Speed limits in the United States are set by each state or territory. Speed limits vary primarily due to state laws, but also due to the type of road, land use, and more.
Increments of five miles per hour are used. Some states have lower limits for trucks and night. Occasionally, there are minimum speed limits.
Most speed limits are set by statute, although each state allows various agencies to set a different, usually lower, limit.
The highest speed limits are generally 75 mph (121 km/h) in western states and 70 mph (113 km/h) in eastern states. A few states, mainly in the Northeast Megalopolis, have 65 mph (105 km/h) limits, and Hawaii only has 60 mph (97 km/h) maximum limits. A small portion of the Texas and Utah road networks have higher limits.
For thirteen years (1974–1987), federal law prohibited speed limits above 55 mph (89 km/h).
Read more about Speed Limits In The United States: History, Minimum Speed Limits, Truck Speed Limits, Night Speed Limits
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