Speed Limit Signs
Speed limits are set on the 85-percentile speed of a roadway. This means that the speed limit is the speed at which 85% of drivers feel comfortable driving.
This method has been proven to be:
- safe
- practical
- enforceable
State & City Speed Limits
State law and City ordinance have established specified speed limits, called prima facie speed limits, which varies according to certain roadway characteristics. The following speed limits are set by State law:
- 30 mph on most streets
- 15 mph in alleys in urban areas
These speed limits do not need to be posted to be enforced. Streets that have speed limits higher than this base speed limit are signed as 35 mph, 40 mph, 45 mph, etc.
If there are no signs posted, the speed limit is 30 mph.
Speed Limit Signs Installed
30-mph speed limit signs may be installed generally under any one of the following criteria:
- Streets that have documented speeding problems.
- Streets that appear to motorists to have a faster speed limit (such as very wide streets).
- Streets that are the main entrance into a residential subdivision where the interior streets are all 30 mph.
Lowering Speed Limits
State law gives municipalities the authority to lower speed limits below the established prima facie speed, this should only happen after a traffic study shows that the lower speed limit is appropriate.
Without this study, a regulatory speed limit that is lower than the prima facie speed limit constitutes a "speed trap" and may not be enforceable in court.
Getting Motorists to Drive Slowly
The installation of speed limit signs often does not cause motorists to drive at reasonable speeds. Motorists tend to drive at speeds they feel comfortable with.
To help reduce speeding, it may be necessary to.
- increase enforcement.
- add traffic calming features, like pavement markings.
What You Can Do
Most of the motorists who speed on our City streets are fellow residents. Help improve traffic safety for everyone by following the speed limits.
Request a Traffic Sign
For assistance with adding speed limit signs or reviewing a street: