State announces major speed limit changes - affecting over 4.5m drivers

The new bill was passed by the state's legislature last week and received Governor Kelly Armstrong's signature on May 5

North Dakota has become the ninth state to implement a maximum speed limit of 80 mph on specific multi-lane highways. The bill was approved by the state's legislature last week and signed into law by Governor Kelly Armstrong on May 5.

Despite not having an overwhelming majority, the bill managed to pass after being reintroduced following an initial failed vote, as reported by the North Dakota Monitor.

The new 80-mph limit will apply to multi-lane highways, likely including Interstate 94 and Interstate 29, which are the state's major highways.

The law also allows for variations in the speed limit based on conditions and is expected to maintain lower limits around larger cities. The new speed limit will be effective from August 1.

Neighboring states South Dakota and Montana already have an 80-mph limit, while Minnesota, to the east, maintains a 70-mph limit

Since each state was given the authority to set its own maximum speed limit in 1995, there has been a variety of speed limits across the United States.

North Dakota's recent change aligns it with neighboring states, excluding Minnesota.

Other states with an 80-mph maximum speed limit include Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming. In some parts of Texas, toll roads have a cap of 85 mph.

However, these increased speed limits have sparked debate. A 2019 study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety discovered that a 5-mph rise in the maximum state speed limit resulted in an 8.5 percent surge in fatality rates on interstates and freeways.

This patchwork of speed limits was born after Congress enacted the National Highway Designation Act in November 1995, effectively eliminating all federal speed-limit controls.

Since then, according to the study, escalating speed limits have contributed to an additional 36,760 deaths—13,638 on interstates and freeways, and 23,122 on other roads—than would have been anticipated if limits had remained unchanged.

In North Dakota, speeding fines have also seen a hike; exceeding the limit by five miles on one of the new 80mph stretches will now result in a $25 ticket. Other states levy steeper fines.

For example, in Illinois, fines can skyrocket up to $1,500 for driving 26-34 mph over the limit, while in Georgia, drivers clocking 75 mph on two-lane roads or 85 mph on any road will be slapped with a $200 state fee in addition to local fines.

The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration emphasized on their website: "Appropriate speed limits are a prerequisite for effective and sustainable speed management. In terms of traffic law, speed limits should reflect the maximum reasonable and safe speed for normal conditions,".