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Congress repealed the National Maximum Speed Limit in 1995.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.
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.
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)
65 (70 on specified segments)
65 (70 on specified segments)
75 (80 on specified segments)
75 (80 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
70
60
60
60
60
70
70
70
70
65
65
40
55
55
20
20
40
65
65
55
55
50
50
75; 80 on specified segments
75; 80 on specified segments
65; 70 on specified segments
65; 70 on specified segments
75
75
75
75
75
75; 80 or 85 on specified segments
75; 80 or 85 on specified segments
75
70
70
70
70
65
65
80
80
80
80
70
70
60
70
70
70 (60 on specified segments)
70 (60 on specified segments)
60
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 (70 on specified segments)
65
55
55
65
65
75
75
70
70
70
70
65
70
70
70
70
65
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
65
65
75
65
65
55
55
65
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)
65
70
70
80
80
65
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)
70
70
70
60
60
70
70
70
70
70
70
70
70
65
65
65
65
70
70 (75 on select segments)
65
70
60; 55 if speed limit for cars is less than 70 MPH
70
60; 55 if speed limit for cars is less than 70 MPH
65
65
65
65
65
65
70
55
55
70
70
70
75
75
75
75
75
75
75
75
70
70
70
70
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
65
65
75
75
70
70
70
70
70
70
70
55
55
70
70
65
55
55
60
60
70
70
55
55
65
55
65
70
70
75, 80 on specified segments
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
65
65
70
70
55
55
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
55
55
65
65
65
65
65
65
55
55
65
65
75
75
65
65
65
65
70
55
70
55
65
55
75
70
65 (60 on specified roads)
65 (60 on specified roads)
75
75
75
75
65
65
65
65
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)
55
55
70
70
65
65
65
65
The nation’s top highway safety leaders will convene at the Sheraton Denver Downtown for the Governors Highway Safety Association’s (GHSA) Annual Meeting, Moving Mountains: Forging a New Traffic Safety Landscape, September 11-15.
“We don’t see speeding and aggressive driving as a safety issue as we do with drunk driving and even distracted driving,” says the Executive Director of the Governors Highway Safety Association, Jonathan Adkins.
Today, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that 8,730 people were killed on U.S. roadways in the first quarter of 2021 – a 10.5% increase from the same period last year.
Today, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that 8,730 people were killed on U.S. roadways in the first quarter of 2021 – a 10.5% increase from the same period last year.
At the beginning of the pandemic as roads cleared, drivers took this as permission to drive dangerously without any consequences. Busy interstates and corridors all of a sudden weren’t so busy. Before, drivers couldn’t go much past 50 or 60 mph because of traffic volume.
“The longer this pandemic goes and the longer we don’t have as much traffic enforcement as we need, this becomes the new normal," said GHSA Executive Director Jonathan Adkins.
GHSA's Annual Report highlights the Association's accomplishments for the 2021 Fiscal Year (July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021).
“Summer is an incredibly dangerous time. And it culminates with Labor Day, that last hurrah,” said Pam Shadel Fischer of the Governors Highway Safety Association.
Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford, & GHSA are extending their 18-year commitment to improving teen driving skills by awarding grants totaling $135,000 to six State Highway Safety Offices & announcing the return of Ford Driving Skills for Life hands-on driver training clinics.
On Wednesday, the Governors Highway Safety Association and the Ford Motor Company Fund announced they will award $135,000 in grants to six states, including New York, to combat the rise of speeding among teen drivers.
