Speeding Laws

Nearly all speeding laws were enacted for the sole purpose of keeping roads and highways safe for motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. The speed limit set for each road is based on a variety of factors such as the number and type of pedestrians who cross that road. The standard rule for roads near schools is approximately 15 MPH during specified times and 25 MPH at all other times.

City Street Speeding Laws

City road posted speeds usually fall between 25 and around 40 MPH. This takes into account heavier traffic, the frequency of intersections, and the condition of the roads. The presence of congested shopping areas could result in the setting of lower acceptable speeds.

Posted highway speeds are often more than twice as high as city or town speeding limits. This is because there are usually no major distractions along a highway, many of which run through countrysides. Lanes may be wider, and most highways have some form of divider between traffic moving in opposite directions.

It is important to know that some states have a written code that allows drivers to go up to five or ten miles faster than the posted speed limit without penalty. Others enforce strict adherence to posted speed limits, and driving even one MPH faster than the posted limit can result in a fine. When travelling through a different state, keeping below the posted limit is a must, especially if you have no idea whether that state has speeding laws "fudge" factors.

Police use radar and speed matching to determine if drivers are exceeding speed limits. Usually, the more a driver is going over the posted limit, the higher the fine and other penalties. There are usually additional fines tacked on if a driver is speeding at an excessive rate and is involved in a collision.