Marginally related, a new Louisiana law imposes penalties for driving 1 mph below the speed limit in the left lane.  No word on whether other motorists behind the offender, who by default are also below the speed limit, can be nailed.

Even if you're passing someone even slower in the right lane...? Seems a bit harsh.

Just need to read the actual bill:

https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/BillInfo.aspx?i=247973

Any vehicle proceeding on a multilane highway at a speed slower than the posted maximum speed limit shall be driven in the right hand lane then available for traffic, or as close as practicable to the right hand curb or edge of the roadway, except when overtaking and passing a vehicle proceeding in the same direction or when preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.  Persons in violation of this Paragraph shall be punished as follows:

(a) A fine of one hundred fifty dollars for the first offense.

(b) A fine of two hundred fifty dollars for a second subsequent offense within a twelve-month period of the first offense.

(c) A fine of three hundred fifty dollars for a third subsequent offense within a twelve-month period of the first offense or imprisonment for not more than thirty days, or both.

Previously, your speed had to be 10 mph under the posted limit.  Now it just needs to be under the posted limit.  Other than the fine amounts, nothing else changes.

[ElishaGOtis]

Are we gonna get an American Autobahn before GTA VI??

I'd pay to see this pass lol 

https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/57leg/2R/bills/HB2059P.pdf

Bill removes cap for speed limits in AZ except for 80mph night time, sets default speed limits at 80mph on a rural freeway (up from 75), and specifies requirements for DERESTRICTED speed zones if authorized by ADOT (except for a mandated pilot program on I-8). Known as the RAPID Act (Reasonable and Prudent Interstate Driving Act). Also makes extremely stringent requirements for lane discipline and other safety measures on any corridor with an infinite speed zone, and implements a $500 fine should you legitimately be driving too fast for conditions (this better be enforced on secondary offense... Montana I'm looking at you...).

I'm BEYOND favorable of this but I don't have high hopes for this passing. Even if passed, I highly doubt there would be many corridors subjected to the infinite speed zone. There does exist a genuine concern for revenue and insurance...

[Rothman]

Already had one.  It didn't work.

[ElishaGOtis]

Are we gonna get an American Autobahn before GTA VI??

I'd pay to see this pass lol 

https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/57leg/2R/bills/HB2059P.pdf

Bill removes cap for speed limits in AZ except for 80mph night time, sets default speed limits at 80mph on a rural freeway (up from 75), and specifies requirements for DERESTRICTED speed zones if authorized by ADOT (except for a mandated pilot program on I-8). Known as the RAPID Act (Reasonable and Prudent Interstate Driving Act). Also makes extremely stringent requirements for lane discipline and other safety measures on any corridor with an infinite speed zone, and implements a $500 fine should you legitimately be driving too fast for conditions (this better be enforced on secondary offense... Montana I'm looking at you...).

I'm BEYOND favorable of this but I don't have high hopes for this passing. Even if passed, I highly doubt there would be many corridors subjected to the infinite speed zone. There does exist a genuine concern for revenue and insurance...

Adding this: the bill also removes the minimum-cap of 65 without a strict approval process for freeway speed limits in urban areas, potentially allowing 55-60 to be posted in more places if warranted.

Compromises, interesting... I feel that the press on this bill will overshadow this provision but I may as well point it out...

[ElishaGOtis]

Bill in MO House and Senate to review and implement default speed limit of 75mph on freeways, in addition to raising the universal max allowed limit to 75mph.

Study bill: https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB2583&year=2026&code=R

Implementation bill (default freeway 75): https://www.senate.mo.gov/26info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?Sessiontype=R&BillPrefix=SB&BillSuffix=1408

This is great news imho. Multiple surrounding states are 75+ and the terrain is relatively similar. My only concern is that this changes the default speed limit, rather than simply allowing MoDOT to put 75 while keeping the default at 70. Parts of I-70 built on the original design probably shouldn't be 75 just yet imho...

[TXtoNJ]

I really don't get why 80 is so limited on Texas interstates. Most other states with 80 post it on all the interstates.

Because Texas is about as inconsistent as it gets when it comes to population density

[ElishaGOtis]

I really don't get why 80 is so limited on Texas interstates. Most other states with 80 post it on all the interstates.

Because Texas is about as inconsistent as it gets when it comes to population density

SH-45 & SH-130:


Technically they can post 80 everywhere if the design speed is 80+. It usually isn't (of which is normally 70).

On the sections at 80 not limited by design speed on I-10 and I-20, you can kind of tell it's only a 70mph design speed. Compare those to SH-45/130, Oklahoma I-335, and a few other roads with an 80mph design speed.

What's even funnier is that apparently the design speed of all of SH-130 is only 80...

[El-Caz]

I think the speed limit on this road should be raised to 85, too.

[ElishaGOtis]

Mississippi 75mph bill has returned. Hopefully it won't die in committee despite getting serious support in the house last year lol 

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2026/pdf/history/HB/HB0436.xml

[ElishaGOtis]

Mississippi 75mph bill has returned. Hopefully it won't die in committee despite getting serious support in the house last year lol 

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2026/pdf/history/HB/HB0436.xml

You are ded, not big surprise.

^^ Forgot to post this here as well...

Current active proposals that I can find:
- MO (70 to 75)
- AZ (75 to 80/inf)
- NC (70 to 75, rollover)
- NJ (85th percentile mandate, rollover)
- NY (65 to 70, rollover)
- ID (70 to 80 trucks)

[ElishaGOtis]

MO 75mph bill passed State Senate

https://house.mo.gov/BillMobile.aspx?year=2026&code=R%20&bill=SB1408

[ElishaGOtis]

How on EARTH did I miss this??? I've been informed that is not going to pass this session, but still wanted to share it...

