Changes to the rules for setting speed limits on American roads

• There is an increase in the discussion of changes to the rules for setting speed limits on U.S. roads.
• Some states are seeking to deviate from 85% of the rules in the direction of no speed limits.
• Cities are experimenting with lowering the speed limit on streets.

Rose Hemmond has long been urging local authorities to lower the speed limit to 40 miles per hour on roads that pass by schools, churches, two schools, and parks where numerous children participate in sports competitions. She asked: "What are you waiting for, until someone gets killed?".

Under pressure from the community, the Silverania district in Bereznya in 2025 proposed engineers to determine whether a speed limit on the Mitchev road should be set high. Research has shown that the actual speed limit is 5 miles per hour lower than required.

This is related to studies conducted in the 1930s and 1940s, which still significantly influence speed limit settings in the U.S., even in urban conditions. There is a concept that states that 85% of the rules assert that the speed limit should correspond to the speed of the 15 fastest cars out of 100 that move freely.

However, after a decade of maintaining this rule, some states, under pressure from the federal government, are seeking to change or even replace it. It is believed that the safe speed is one that the majority of drivers consider normal.

The association of municipal transport operators developed an alternative to the 85% rule, known as "Municipal Limits," which aims to reduce the risk of injuries for all road users. In connection with the increasing number of road deaths, the Federal Highway Administration indicated that the 85% rule is not a strict rule and should not be the only criterion when setting speed limits.

Some cities, such as Madison in Wisconsin, are reducing the speed limit on their streets from 25 to 20 miles per hour. A similar experiment in Seattle showed a 7% reduction in serious accidents.

In California, the 85% rule remains the basis for setting speed limits, but local authorities are allowed to deviate from this rule if they can demonstrate the need for safety. However, some experts believe this is insufficient.

Currently, in states such as North Dakota, the speed limit is raised to 80 miles per hour in certain areas, which increases the risk of accidents by 8.5% for each increase of 5 miles per hour.

In Silverania, where local authorities have their say, the speed limit on the Mitchev road will be reduced to 40 miles per hour. However, research results indicate that 85% of the rules propose to raise it to 60 miles per hour, which has become a surprise for local leaders.

Currently, the speed limit remains unchanged, while the Ogayo laws establish maximum speeds for 15 types of roads, regardless of the 85% rule. Nevertheless, Ogayo is gradually changing its norms, taking into account the context of the road and the presence of pedestrians.

Tags: USA/Automotive