"No Speed Limit" Signs in the MUTCD

[Chrispi]

I was wondering what would be the MUTCD analogue of the Autobahn's famous "end restrictions" sign.  It'll probably be just "NO SPEED LIMIT" on a white regulatory sign, but it'd be cool if it were something else.

[roadfro]

No such sign exists in the MUTCD, to my knowledge.

[ilpt4u]

"End Speed Zone"  would be the closest, or is that not in the MUTCD? I know I have seen that sign posted, usually leaving a town in a exurban/rural area, back to the "default"  speed limit for road type

[NoGoodNamesAvailable]

New York has an equivalent sign in its supplement to the MUTCD, NYR2—11:

[oscar]

The MUTCD provides for a "Maintain Top Safe Speed" sign (EM-4), for nuclear or other emergencies where travelers need to get away from or through a dangerous area ASAP. See https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/pdfs/2009r1r2/part2ithu2n.pdf (starting at page 343 of the complete MUTCD, or page 45 of that .pdf) for that and other disaster-related signs.

When Montana had a "reasonable and prudent" daytime rural speed limit for cars, it had sign assemblies stating truck and night limits (still in use), with no mention of any daytime limit for cars. There were signs at the state line explaining "reasonable and prudent" for cars in the daytime, which I think is not in the current MUTCD. 

I don't have a photo of the latter, but here's one of the former:



I didn't see a parallel to the top sign in the current MUTCD, but the bottom one is there (R2-2P).

[roadfro]

"End Speed Zone"  would be the closest, or is that not in the MUTCD? I know I have seen that sign posted, usually leaving a town in a exurban/rural area, back to the "default"  speed limit for road type

That sign is not in the national MUTCD.

It is a state-specific sign (New York?). I believe it is used where the state specifies a default speed limit–when leaving an urban area posted with a different speed than default, this is used to indicate the state default speed resumes. Not all states operate this way with a default speed.

[ilpt4u]

I want to say I've seen it used in Indiana, but exactly where not sure. I know I have seen it out there, somewhere

[1995hoo]

The MUTCD provides for a "Maintain Top Safe Speed" sign (EM-4), for nuclear or other emergencies where travelers need to get away from or through a dangerous area ASAP. See https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/pdfs/2009r1r2/part2ithu2n.pdf (starting at page 343 of the complete MUTCD, or page 45 of that .pdf) for that and other disaster-related signs.

When Montana had a "reasonable and prudent" daytime rural speed limit for cars, it had sign assemblies stating truck and night limits (still in use), with no mention of any daytime limit for cars. There were signs at the state line explaining "reasonable and prudent" for cars in the daytime, which I think is not in the current MUTCD. 

I don't have a photo of the latter, but here's one of the former:

....

Not my photo, but the website says this is public-domain:

[ipeters61]

I remember looking through the Delaware MUTCD (guide) to see how DelDOT trains its engineers to design signage.  This topic did come up.

"END XX MPH" Here's the DelDOT Sign Book, look at PDF page 32 (document page 1-6): https://deldot.gov/Publications/manuals/de_mutcd/pdfs/archived/Sign_Book_April_2010.pdf

But then according to the DelDOT MUTCD training, the "END XX MPH" is deprecated, PDF page 30: https://deldot.gov/Publications/manuals/de_mutcd/pdfs/draft/DEMUTCD_Part2_T2_training_021011.pdf

However, do note that Delaware has statutory speed limits (section 4169): https://delcode.delaware.gov/title21/c041/sc08/

[RobbieL2415]

You have to know what states have maximum basic speed laws.  For example, NY and VT have basic speed limits of 55 and 50, but local governments can post lower limits.  Once the lower limit ends the speed limit just ceases to be signed, signifying that the max basic speed is in effect.

[sprjus4]

However, do note that Delaware has statutory speed limits (section 4169): https://delcode.delaware.gov/title21/c041/sc08/

Interesting that the law notes the maximum speed limit is 55 mph on any divided highway with the exception of DE-1 which may be posted at 65 mph. It does not mention any exceptions for US-301 yet that is now posted at 65 mph too. Isn't that technically violating their own law by posting such speed limit without an amendment indicating US-301 is permitted?

In Virginia at least, the maximum speed limit on any divided highway shall be 55 mph, with 70 mph permitted on limited-access roadways (i.e. freeways and interstate highways). However, it also permits 60 mph on specific divided highways and those routes are listed in the law. The state is real strict about what is and what is not permitted to be above 55 mph. If they want to raise a road to 60 mph that's not permitted legally, they'll go through the process of adding it in the legislation. They did this back in 2018 when they added some new routes that now are getting raised one by one as speed studies are completed.

[jeffandnicole]

However, do note that Delaware has statutory speed limits (section 4169): https://delcode.delaware.gov/title21/c041/sc08/

Interesting that the law notes the maximum speed limit is 55 mph on any divided highway with the exception of DE-1 which may be posted at 65 mph. It does not mention any exceptions for US-301 yet that is now posted at 65 mph too. Isn't that technically violating their own law by posting such speed limit without an amendment indicating US-301 is permitted?

In Virginia at least, the maximum speed limit on any divided highway shall be 55 mph, with 70 mph permitted on limited-access roadways (i.e. freeways and interstate highways). However, it also permits 60 mph on specific divided highways and those routes are listed in the law. The state is real strict about what is and what is not permitted to be above 55 mph. If they want to raise a road to 60 mph that's not permitted legally, they'll go through the process of adding it in the legislation. They did this back in 2018 when they added some new routes that now are getting raised one by one as speed studies are completed.

