Best speed limits in states you've driven in

[kphoger]

Texas.

The upper speed limits (80 on the freeway, 75 on the two-laners) are allowed on a county-by-county basis, rather than as a blanket across the whole state.

I've only driven a couple of Texas freeway segments that I thought had speed limits too high, as most appear to be completely appropriate.  I've also rarely driven a highway segment at all in Texas that I thought had a speed limit too low.

Especially in the areas I drive in, a lot of two-lane highways are 70 or 75 mph.  The ones that lack wide shoulders or good geometry carry an appropriately lower speed limit such as 60 or 65 mph, with advisory speeds on the curvier bits.

In-town speed limits along the highway seem to be appropriate, in my experience.  Even highways that just barely touch the outskirts get 50 or 55 mph, which is still decently fast but alerts you to the possibility of turning traffic.

Texas also seems to adjust the speed limit up or down occasionally, depending on the situation, which makes me assume they actually think about the number on the sign.

[1995hoo]

Gotta give this one to Texas... I don't think it requires any explanation.

Yup. Thread over. No other state really compares.

Except that you're overlooking the subject line: "Best speed limits in states you've driven in." Those of us who have been to Texas but have not driven in that state, especially those of us who have not been to Texas since prior to the National Speed Limit being repealed, have ample reason to refer to other states, as to those of us who have never been to Texas. (I was last on a road in Texas in August 1990, on a charter bus from Denton to DFW Airport. I was last in Texas at all in September 2015 on a Southwest flight from DCA to ABQ that landed at DAL per Southwest's usual pattern; I didn't get off the plane.)

[StogieGuy7]

For a state east of the Mississippi, Michigan definitely has the most reasonable freeway speed limits, including 70 mph on nice wide freeways in urban areas. Like it or not, it's actually realistic - unlike how Illinois sets speed limits in most places. Wisconsin had to be dragged into the 70 mph limit (even IL beat them) but they now post 70 pretty liberally. I'd like to see the limits on 2 lane roads raised where it's open country. There are plenty of rural highways that could easily be 65 mph.  Indiana misses the mark on too many suburban interstates - set too low.

States that are a joke include CT, NJ, RI and NY (which, for it's size, is atrocious).  Not to mention all the obnoxious speed traps that cops in NY state set up.  Hiding, sneaking around, they pursue speeders with a vigor that I wish they'd apply to real criminals in that state.  VA was always a laggard on speed limits when compared with neighboring states. But NY or CT make it look like Montana.

Haven't driven in Oregon in many years but the posts I see here complaining about low limits seem legitimate to me.  Best states anywhere seem to be: TX, WY, NV, UT, SD, MT.

[1995hoo]

.... VA was always a laggard on speed limits when compared with neighboring states. ...

....

I don't entirely agree with this, even as a longtime resident of Virginia. True, it took Virginia a long time to allow 70-mph speed limits again, but the state that was really a laggard compared to surrounding states was Maryland. Maryland didn't even post 65-mph speed limits anywhere, despite the change to the National Speed Limit allowing them in rural areas, until sometime in 1995 (the year the National Speed Limit was finally repealed).

[JayhawkCO]

Haven't driven in Oregon in many years but the posts I see here complaining about low limits seem legitimate to me.  Best states anywhere seem to be: TX, WY, NV, UT, SD, MT.

I'd add CO to that list, and honestly, might remove WY.  Sometimes the potholes are so bad on I-80 in spring/early summer that it scares me a little bit to let it rip.  I wouldn't lower the speed limit per se, but one has to be pretty darn aware of the road when the possibility exists of popping a tire at 80 mph.

Chris

[Ketchup99]

My only issue with Texas is freeway limits. Most freeways are capped at 75 there, with a few exceptions (I-10 and 20 in West Texas and Austin's beltway are 80, while TX-130 is 85). I feel like a lot of highways there would be 80 in other states out west (I-40, I-27, most of 10) and parts of West Texas have freeways that are probably better suited to 85mph than TX-130 is. Other than that, Texas seems like a lead-footed heaven.

[kphoger]

parts of West Texas have freeways that are probably better suited to 85mph than TX-130 is.

Well yeah, but do you know the history of that 85mph speed limit?  It's unique for a reason.

[Ketchup99]

parts of West Texas have freeways that are probably better suited to 85mph than TX-130 is.

Well yeah, but do you know the history of that 85mph speed limit?  It's unique for a reason.

I know the law says roads have to be special-built for an 85 limit. But there are other roads that, even though they were not designed for 85, could be safe at 85.

[kphoger]

parts of West Texas have freeways that are probably better suited to 85mph than TX-130 is.

Well yeah, but do you know the history of that 85mph speed limit?  It's unique for a reason.

