Speeding and Aggressive Driving
Speed Limits
Setting speed limits has traditionally been the responsibility of states, except for the period of 1973-1994. During that time, the federal government enacted mandatory speed limit ceilings on interstate highways and similar limited access roads through a National Maximum Speed Limit.
Congress repealed the National Maximum Speed Limit in 1995. Since then, 41 states have raised speed limits to 70 mph or higher on some portion of their roadway systems.
In many states, maximum speeds vary depending on vehicle type (car or truck), roadway location (urban or rural), or time of day. GHSA tracks state maximum speed limits for both urban and rural interstates, as well as other limited access roads.
In a few states, speed limits are not set by law.
Aggressive Driving
The term aggressive driving covers a range of unsafe driver behaviors. State laws define what constitutes aggressive driving and stipulate the related fines and penalties. Often, a driver must demonstrate more than one action to be considered aggressive.
To date, 15 states have addressed aggressive driving in their legislatures.
11 states have passed laws specifically defining aggressive driving actions.
- California and Utah have amended existing reckless driving laws to include actions similar to those defined as "aggressive" by other states.
- Pennsylvania has passed a resolution against aggressive driving.
- New Jersey enforces agressive driving under existing laws.
NOTE: GHSA does not compile any additional data on speed limit or aggressive driving laws other than what is presented here. For more information, consult the appropriate State Highway Safety Office (SHSO).
Sources: National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and SHSOs.
Laws last reviewed by SHSOs in March 2024.
75 (80 on specified segments)
75 (80 on specified segments)
75 (80 on specified segments)
65 (70 on specified segments)
65 (70 on specified segments)
75 (80 on specified segments)
70
70
70
70
70
70
70 (West Virginia speed limits, in general, are not set by law, but by the Commissioner of the Division of Highways.)
70 (West Virginia speed limits, in general, are not set by law, but by the Commissioner of the Division of Highways.)
60 or 65 (West Virginia speed limits, in general, are not set by law, but by the Commissioner of the Division of Highways)
60 or 65 (West Virginia speed limits, in general, are not set by law, but by the Commissioner of the Division of Highways)
65 (West Virginia speed limits, in general, are not set by law, but by the Commissioner of the Division of Highways)
65 (West Virginia speed limits, in general, are not set by law, but by the Commissioner of the Division of Highways)
60
60
60
70
60
60
70
70
70
70
65
65
40
40
55
55
20
20
50
65
65
55
55
50
75; 80 on specified segments
75; 80 on specified segments
65; 70 on specified segments
65; 70 on specified segments
75
75
75; 80 or 85 on specified segments
75
75
75
75
75; 80 or 85 on specified segments
70
70
70
70
65
65
80
80
80
80
70
70
70 (60 on specified segments)
60
60
70
70
70 (60 on specified segments)
65 (Rhode Island speed limits are not set by law, but by state traffic commission)
65 (Rhode Island speed limits are not set by law, but by state traffic commission)
55 (Rhode Island speed limits are not set by law, but by state traffic commission)
55 (Rhode Island speed limits are not set by law, but by state traffic commission)
55 (Rhode Island speed limits are not set by law, but by state traffic commission)
55 (Rhode Island speed limits are not set by law, but by state traffic commission)
70
70
70
70
70
70
65
65 (70 on specified segments)
65
55
55
65
75
75
70
70
70
70
70
65
65
70
70
70
n/a
n/a
45
25
n/a
n/a
75
75
75
75
4-lane: 70 Other: 65
4-lane: 70 Other: 65
70
70
70
70
70
70
65
65
55
55
55
55
75
75
75
75
65
65
65
65
65
55
55
65
65 (70 on specified segments)
65 (70 on specified segments)
65 (70 on specified segments)
65 (70 on specified segments)
55 (70 on specified segments)
55 (70 on specified segments)
80
65
65
70
70
80
75
75
70
70
70
70
80
70
65
65
Day: 70 Night: 65
Day: 70 (Light Trucks), 60 (Heavy Trucks) Night: 65 (Light Trucks), 55 (Heavy Trucks)
60
70
70
70
70
60
70
70
70
70
70
70
70
70
65
65
65
65
60; 55 if speed limit for cars is less than 70 MPH
70 (75 on select segments)
65
70
60; 55 if speed limit for cars is less than 70 MPH
70
65
65
65
65
65
65
70
70
70
55
55
70
75
75
75
75
75
75
75
75
70
70
70
70
65
65
65
65 (70 on specific segments based on an engineering and traffic investigation)
65 (70 on specific segments based on an engineering and traffic investigation)
65
75
75
70
70
70
70
70
70
70
70
55
55
60
70
65
55
55
60
70
70
55
55
65
55
70
75, 80 on specified segments
65
70
70
75, 80 on specified segments
60
60
60
60
55
55
Guam does not have any interstates. The maximum speed limits for cars and trucks are: 35 in rural areas; 15 in residential areas; and 15 or 25 in school zones.
