Those old enough to remember the national 55-mph speed limit have another reason to rejoice. North Dakota will become the next US state to allow legal speeds of 80 mph on stretches of multi-lane highway. And if you’re ever been to North Dakota, you know it’s a welcome change.
The state’s legislature passed the new bill last week and was signed into law by Governor Kelly Armstrong on May 5. It passed with a clear majority but not an overwhelming vote—the bill was actually brought back for a second pass after failing a vote earlier in the day, according to the North Dakota Monitor. Details regarding fines (which are higher) and allowing for flexible limits in certain areas were apparently part of the follow-up discussion.
There were also some concerns about higher speed limits leading to more crashes. North Dakota’s previous maximum limit was 75 mph, so bumping it an extra 5 mph isn’t exactly earth-shattering. Moreover, The Drive points out that the increase better reflects the speed most drivers were already going. The Legislature turned to its southern neighbor for some real-world statistics. South Dakota raised its speed limit on most limited-access highways to 80 mph in 2015. In the years since, there’s been no appreciable change in crashes or fatalities.
The 80-mph limit will apply to multi-lane highways. Presumably, that means Interstate 94 and Interstate 29, the only major highways in North Dakota. I-94 runs east-west through the southern portion of the state, while I-29 reaches north-south in the far eastern region near Minnesota. The law also seeks variations on that speed limit depending on conditions. It’s likely the speed limit will also remain lower around larger cities.
The new limit goes into effect August 1. In addition to South Dakota, Montana on the state’s western border has an 80-mph speed limit. Minnesota, which borders North Dakota to the east, still sits at 70 mph.
