Speed Limits from the NYSDOT MUTCD

The following information is from the 1983 New York State Department of Transportation Manual of Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). The information and speed limit graphics on this page are provided by Ralph Herman.

PART 1: GENERAL RULES


Speed limit signs inform motorists of speed restrictions established by law or by regulation. The MUTCD. Speed limit types are defined as follows:

LINEAR SPEED LIMITS: A linear speed limit is one that appears along a particular highway, or along a portion of a particular highway.

AREA SPEED LIMITS: An area speed limit is one that applies to all highways within a specific area, except those specifically excluded. The area may be an entire municipality, or only a portion thereof. The defined area may also be the grounds of a school, hospital or other institution.

STATE SPEED LIMIT: The state speed limit is established by the Vehicle and Traffic Law and is applicable on all highways where other speed limits have not been established.

PART 2: ENGINEERING CONSIDERATIONS


Speed limits should be established only where engineering study indicates they are justified and reasonable. Unrealistic regulations are ineffective and should be avoided. Experience has firmly established that posted speed limits have little effect on overall traffic speeds. However, realistic speed limits do provide a sound enforcement basis for citing those who drive at an imprudent speed.

LINEAR SPEED LIMITS: An engineering investigation to determine a linear maximum speed limit should include the following considerations:

  • The existing speed pattern, with particular emphasis on the 85th percentile, maximum and ten-mile-per-hour pace speeds.


  • Potential traffic conflict due to intersections and roadside development (residences, public buildings, commercial establishments, etc…).


  • Traffic volumes, parking practices and pedestrian activity.


  • Accident experience.


  • Physical conditions, such as pavement width and condition, shoulder width and condition, grades, alignment, sight distance, etc…


AREA SPEED LIMITS: Evaluations for area speed limits should include the same considerations as for linear speed limits. However, since the specific factors for the highways involved usually vary, a general assessment for the area as a whole must be made.

Within an area, specific highways which warrant higher speed limits than the area in general may be excluded from the area limit, and be subject to a different linear speed limit or the state speed limit.

Specific highways which warrant a lower limit than the general area limit may also be separately regulated on a linear basis. However, since highway conditions themselves generally limit speed, speeds on those highways would naturally be lower, and an exception from the area limit is generally unnecessary.

NUMERICAL VALUES: Maximum speed limits should be established at values appropriate for optimum weather and visibility conditions, and free-flow traffic conditions. Appropriate numerical limits generally approximate off-peak, 85th percentile speeds. Speed limits shall be established in multiples of five miles per hour.

TERMINI AND BOUNDARIES: Speed limits should not extend beyond locations where they are justified. However, care should be taken in selecting linear speed limit termini and area speed limit boundaries to enable effective sign placement.

Termini and boundaries should be selected so that speed limit signs will have adequate visibility and will not conflict with other signs. A speed limit terminus or boundary should be either at an intersection, or at least five hundred feet from the nearest intersection.

SEASONAL AND PART-TIME LIMITS: Such speed limits include recreational and resort area speed limits, part-time speed limits and school speed limits.

  • Frequently, speed limits in recreational or resort areas are required only during the tourist season. Such speed limits should be established and posted on a part-time basis.


  • Part-time speed limits, applicable for relatively short periods (for example, two hours per day or two days per week), are permissible. Such speed limits should be posted with variable message signs supplemented by flashing beacons.


  • School speed limits are a special type of part-time speed limit.


MAXIMUM SPEED LIMIT SIGNS:

LINEAR SPEED LIMIT (R2-1 SIGN): The R2-1 sign shall be used for posting linear speed limits.

STATE SPEED LIMIT (R2-2 SIGN): The R2-2 sign shall be used for posting the state-wide speed limit.

AREA SPEED LIMIT (R2-3 SIGN): The R2-3 sign shall be used for posting an area speed limit that involves only a portion of a municipality.

CITY SPEED LIMIT (R2-4 SIGN): The R2-4 sign shall be used for posting area speed limits that are essentially applied city-wide. This sign should be used even where there are specific highways or smaller areas within the city where different speed limits apply.

VILLAGE SPEED LIMIT (R2-5 SIGN): The R2-5 sign shall be used for posting area speed limits that are essentially applied village-wide. This sign should be used even where there are specific highways or smaller areas within the village where different speed limits apply.