70 (Georgia's "Super Speeder Law" adds on $200 in state fees for any driver convicted of speeding at 75 MPH or higher on any two-lane roads or 85 MPH or higher on multiple lane roads anywhere in the state.)
70 (Georgia's "Super Speeder Law" adds on $200 in state fees for any driver convicted of speeding at 75 MPH or higher on any two-lane roads or 85 MPH or higher on multiple lane roads anywhere in the state.)
70 (Georgia's "Super Speeder Law" adds on $200 in state fees for any driver convicted of speeding at 75 MPH or higher on any two-lane roads or 85 MPH or higher on multiple lane roads anywhere in the state.)
70 (Georgia's "Super Speeder Law" adds on $200 in state fees for any driver convicted of speeding at 75 MPH or higher on any two-lane roads or 85 MPH or higher on multiple lane roads anywhere in the state.)
65 (Georgia's "Super Speeder Law" adds on $200 in state fees for any driver convicted of speeding at 75 MPH or higher on any two-lane roads or 85 MPH or higher on multiple lane roads anywhere in the state.)
65 (Georgia's "Super Speeder Law" adds on $200 in state fees for any driver convicted of speeding at 75 MPH or higher on any two-lane roads or 85 MPH or higher on multiple lane roads anywhere in the state.)
70
70
70
70
65
65
55
55
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
65
65
55
55
65
65
65
65
55
55
65
65
75
75
65
65
65
65
65
55
70
55
70
55
75
70
65 (60 on specified roads)
65 (60 on specified roads)
75
75
75
75
65
65
65
65
55
55
55 (65 on select interstate routes by engineering investigation and case by case, not automatic or default)
55 (65 on select interstate routes by engineering investigation and case by case, not automatic or default)
55 (65 on select interstate routes by engineering investigation and case by case, not automatic or default)
55 (65 on select interstate routes by engineering investigation and case by case, not automatic or default)
70
70
65
65
65
65
Deadly Crashes Went Up In The First 9 Months Of 2020; Speeding Most Likely A Factor
With people working at home, there are fewer drivers on the road, but that hasn't stopped deadly accidents. In fact, they're increasing.
Deadly Crashes Went Up In The First 9 Months Of 2020; Speeding Most Likely A Factor
Story by CBS News
January 29, 2021
New Study Shows Tragic Impact of Turning Roadways into Speedways
New Study Shows Tragic Impact of Turning Roadways into Speedways
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 28, 2021
CONTACT: Adam Snider, 202-580-7930
202-365-8971 (after hours)
Statement by Jonathan Adkins, Executive Director, Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA)
Teens Are Speeding – And Dying – On America’s Roads, New Report Examines ‘Lethal Habit’
Traffic deaths have surged during the Covid-19 pandemic despite fewer drivers on the roads, and speeding is thought to be a major factor.
As Traffic Deaths Spike During COVID-19, New Report Examines Unsettling Trend of Teen Drivers Speeding – and Dying – on America’s Roads
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 26, 2021
CONTACT: Adam Snider, 202-580-7930
202-365-8971 (after hours)
Speeding Linked to Thousands of Teen Road Deaths in US
On Tuesday, the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) released a new report that examines the significant role speeding plays in teen driver crashes, which claimed more than 4,900 lives from 2015-19.
Almost Half of Teen Driver and Passenger Deaths in California Related to Speeding
Teens and Speeding: Breaking the Deadly Cycle
Teens and Speeding: Breaking the Deadly Cycle, a new report from GHSA and Ford Motor Company Fund, highlights the significant role speeding plays in teen driver fatalities and offers practical tools to help parents rein in this lethal driving habit.