Section (b) covers the speed limit being above or below any statutory limit on any road. 95 and 495 are also at 65, and DE 1 near Bear and 95 is 60 mph.

I think section (d) was written into law just to appease some local voters below the canal many years ago. Its not really needed.

[Roadsguy]

PennDOT generally either posts a single Speed Limit 55 sign and then doesn't post it again further down the road until the next restriction, or uses an END banner over whatever speed limit sign was in use. (I don't know if the latter is still used in new installations.) Pennsylvania's default speed limit for non-freeways is 55 mph.

[ipeters61]

However, do note that Delaware has statutory speed limits (section 4169): https://delcode.delaware.gov/title21/c041/sc08/

Interesting that the law notes the maximum speed limit is 55 mph on any divided highway with the exception of DE-1 which may be posted at 65 mph. It does not mention any exceptions for US-301 yet that is now posted at 65 mph too. Isn't that technically violating their own law by posting such speed limit without an amendment indicating US-301 is permitted?

In Virginia at least, the maximum speed limit on any divided highway shall be 55 mph, with 70 mph permitted on limited-access roadways (i.e. freeways and interstate highways). However, it also permits 60 mph on specific divided highways and those routes are listed in the law. The state is real strict about what is and what is not permitted to be above 55 mph. If they want to raise a road to 60 mph that's not permitted legally, they'll go through the process of adding it in the legislation. They did this back in 2018 when they added some new routes that now are getting raised one by one as speed studies are completed.

Section (b) covers the speed limit being above or below any statutory limit on any road. 95 and 495 are also at 65, and DE 1 near Bear and 95 is 60 mph.

I think section (d) was written into law just to appease some local voters below the canal many years ago. Its not really needed.

Also just note that section (a) doesn't really say "limited access."  Not sure if there's a specific difference from a statutory perspective in Delaware between that and another divided highway (e.g. US-13, US-40, and US-113 through most of the state).  There's a very, very short section of DE-7 that actually is undivided but has a 55 MPH limit, as it's transitioning between being divided and undivided.

[GaryV]

... NY and VT ...   Once the lower limit ends the speed limit just ceases to be signed, signifying that the max basic speed is in effect.

How do you know when the limit ceases to be signed, vs signs being a distance apart?

[RobbieL2415]

... NY and VT ...   Once the lower limit ends the speed limit just ceases to be signed, signifying that the max basic speed is in effect.

How do you know when the limit ceases to be signed, vs signs being a distance apart?

They post "End xx limit" signs.

[ozarkman417]

The only one of these signs I've seen is by a local university on a road when no one goes 20 (on a four line arterial). There isn't a speed limit sign for the next few blocks except for a school limit.

[Rothman]

... NY and VT ...   Once the lower limit ends the speed limit just ceases to be signed, signifying that the max basic speed is in effect.

How do you know when the limit ceases to be signed, vs signs being a distance apart?

They post "End xx limit" signs.

Not consistently in NY.

[Chrispi]

Honestly, I didn't think that this would be a popular thread.

Anyway, I guess here in the Beaver State the unrestricted sign would be "NO SPEED" , which would make driving in Oregon even more bizarre than it is already. 

[1995hoo]

Virginia used to have a single "END 65 MILE SPEED" sign–the only one anywhere in the Commonwealth, as far as I know–at the eastern end of the Dulles Greenway. As noted above, that would normally mean the default speed limit of 55 would apply after the sign, and that's ultimately why the sign was removed: The sign's location was just west of a toll plaza where the speed limit dropped to 35. I'm pretty sure there's now a 55-mph sign once you exit the toll plaza, although it's been a year or two since I've had reason to use that road and I do not have time to look at Street View right now.

[MikeTheActuary]

While it's not quite a "no speed limit" sign... I'm surprised no one has mentioned

[vdeane]

... NY and VT ...   Once the lower limit ends the speed limit just ceases to be signed, signifying that the max basic speed is in effect.

How do you know when the limit ceases to be signed, vs signs being a distance apart?

They post "End xx limit" signs.

Not consistently in NY.

"State speed limit 55" serves essentially the same purpose, although technically "end XX limit" would revert to whatever zone your're in (area, village, town, city, state, etc.) rather than just the statewide default.  They're becoming less common because people weren't familiar with the speed zone system.

[jeffandnicole]

While it's not quite a "no speed limit" sign... I'm surprised no one has mentioned

Except by the person who mentioned it... https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=25615.msg2440738#msg2440738

[MikeTheActuary]

While it's not quite a "no speed limit" sign... I'm surprised no one has mentioned

D'oh!!

(That's what I get for reading from my phone while on a trip.)

Except by the person who mentioned it... https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=25615.msg2440738#msg2440738

[machias]

New York has an equivalent sign in its supplement to the MUTCD, NYR2—11:

NYS is all over the place with this sign. There's "END XX MPH LIMIT" , there's also the older "END XX MPH SPEED" , the most common is now "STATE SPEED LIMIT 55" , however since the switch to the National MUTCD in 2009, apparently some engineers and/or contractors are ignoring the State Supplement and just going with "SPEED LIMIT 55" . There is no "No Speed Limit"  in New York State, the default speed limit is 55 unless otherwise posted.