I know the law says roads have to be special-built for an 85 limit. But there are other roads that, even though they were not designed for 85, could be safe at 85.

The 85 mph speed limit was part of the deal made with the state to build the highway in the first place.  If the state of Texas wouldn't allow 85 mph on it, then it wasn't going to get built.  That sort of strong-arm tactic was unique to TX-130, which is why you don't see it on any other highway in the state.  The legislation allowing it was custom-written with TX-130 specifically in mind.

[sprjus4]

The upper speed limits (80 on the freeway, 75 on the two-laners) are allowed on a county-by-county basis, rather than as a blanket across the whole state.

70 mph is statutory, though 75 mph is permitted on any roadway, anywhere in the state.

80 mph is what is legislatively restricted to various counties along I-10 and a small portion of I-20. Honestly, this ought to be revised to permit any interstate highway, allowing additional segments around the state to be raised.

[Revive 755]

Indiana misses the mark on too many suburban interstates - set too low.

Indian also needs to set its rural expressways higher - most of US 41 should be 65 (and probably would be if it was on the other side of the Illinois border).

(edited to fix quoting error)

[kphoger]

The upper speed limits (80 on the freeway, 75 on the two-laners) are allowed on a county-by-county basis, rather than as a blanket across the whole state.

70 mph is statutory, though 75 mph is permitted on any roadway, anywhere in the state.

80 mph is what is legislatively restricted to various counties along I-10 and a small portion of I-20. Honestly, this ought to be revised to permit any interstate highway, allowing additional segments around the state to be raised.

Ah, thank you for the clarification.

For those who are new to the party:  A lot of info on Texas' higher speed limits can be found in this thread.

[ethanhopkin14]

My home state of Texas is my vote.  Once you leave anytown USA, they waste no time getting you back up to 75.  Now I will say there are a lot of roads in Texas that I think the speed limit is too high for the design speed, but I think there are far more highways that have a lower speed limit than what it is designed for.

The flip would be New Mexico.  The rural speed limits are good, but once you get into town it gets ridiculous.  I was driving to Roswell last year and we were 5 miles outside of town and the speed limit dropped to 45.  There was nothing out there to slow down for.  Also, Nevada, you can run into many 25 mph speed limits in small towns along US-95.  Again, there is nothing in this town to slow down for, except writing a ticket. 

[US 89]

Also, Nevada, you can run into many 25 mph speed limits in small towns along US-95.  Again, there is nothing in this town to slow down for, except writing a ticket. 

I am not a fan of Nevada town speed limits. Sure, when you're out in bumfuck nowhere the limits are mostly reasonable - in fact, NV is one of the few states to allow 70 on 2-laners - but the speed limit drops around towns are too low and last way too long. The series of gradually lowering speed limits coming into Ely from the east on US 6/50/93 is almost impossible to stick to because each drop is about a mile before where it should be. The 25 mph speed limit on US 93 in McGill is also particularly egregious.

[kphoger]

... series of gradually lowering speed limits ... each drop is about a mile before where it should be.

Big pet peeve.  In such a case, I'd be much more likely to obey each one if they were all just shifted one sign in.

[Scott5114]

Gotta give this one to Texas... I don't think it requires any explanation.

Yup. Thread over. No other state really compares.

I'm not sure. I think some of their postings are just a smidge too high. 75 on an undivided road seems faintly ridiculous, considering how disastrous a poorly-executed pass would be at that speed. Of course, I imagine traffic count is taken into consideration in such situations, but whenever I drive in Texas I find myself driving under the limit more frequently than in other states.

Oklahoma does a lot of terrible things with their roads but our speed limits feel right to me. Kansas likewise posts fairly sensible limits, in my experience.

[kphoger]

Gotta give this one to Texas... I don't think it requires any explanation.

Yup. Thread over. No other state really compares.

I'm not sure. I think some of their postings are just a smidge too high. 75 on an undivided road seems faintly ridiculous, considering how disastrous a poorly-executed pass would be at that speed. Of course, I imagine traffic count is taken into consideration in such situations, but whenever I drive in Texas I find myself driving under the limit more frequently than in other states.

Oklahoma does a lot of terrible things with their roads but our speed limits feel right to me. Kansas likewise posts fairly sensible limits, in my experience.

Are the 70mph stretches of two-lane highway in Oklahoma all that much better, though?  I've only driven one of them, in the western part of the state (was it US-64 or US-412?), and I couldn't help but think the highway was too poorly constructed to have that high of a speed limit.  In contrast, I've hardly ever had that sort of thought when driving 75 on Texas highways.

[mhking]

Gotta give this one to Texas... I don't think it requires any explanation.

