Speed Limit Information North Carolina Speed limits are controlled by general statutes and local and state ordinances. Within Department of Transportation incorporated municipalities, the statutory is 35 (MPH) unless otherwise ordinanced and posted. The statutory speed limit on outside incorporated municipalities is 55 MPH unless Speed Limits otherwise ordinanced and posted.

Some highways have speed limits of up to 70 MPH on certain sections. However, the speed limit along these routes may drop to 55 MPH when they pass through certain areas. These Roy Cooper speed limit reductions are clearly designated in Governor North Carolina, so care should be taken to reduce speed when entering these lower speed James H. Trogdon, III zones. Secretary of Transportation

Crash records show that motorists too slow can create a safety hazard and cause crashes just as a motorist driving too fast can. If weather and permit, motorists should always try to travel at the posted speed.

Transportation Mobility and Safety Division 1561 Mail Service Center Statutory Speed Limits Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1561 Rural Areas 55* (919) 814-5000 Incorporated Municipalities 35* NCDOT Web Site: http://www.ncdot.gov/ School Buses 45 Traffic Safety Web Site: Activity Buses 55 https://connect.ncdot.gov/resources/safety/Pages/default.aspx * Unless ordinanced and posted otherwise

Reduce speed when hazardous conditions are present such as rain, snow, ice, congestion, darkness or low visibility, etc. August 2018 W hen traffic problems occur, concerned citizens Will lowering the posted speed limits frequently ask if the speed limit can be lowered. The reduce speeding? following information explains how speed limits are Many people believe that lowering speed limits will Neighborhood traffic often contributes to the established and what they can and cannot do to reduce motorist speed. However, changing the speed problem. Programs such as community watch, solve traffic concerns. limit is not always the best option. Speed limits are neighborhood partnerships, and homeowner’s set at a limit that the roadway can safely associations are often the most effective way to How are speed limits determined? accommodate by design, the majority of drivers will reach those drivers. The majority of speed Roadways are initially designed to accommodate obey, and law enforcement can reasonably enforce. offenders in neighborhoods are residents of that certain speeds. If a speed limit change is requested Engineering studies have shown that there are often neighborhood and not motorists “cutting on a State System , a traffic engineer no significant changes in speeds following the through.” will perform an engineering and traffic investigation posting of an artificially reduced speed limit. This to determine the appropriate speed limit. These information shows that most motorists drive at the Common Misconceptions investigations examine: speed they consider to be comfortable and safe. If It is often believed that stop signs, traffic signals motorists are regularly exceeding the posted speed and speed bumps will control vehicle speeds. • Road surface characteristics, conditions, limit through an area, enforcement is key to ensuring While stop signs and traffic signals are important roadway alignment and sight distance. compliance. Lowering the speed limit by itself cannot traffic control devices, they are not used to • Commercial and residential development, and guarantee motorists will obey the new regulation. control vehicle speeds. roadside friction (number of driveways, , pedestrians, etc.). What are special speed zones? The purpose of stop signs and traffic signals is to • Safe speed for curves and other locations along Some areas such as school zones and work zones assign right of way at intersections. Overuse of the section of road being studied. have special speed limits to enhance the safety of stop signs and traffic signals reduce both their • Frequency and severity of crashes. pedestrians, highway workers and others. These effectiveness and driver compliance. • 85th percentile speed — the speed at or below slower speeds may seem inconvenient, but obeying which 85 percent of the traffic is moving. them can prevent a serious crashes and injuries.

This investigation will help the traffic engineer What if I have a speeding problem in my For more information about determine if the speed limit is safe and reasonable. neighborhood? traffic control devices, please visit The traffic engineer will share the results of the Speeding on residential streets is a common http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/ investigation upon request. If a change is complaint reported to the Department. If you believe recommended, the traffic engineer will request motorists regularly exceed the speed limit along a approval from the State Traffic Engineer. Once particular road, contact your local law enforcement approved, speed limit signs will be changed and the agency and make them aware of the concern. new speed limit will become legally enforceable. can check the speed of motorists and issue citations to offenders.