Only in this state....

[corco]

Idaho does it- typically on a 65 MPH road it goes 65-50-35-25

[jeffandnicole]

I'll just add that in that 55 mph to 35 mph drop on 295 in NJ, it's an unenforced limit, but necessary due to the curves.  And at least on the NB side, since 295 and 42 multiplexes for a 1/4 mile, the limit technically jumps back up to 55 mph since one roadway can't have varying speed limits in adjoining lanes. 

I'm sure if one causes an accident in the interchange (which based on an analysis a few years ago, occurs approximately twice on a daily basis), they could charge you with some sort of speeding violation.  However, in NJ 'Careless Driving' is the general, catch-all charge most people get hit with when they're at fault in an accident.  Careless Driving has the same fine and points as a minor speeding violation.

Not to mention, no cop would want to risk their lives trying to pull someone over for a simple speeding violation on these curves.  There are *plenty* of opportunities to pull someone over elsewhere on the highway in a more normal speed zone.

[roadfro]

In Alabama, this is done by law, so as to prevent small town speed traps.  There is never an increase or decrease of more than 10, so that you don't enter a town and have the speed limit go from 55/65 to 25 in one shot, with a cop hiding behind the billboard.

that's something Nevada does.  towns like Fallon and Searchlight on US-95 have that quick drop, and the town is all too quick to enforce the reflex tax.

Nevada will typically have a staged drop approaching the small towns. Between Vegas and Fallon on US 95, the speed limit is 70 most of the way. Approaching a town, you usually get a "Reduced Speed Ahead" (older regulatory sign) or "XX MPH Speed Zone Ahead" (text diamond warning sign), followed by at least two transitional speed zones before you get to the town speed. A typical example is 70 (rural) > 55 > 45 > 35 > 25 (town).

[roadman65]

Oklahoma seems to be unique among the states in gradually decreasing speed limits rather than a hard drop. If you are going from a 65 mph zone to a 45 mph zone, there is always a 55 zone in between.

Florida always does this on state roads. There are a few drops (and rises) of 15, but almost all go at increments of 5 or 10. For example, here's Williston: http://www.itoworld.com/map/124#fullscreen&lat=29.39&lon=-82.45&zoom=13

Do not forget the small stretch of rural US 17-92 between Davenport and Haines City that only rises up to 50 mph to avoid the hard drops at either end.   Then coming into Davenport S-WB you have the limit go from 55 to 50, then to 45, to 40, and finally 35 around the CR 547 intersection.  Then it rises again to 40 and then to 50 toward Haines City. 

Some areas go to 55 for short stretches between towns, where you speed up to 55 and then have to brake again soon afterward.  Even FL 60 east of Bartow does not have the 65 mph resume, because a few miles east there is a 45 mph speed zone.   Then where it is a long straight run to Lake Wales it becomes 65 mph because it is that for several miles.

[KEK Inc.]

Not sure if it's been mentioned here...

I know people probably referenced Oregon's lack of putting Limit on Speed Limit signs, but a really annoying Oregon signing convention is putting signs right AFTER where you need to turn.  It gets very confusing at times, because they don't do it everywhere.

[Road Hog]

I can't find the specific statute, but Texas has a law that speed limits can only change in maximum 15-mph increments and must be effective for a minimum distance. I know it's 15 because it goes from 50 to 35 on McDonald Street in McKinney.

[Daniel]

Michigan, backlit "LEFT" and "RIGHT" boxes mounted right on top of almost every turning light. I challenge anyone to spot this setup outside Michigan. Also, flashing red ball for permissive turns, seen flashing red arrows, but not flashing red balls in any state other than Michigan. Speaking of turning, I wanted to add the Michigan left system, but a few confirmed reports have found them in various localities of other states.  DARN! Oh, and the fact we label and refer to our state routes "M-XX" and not "SR-XX" or "MI-XX"

[hbelkins]

Oh, and the fact we label and refer to our state routes "M-XX" and not "SR-XX" or "MI-XX"

Kansas says hi.

[vtk]

On OH-750 just west of I-71 there's a traffic light serving big box retail, with protected-only multiple left turn lanes.  Late at night, the signal goes to flashers: the side roads get flashing red balls, through traffic on 750 gets flashing yellow balls, and the left turn lanes for 750 get flashing red balls.  I believe this is meant to be treated as a permissive left, like in Michigan.  So yes, it exists elsewhere, but rarely.

[agentsteel53]

On OH-750 just west of I-71 there's a traffic light serving big box retail, with protected-only multiple left turn lanes.  Late at night, the signal goes to flashers: the side roads get flashing red balls, through traffic on 750 gets flashing yellow balls, and the left turn lanes for 750 get flashing red balls.  I believe this is meant to be treated as a permissive left, like in Michigan.  So yes, it exists elsewhere, but rarely.

I would treat that as a "come to a stop, then turn left when safe", which is not exactly the definition of a permissive left.

[Rover_0]

Oklahoma seems to be unique among the states in gradually decreasing speed limits rather than a hard drop. If you are going from a 65 mph zone to a 45 mph zone, there is always a 55 zone in between.

Generally Utah uses buffer zones in rural towns, but it can be so different from town to town, and even different approaches to the same town. Here's some towns I can name off the top of my head generally along US-89:

Coming into Kanab from the north, the speed goes 65-60-55-45-35, from the south (US-89A), it goes 55-45-35. From the east, it goes 65-45-35.

Panguitch, coming in from the north, goes 65-55-45-35, but from the southeast, there is no buffer, as you drop from 65 down to 35! I'm not sure about UT-143.

Hatch's speeds coming in from the south and going from 65-60-40, and from the north it's 65-55-40.

Orderville and Glendale are uniform on either side, with Orderville going from 55-45-35 and Glendale going from 55-40.

[mgk920]

Oh, and the fact we label and refer to our state routes "M-XX" and not "SR-XX" or "MI-XX"

Kansas says hi.

Ditto Utah ('U-xx').  Kansas uses 'K-xx', too.



Mike

[vtk]

.com

On OH-750 just west of I-71 there's a traffic light serving big box retail, with protected-only multiple left turn lanes.  Late at night, the signal goes to flashers: the side roads get flashing red balls, through traffic on 750 gets flashing yellow balls, and the left turn lanes for 750 get flashing red balls.  I believe this is meant to be treated as a permissive left, like in Michigan.  So yes, it exists elsewhere, but rarely.

I would treat that as a "come to a stop, then turn left when safe", which is not exactly the definition of a permissive left.

And technically, that's what the law requires when a flashing red ball is used for a permissive left in Michigan too.

Personally, I think a flashing yellow ball (beside a "left turn signal" sign) would make the most sense to indicate permissive left where protected-only mode is sometimes used, but that's not what FHWA decided on...

[vdeane]

Doesn't flashing yellow currently mean "just blow on through"?  They're used on semi-major rural intersections where one road has a stop sign but the other doesn't.

[vtk]

Doesn't flashing yellow currently mean "just blow on through"?

Not if you intend to turn left.

[Brandon]

Doesn't flashing yellow currently mean "just blow on through"?  They're used on semi-major rural intersections where one road has a stop sign but the other doesn't.

I was under the impression that a flashing yellow meant "proceed at speed with caution".

[NE2]

I was under the impression that a flashing yellow meant "proceed at speed with caution".

Which is how you should always be driving...

[agentsteel53]

Doesn't flashing yellow currently mean "just blow on through"?

Not if you intend to turn left.

how is it different from an intersection without a signal for the through way?  i.e. only STOP signs for the side street.  when I turn left onto the side street, I have to watch for oncoming traffic regardless of the presence of a flashing yellow.

[Kacie Jane]

Doesn't flashing yellow currently mean "just blow on through"?  They're used on semi-major rural intersections where one road has a stop sign but the other doesn't.

I was under the impression that a flashing yellow meant "proceed at speed with caution".

Which for many drivers simply resolves to "just blow on through".  Essentially, what a flashing yellow says to me is, "Hey, look, there's an intersection here, and there may or may not be an asshole waiting for the perfect opportunity to turn in front of you."

[jeffandnicole]

Doesn't flashing yellow currently mean "just blow on through"?  They're used on semi-major rural intersections where one road has a stop sign but the other doesn't.

I was under the impression that a flashing yellow meant "proceed at speed with caution".

Which for many drivers simply resolves to "just blow on through".  Essentially, what a flashing yellow says to me is, "Hey, look, there's an intersection here, and there may or may not be an asshole waiting for the perfect opportunity to turn in front of you."

Which, again, describes every single intersection.  Heck - it describes every single driveway.  Heck - someone could pop off a curb or grassy field. 

[Kacie Jane]

True, but these are special intersections with higher asshole potential.

[vtk]

Doesn't flashing yellow currently mean "just blow on through"?

Not if you intend to turn left.

how is it different from an intersection without a signal for the through way?  i.e. only STOP signs for the side street.  when I turn left onto the side street, I have to watch for oncoming traffic regardless of the presence of a flashing yellow.

Exactly.  In a situation with no signal at all, or when faced with a flashing yellow ball, a person turning left must yield to oncoming traffic, but is not otherwise required to stop. 

So if you're designing a traffic signal for one or more left turn lanes, where sometimes left turns are prohibited, sometimes they are permitted, and sometimes they are protected, why the heck not use a flashing yellow ball for the permissive/unprotected left? 

On the other hand, the flashing yellow arrow might suggest that left turning traffic can blow through yielding to no-one (like steady green arrow) as through traffic does on a flashing yellow ball (like steady green ball).  Rather than apply the existing meaning of a flashing yellow ball for left turning traffic, FHWA chose to create a new meaning for the arrow, in the case of that arrow being yellow and flashing: now you must yield to oncoming traffic, even though you have an arrow indication.

On the other hand, many drivers aren't smart enough to properly combine known meanings of arrow vs ball with flashing red vs flashing yellow vs steady green, and they have to learn specific meanings for each individual case anyway.

[corco]

Ditto Utah ('U-xx')

That's a weird myth- I've never seen that outside of roadgeek circles. Utah is typically SR-

[agentsteel53]

That's a weird myth- I've never seen that outside of roadgeek circles. Utah is typically SR-

somewhere I have a 1940s photo of a white guide sign with "TO U-xx" as one of the destinations referenced with an arrow.  I'll have to dig it up.

[corco]

Heh, I guess I could see it being a historic designation when the shields were a big "U", but in driving around Utah, listening to the radio in Utah, and talking to people from Utah I've never seen or heard it referred to that way.