New York Among the Lowest Average Speed Limits in the Country

Speed. Many of us have the need for speed. Well, I don't so much. I don't feel comfortable going much over the speed limit, and I don't like wasting the expensive gasoline either.

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Although, I would like to see the speed limit increase to 65 Miles per hour along Route 17 and Interstate 81 through the Binghamton area, rather than the current 55 miles per hour. I have having to slow down from 65 heading into the Binghamton area from all directions on Route 17 and Interstate 81.

I took a look at how New York State speed limits compare with other states around the country. The website World Population review website outlines the different speed limits from state to state.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIIHS) website breaks it down into three categories - Rural Interstates, Urban Interstates, Limited Access Roads and Other Roads as of September 2023.

The State of Texas looks to have the highest speed limits on roads in the USA. According to the IIHS,  speed limits on rural interstates vary at 75, 80 and 85 mph on specified segments of road. Texas Urban interstates, Other Limited Access roads and Other Roads all have speed limits of 75 mph.

South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming all have rural interstates with 80 mph limits. Many other states have 75 mph limits on their rural interstates. But where does New York State and Pennsylvania fall in the speed limit game?

The IIHS shows that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania sets a limit of 70 mph for Rural, Urban and Other Limited Access roads, and 55 mph for the Other Roads category. New York State is behind most other states, with 65 mph for Rural, Urban and Other Limited Access roads, and 55 mph for the Other Roads category.

The World Population Review website show only four states with lower speed limits than New York State - Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Hawaii. Vermont comes in at 65 mph for Rural, 55 mph for Urban and Other Limited Access roads, and 50 mph for the Other Roads category.

And the slowest mph state is Hawaii with 60 mph for Rural and Urban roads, 55 for Other Limited Access roads, and 45 mph for the Other Roads category.