North Dakota's New 80 MPH Highways Are Accompanied by Reduced Limits in Other Areas.

      NDDOT

      Subscribe to The Drive’s daily newsletter

      Get the latest updates on car news, reviews, and features.

      This month, North Dakota has raised the speed limits on its interstate highways from 75 mph to 80 mph on many of its long, straight stretches of road. Concurrently, the limit has been lowered to 70 mph near certain populated areas. I think this is a great idea.

      For my coastal elitist friends reading this, yes, North Dakota does have population centers. Specifically, we're referring to Dickinson, Grand Forks, Jamestown, Medora, and Valley City, as confirmed by the NDDOT to the local publication, the Argus Leader. (However, it's worth noting that the state's population is quite sparse—approximately 800,000 residents spread across 70,698 square miles, making it the fourth-least-densely populated state in the country.)

      Additionally, North Dakota is modifying speeding fines (through House Bill 1298). In areas where the limit is 65 mph or higher, fines are set at $20 or $5 per mph over the limit, whichever is greater. There is also an additional $20 charge for speeds exceeding the limit by more than 16 mph. So, if you’re caught driving at 97 mph in an 80 mph zone in North Dakota, you’ll face a $105 fine.

      US Census

      Fines have also seen a slight increase on lower-speed roads—where the limit is under 65 mph, the fine is $20 or $3 for each mph over the limit, whichever is higher.

      I risk sounding elitist myself, but that seems like a fairly reasonable fee for high-speed highway driving. However, the real frustration for drivers in America lies in the insurance increases that follow a traffic stop. That’s a discussion for another time.

      I have mixed feelings about speed limits and their enforcement. In my rural New York area, speed limits are absurdly low and inconsistently enforced, leading to variable speed differences and traffic stops in hazardous locations. That said, the IIHS conducted an extensive study on speed limits a few years ago and found that an increase of 5 mph in limits can lead to a rise in fatalities.

      NDDOT on Facebook Poppy Mills

      It remains to be seen whether the 5 mph increase in some areas, combined with a 5 mph decrease in others, will offset that in North Dakota.

      Nevertheless, the prospect of being able to drive quickly on long, open stretches through rural areas, while reducing speeds in towns and junctions, makes a lot of sense to me. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve traversed the United States, and I say let's embrace the American autobahn. Just remember to keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel when you're covering 117 feet per second.

      With North Dakota's updated limit, there are now nine states that allow 80 mph speed limits. Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming all have areas where you can legally drive at 80 mph, and Texas even has some spots where the limit is as high as 85 mph.

      Do you have thoughts on speed limits? Let’s discuss it; you can email me at [email protected].