Bill in Florida would have changed max allowed speed limits to 80 freeway / 70 all other roadways...

https://flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1233/

Apparently my dad found out about this and for some reason I missed it... again, it's beyond unlikely to pass this session but one can only hope for the future...   

I think it was also the FDOT agency bill (along with SB 1220 which does not contain this provision), which is likely why I didn't hear about it given it wasn't in the original request? Idk

L in the chat for 75 on 75 or 10 more on 10 before GTA VI

EDIT: As I expected, HB 1233 been replaced with its companion bill SB 1220 which did not include the provision regarding speed limits.

EDIT 2: STRIKE ALL, SEE BELOW

[ElishaGOtis]

SOMEHOW, it ended up back in the senate bill in Florida!!

SB 1220 AUTHORIZES FDOT to post speed limits no higher than 80mph on limited access highways, and up to 70mph elsewhere. It's a brand-new last-minute amendment, so who knows if it'll actually go through or not, but regardless here it is:

https://flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1220

THIS IS NOT AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT.

[JoePCool14]

MO 75mph bill passed State Senate

https://house.mo.gov/BillMobile.aspx?year=2026&code=R%20&bill=SB1408

Which Interstates in Missouri hypothetically could they apply 75 to? 70 between St. Louis and Kansas City is fairly busy, 44 south of St. Louis is also pretty busy until you get closer to Joplin.

[kphoger]

MO 75mph bill passed State Senate

https://house.mo.gov/BillMobile.aspx?year=2026&code=R%20&bill=SB1408

Which Interstates in Missouri hypothetically could they apply 75 to? 70 between St. Louis and Kansas City is fairly busy, 44 south of St. Louis is also pretty busy until you get closer to Joplin.

The bill summary says "rural interstates and freeways of this state".  These are defined as being 10+ mile stretches of divided limited-access multi-lane highways.  The text of the bill appears to simply cross out "seventy" and add "seventy-five" in its place.  I don't see any wording similar to "highways that JoePCool14 thinks are pretty busy".

https://www.billtrack50.com/billdetail/1915441

[JoePCool14]

Dang, I can't believe they didn't put that in the bill.

I would imagine the DOT would want to study it further though than just converting everything to 75.

[kphoger]

I would imagine the DOT would want to study it further though than just converting everything to 75.

There is still, of course, a process for a particular department to request that the DOT lower it back down to 70 if appropriate along a given stretch of highway but, other than that, it does appear that all 70s within the parameters will simply be raised to 75.

[ElishaGOtis]

SOMEHOW, it ended up back in the senate bill in Florida!!

SB 1220 AUTHORIZES FDOT to post speed limits no higher than 80mph on limited access highways, and up to 70mph elsewhere. It's a brand-new last-minute amendment, so who knows if it'll actually go through or not, but regardless here it is:

https://flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1220

THIS IS NOT AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT.

Oof

[doorknob60]

Idaho just passed a bill to eliminate the 70 MPH truck speed limit, allowing up to 80 MPH on interstates for trucks. Takes affect July 1st.

https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/new-idaho-law-equalizes-speed-limits-semi-trucks-and-cars-state-freeways/277-ec5d8389-d42c-4b88-8046-768db96ea771?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_KTVB

[ElishaGOtis]

Funny argument in favor of faster speed limits: testing autonomous vehicles in open traffic.

https://www.carscoops.com/2026/04/texas-130-autonomous-trucking/

[ElishaGOtis]

There are a bunch of states that legally can increase freeway speed limits, but for one reason or another don't. AFAIK, excluding states that have a weird cap for freeways but no cap for other roads (i.e. Arizona, Wyoming) or caps for roadways that don't exist (i.e. Mississippi toll roads), these include:

• Alabama (none if approved by Governor)
• Alaska (admin code cap 75)
• Delaware (none except DE-1 at 65, except if VSL)
• DC (technically none but it's super urban)
• Florida (turnpikes only, technically none if rule adopted, of which can technically also override the 100mph criminal speed provision)
• Hawaii (technically cap 80, but that's the criminal speed threshold)
• Indiana (none)
• Iowa (it appears none?)
• Louisiana (none)
• Massachusetts (none except I-90 at 65)
• Michigan (none except for min mileage at 75)
• Minnesota (none)
• New Jersey (none except fines doubled at 65mph)
• North Dakota (none if public hearing and joint police approval gained, EXTREMELY RARE)
• Oklahoma (none)
• Rhode Island (none)
• South Carolina (none)
• Utah (freeways only, cap similar case to Hawaii where criminal speed is 105)
• Vermont (technically none, but AFAIK VTrans only defines design speeds up to 55 and allows posted limits 10 above design speeds)
• Washington (cap 75)
• West Virginia (none, legislature asked WVDOT to look into 75 over 10 years ago but nothing happened, yet...)

Will also add that Texas has the only-once-used cap of 85 if designed for such.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Of these states, do y'all think any of them would go around raising some limits (even on a single roadway)?

[vdeane]

Massachusetts (none except I-90 at 65)

That's interesting... I would think that I-90 would be the road most suited to an increase in MA!

[roadman65]

Its probably been mentioned already, but Florida wants to raise its maximum from 70 to 80.

[ElishaGOtis]

Its probably been mentioned already, but Florida wants to raise its maximum from 70 to 80.

SOMEHOW, it ended up back in the senate bill in Florida!!

SB 1220 AUTHORIZES FDOT to post speed limits no higher than 80mph on limited access highways, and up to 70mph elsewhere. It's a brand-new last-minute amendment, so who knows if it'll actually go through or not, but regardless here it is:

https://flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1220

THIS IS NOT AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT.

Oof

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