TOWN SPEED LIMIT (R2-6 SIGN): The R2-6 sign shall be used for posting area speed limits that are essentially applied town-wide. This sign should be used even where there are specific highways or smaller areas within the town where different speed limits apply.

APPLICATION: Where a linear speed limit within an area speed limit has the same numerical value as the area limit (a situation which can exist because of legal requirements), the appropriate speed limit sign (R2-3 through R2-6) shall be substituted for the R2-1 sign in posting the linear speed limit.

Where United States or New York numbered touring routes are on highways subject to area speed limits, such highways should be posted on a linear basis with the appropriate speed limit sign (R2-3 through R2-6). However, these signs may be omitted within heavily developed urban areas (for example, the central business district of a city).

LEGEND: The word "AREA" in the R2-3 sign may be replaced by another generic legend (for example, "CAMPUS," "PLAZA" or "PARK") where it would more clearly and appropriately identify a physically defined area.

LOCATION OF SPEED LIMIT SIGNS


Maximum speed limit signs shall be installed at or near the places where speed limits change. For linear speed limits, additional signs are required at intervals throughout the length of the restriction. For area limits, additional signs within the area are not required. However, in extensive or complex area, interior signs may be desirable to remind motorists of the speed limit.

LINEAR SPEED LIMITS: An R2-1 sign shall be placed at, or as near as practicable to, the beginning of a linear speed limit facing traffic entering the intersection. This sign may be omitted when the beginning is at or near the closed end of a dead-end highway. Where the beginning is at or just before an intersection, the sign should be placed beyond the intersection. Where there is a community identification sign at the beginning, the speed limit sign should be placed beyond the identification sign.

Additional R2-1 signs shall be placed at intervals throughout restrictions longer than 1100 feet. They should be suitably placed to remind motorists on the highway, as well as to inform motorists entering the highway, of the speed limit. Signs should be placed beyond, rather than immediately in advance of, intersections or locations where reduced speed may be necessary. Spacing between successive signs should not exceed the values shown as follows:

An appropriate speed limit sign (R2-1 through R2-6) shall be placed at, or as near as possible to, the end of a linear speed limit. This sign is the initial sign for the speed limit that follows. This sign should be omitted where the speed limit ends at or near the end of the highway (such as at a dead-end or at a "T" intersection).

AREA SPEED LIMITS: An appropriate area speed limit sign (R2-3 through R2-6) shall be placed facing traffic on each highway entering the area restriction. Where this point is at or just before an intersection, signs should be placed beyond the intersection on all highways on which the area limit applies. Where there is a community identification sign at the same location, the speed limit sign shall be placed beyond the identification sign.

Where a highway within an area has a higher or lower speed limit, area speed limits shall be placed on each street intersecting that highway, facing traffic entering the area restriction.

Where a smaller area with a different limit exists within the area, the two should be treated as separate areas having a common boundary.

Additional area speed limit signs may be placed within an area to remind motorists of the speed limit. Such signs should not be placed immediately in advance of intersections, or in locations where they would conflict with other traffic signs.

An appropriate speed limit sign (R2-1 through R2-6) shall be placed facing traffic on each highway leaving the area restriction. This sign is the initial sign for the speed limit that follows. Where this point is at or just before an intersection, signs should be placed at suitable locations beyond the intersection on all highways on which the area limit does not apply. Where the intersecting highway has a linear speed limit, the normal linear posting may be adequate for this purpose.

STATE SPEED LIMIT: An R2-2 sign should be placed on highways entering the State on which the state-wide speed limit applies. When a state boundary sign is in place, the R2-2 sign should be placed beyond the state boundary sign.

R2-2 signs shall be placed at the ends of linear intersections where the state-wide limit follows.

Where a highway subject to the state-wide limit is within or adjacent to an area speed limit, R2-2 signs shall be placed at suitable locations on that highway to inform motorists leaving the area restriction that the state-wide limit applies. Where the highway is a freeway, the R2-2 signs should be placed on its mainline roadways beyond the exit ramps, rather than on the entrance ramps.

In addition to the uses prescribed above, the R2-2 sign may be used as necessary to inform or remind motorists of the state-wide speed limit (for example, on highways subject to the state-wide limit adjacent to large airports).

Under certain conditions, an R2-11 end speed zone sign may be used instead of an R2-2 sign to post the end of a linear or area restriction.

SPEED LIMITS BEFORE 1974 (NMSL):

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