SPEED LIMIT

Basics

S
peed limits frame expectations for drivers and other roadway users. Properly set speed limits provide a safe, consistent, and
reasonable speed to protect drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists along the roadway. At the same time, speed limits can be a source
of frustration and confusion; for example, not all drivers like to travel at the same speed, and some people may not understand
why the speed limit changes on a particular road. In addition, community residents often have concerns that traffic is moving too
fast through their neighborhoods. Understanding the engineering principles and processes used to set speed limits and learning the
terminology used to describe them are the first steps in reducing drivers’ frustration or confusion and encouraging compliance.

SCHOOL WORK
ZONE

7:30-8:30 AM
2:30-3:30 PM

STATUTORY POSTED SCHOOL ZONE WORKZONE VARIABLE ADVISORY

TYPES OF SPEED LIMITS

STATUTORY SPEED LIMITS “SPECIAL CONDITIONS” SPEED LIMITS

Statutory speed limits are established by State legislatures for School zone speed limits are used in specific locations during the
specific types of roads (e.g., Interstates, rural highways, urban hours when children are going to and from school. Most States use
streets) and can vary from State to State. They are enforceable by a school zone speed limit of 15 to 25 mph in urban and suburban
law and are applicable even if the speed limit sign is not posted. areas.
Examples of statutory speed limits include:
Work zone speed limits are set as part of the work zone’s traffic
 25 mph in residential or school districts, control plan, which is used to help facilitate safe and efficient
 55 mph on rural highways, and movement of traffic through a work zone. Factors that influence
work zone speed limits can include:
 70 mph on rural Interstate highways.
 The posted speed limit when the work zone is not present,
POSTED SPEED LIMIT
 The location of the work zone and workers in relation to traffic,
Posted speed limits (sometimes called regulatory speed limits) are
 The type of traffic control (e.g., cones, barrels, concrete
those that are sign-posted along the road and are enforceable by
barriers), and
law. A posted speed limit could be the same as the statutory speed
set by the State legislature, or it could be established by a city,  The complexity of the work zone (e.g., lane shifts, narrowed lanes).
county, or State transportation agency as an adjustment to the Variable speed limits are displayed on changeable message signs
statutory speed limit. Some cities and counties will establish (CMS) at locations where roadway conditions regularly require
a blanket speed limit for roads in their jurisdictions. Those limits speeds to reduce more than 10 mph below the posted speed
are generally posted at the city limits or county lines. The posted limit. These instances typically occur due to weather conditions,
speed limit can differ from the statutory speed limit; in these cases, congestion, traffic incidents, and/or work zones.
the posted speed limit is determined using an engineering speed
Advisory speeds are a non-regulatory speed posted for a small
study and takes priority over the established statutory speed limit.
portion or isolated section of a roadway (e.g., a sharp curve, an exit
ramp) to inform a driver of a safe driving speed. They are set using
an engineering speed study and in accordance with guidance in
the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).
What is included in an engineering speed study?
 Speeds of motorists in normal conditions  Roadway setting (e.g., urban, rural,  Presence of on-street parking
 Traffic volume residential, woodland, farmland)
 Pedestrian or bicyclist activity
 Roadway type (e.g., interstate, freeway,  Number and spacing of driveways or
 Crash history
city street) intersections
 Pavement condition
 Roadway features (e.g., curves, hills,  Sight distances
number of lanes)

ESTABLISHING SPEED LIMITS CORRECTING COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS

State and local transportation agencies recommend and set  The Federal Government does NOT set or enforce speed limits;
appropriate speed limits by completing engineering speed this authority belongs to the State and local agencies that have
studies and following the guidance presented in the MUTCD. jurisdiction over the road.
Practitioners may also use a supporting web-based tool called
 The 85th percentile speed is not the only factor practitioners
USLIMITS2, which provides an objective second opinion and
helps support speed-limit-setting decisions. At times, agencies evaluate when determining an appropriate speed limit;
may need to implement speed management countermeasures to they complete engineering speed studies and often utilize
achieve the desired speed for a particular roadway (e.g., in areas supporting tools like USLIMITS2.
with high pedestrian and bicyclist activity). Review FHWA’s Speed  Simply lowering the speed limit does not guarantee motorists
Management Countermeasures: More than Just Speed Humps for will drive slower; speed management countermeasures may
more information on speed management countermeasures. have to be implemented along the roadway.

SPEED CONCEPTS SPEED SAFETY FACTS

Besides the types of speed limits, there are concepts relating to  Drivers who exceed the posted speed limit or drive too fast for
speed that are important to understand. conditions are involved in nearly one-third of all fatal crashes.
 Before a new road is built, engineers choose a design speed in  Only 13 percent of speeding-related fatalities occur on
order to guide their design decisions and prepare the plans. interstate highways.
 Once the road is built, engineers will evaluate the existing  More than 40 percent of speeding drivers in fatal crashes were
speeds by measuring the operating speed. They often do considered to be alcohol-impaired.
this by measuring the speed that 85 percent of drivers are
travelling at or below, called 85th percentile speed. Average risk of death for a pedestrian
90%
at impact rises as speed increases
 Used extensively in the traffic engineering field, the 85th
percentile speed is based on the premise that the majority of 50%
drivers choose reasonable speeds for given road conditions
10%
and should be accommodated.
23 mph 42 mph 58 mph
SOURCE: AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, Impact Speed and a Pedestrian’s Risk of Severe Injury or Death, September 2011.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

To learn more about speed For more information on speed
management, visit FHWA’s management, check out FHWA’s Speed
Speed Management Safety Management Countermeasures: More than
web page. Just Speed Humps fact sheet.

FHWA-SA-16-076
[Link]