SPEED LIMIT? - Here'sYour Answer (437 kb, pdf, 2 pages) Thisbrochure answers all your speed limit questions.
Speed Limit Publications
- SPEED LIMIT? - Here's Your Answer (PDF, 437 KB, 2 pp)
- Work Zone Speed Limit Guidelines (PDF, 1.37 MB, 20 pp)
- School Zone Speed Limits (PDF, 152 KB, 1 p)
- Speed Limit Task Force Final Report
Study on speed limits on local roads (PDF, 2.9 MB, 45 pp)
Speed Management Links
- HEAT
(Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic) Speed Management Program - Variable Speed Limits
Quick Links
- 511 - Traffic and Road Conditions
- Minnesota Guidestar
- AAA
- Minnesota Safety Council
Safety Notes
Double fines will be imposed for violating any regulatory speed limits in work zones or in school zones. Fines are also double for failing to reduce speed when passing by a stopped emergency vehicle with its lights flashing.
Emergency vehicles
When an emergency vehicle is approaching you, move to the closest shoulder without crossing the path of the approaching emergency vehicle. You may proceed when the emergency vehicle passes you. If you are approaching a stopped emergency vehicle with its lights flashing, immediately reduce speed and, if it's safe to do so, move over in your lane away from the stopped emergency vehicle. Drivers should actually change lanes if there are two or more lanes in the same direction and there are no vehicles in their path.
Speed Limits Questions
Will lowering the speed limit reduce speeds?
NO. Studies show that there is little change in the speed pattern after the posting of a speed limit. The driver is much more influenced by the roadway conditions.
Will lowering the speed limit reduce crash frequency?
NO. Although lowering the speed limit is often seen as a
cure-all in preventing crashes, this is not the case. Crashes are most often the result of driver inattention and driver error. However, if a posted speed limit is unrealistically low, it creates a greater speed variance (i.e. some drivers follow the speed limit while most drive the reasonable speed). This speed variance can contribute to crashes.
Why do we even have speed limits?
A uniform speed of vehicles in a traffic flow results in the
safest operation. The posted speed limits can keep the traffic
flowing smoothly provided the majority of drivers find the
speed limits reasonable. To best do this, the limits must be
consistent throughout the state. The speed limits also give the motorist an idea of a reasonable speed to drive in an unfamiliar location. The speed limits are used by police officials to identify excessive speeds and curb unreasonable behavior.