Agreed. No explanation needed.

[jeffandnicole]

Gotta give this one to Texas... I don't think it requires any explanation.

Yup. Thread over. No other state really compares.

I'm not sure. I think some of their postings are just a smidge too high. 75 on an undivided road seems faintly ridiculous, considering how disastrous a poorly-executed pass would be at that speed. Of course, I imagine traffic count is taken into consideration in such situations, but whenever I drive in Texas I find myself driving under the limit more frequently than in other states.

Wouldn't that be the definition of a 'best' speed limit though?  It's supposed to be at a point where you shouldn't exceed it.

[TXtoNJ]

The 65 mph limits extend too far outside of Houston for me to gush about Texas to the extent others do. I liked Idaho quite a bit.

[Scott5114]

Gotta give this one to Texas... I don't think it requires any explanation.

Yup. Thread over. No other state really compares.

I'm not sure. I think some of their postings are just a smidge too high. 75 on an undivided road seems faintly ridiculous, considering how disastrous a poorly-executed pass would be at that speed. Of course, I imagine traffic count is taken into consideration in such situations, but whenever I drive in Texas I find myself driving under the limit more frequently than in other states.

Oklahoma does a lot of terrible things with their roads but our speed limits feel right to me. Kansas likewise posts fairly sensible limits, in my experience.

Are the 70mph stretches of two-lane highway in Oklahoma all that much better, though?  I've only driven one of them, in the western part of the state (was it US-64 or US-412?), and I couldn't help but think the highway was too poorly constructed to have that high of a speed limit.  In contrast, I've hardly ever had that sort of thought when driving 75 on Texas highways.

I haven't checked out any 70 mph two-lanes in Oklahoma since they raised the limit on them. In general I feel like 65 is probably better for two-lane roads, especially around here.

[sprjus4]

The 65 mph limits extend too far outside of Houston for me to gush about Texas to the extent others do. I liked Idaho quite a bit.

Houston is honestly the exception and its due to previous environmental limits. I wouldn't say it represents the entire state as a whole.

[Road Hog]

The 65 mph limits extend too far outside of Houston for me to gush about Texas to the extent others do. I liked Idaho quite a bit.

Houston is honestly the exception and its due to previous environmental limits. I wouldn't say it represents the entire state as a whole.

Dallas has the same EPA restrictions, but most urban freeways have been upped to 70 mph (as if you could hit that in most hours of the day).

[CoreySamson]

The 65 mph limits extend too far outside of Houston for me to gush about Texas to the extent others do. I liked Idaho quite a bit.

Houston is honestly the exception and its due to previous environmental limits. I wouldn't say it represents the entire state as a whole.

I'm guessing that sometime within the next 10-15 years they might raise some of those limits since the environmental rules aren't in effect anymore.

[sbeaver44]

Idaho is fine but they really stretch the definition of "urban"  when setting interstate speed limits, which are capped at 65 in those areas. I-15 does not need to drop all the way from 80 to 65 through Pocatello.

Oh, man... PA does the same thing, except their urban speed limit is only 55 mph. The 55 mph zone on I-90 through Erie is truly painful. Traffic normally does 65-70 and it still feels like you're crawling. Here is an example of what it's like.

Don't forget PA's 55 mph zones for substandard rural freeways, examples being much of free I-70 and I-78 between Lenhartsville and Fogelsville (the Berks County portion currently being reconstructed and the Lehigh County part planned). This is inconsistent though as much of I-83 meets the same standards but is signed at 65 mph, and the PA Turnpike NE Extension is at 70 mph with practically no inside shoulder. In all cases cars are usually doing 70-80 mph with trucks 65-70 mph, regardless of the posted limits or standards of construction.

That 55 section from the Maryland line to the Turnpike is downright painful.

Yes, that 55 zone is awful.  PA's urban speed limits are just generally awful.  And the "55 next 36 miles"  coming into Wilkes-Barre on I-81 North over Warrior Gap is just straight demoralizing.  I'm good with a 55 zone in a city but PennDOT seemingly loves signing anything within 10 miles of a city as 55. 

I was talking with some friends the other day about how reluctant PennDOT seems to be to post short 65 zones, but found a counter-example in US 222's Kutztown Bypass being signed as 65. 

I look to our neighboring states WV and OH that allow 65 on divided highways like US 48.  I'm not sure PA has a 4-lane divided highway that is not already limited access up to the spec of US 48 though. 

PA, How many times can we see a 55-45 drop coming in from NY State on a 2 Lane Road.  Just seems like our backroads are, in general, slow.

I do love the new-ish 70 zones though.  The turnpike, I-380, I-99, I-80, and US 15 are all great now.