Drivers in this state can watch out for an update on the highway speed limit. Road traffic policies and regulations are pieces of legislation which are constantly under review and subject to changes by local and state governments. With road traffic safety being a top priority for lawmakers, these changes to legislation are updated to reflect the changing realities of the road, especially with the ongoing progress being made in terms of automated driving technology.
New legislation to reflect changing realities on the road
Legislation regarding road traffic policies is constantly in flux, not only in order to ensure that all road users remain safe but also due to the constant updates regarding new technology and vehicles seen on the road. Policies regarding speeding practice are generally regularly subject to change, from speeds you are permitted to drive at to tighter and harsher fines and consequences for breaking speeding laws.
When it comes to changing speed limits, it can be a particularly tiresome process due to the updates to signage needed and communicating to drivers the new speed limits during the interim when there is a mismatch between signage and policy. Recently, this state has decided to update their speed limits on the highway, meaning drivers can soon expect new signage to communicate the new policy.
New 80mph speed limit on the highway in this state
North Dakota recently passed a piece of legislation which updates the current 75mph speed limit on the Interstates 29 and 94 to 80mph. In addition, the legislation, which was signed into effect in May earlier this year, also includes stricter penalties for breaking the speed limit- serving as a reminder to drivers the importance of balancing the responsibility of being permitted to drive faster.
Signed by Gov. Kelly Armstrong on May 5, the brand new North Dakota House Bill 1298 is the first time the state has decided to increase its interstate speeds in over decades. The decision was made in order to be more on parr with neighboring state interstate speed limits:
“This bill strikes a reasonable balance by aligning North Dakota’s interstate speed limit with two of our three neighboring states and increasing fines as a deterrent to speeding,” Armstrong said in a statement.
North Dakota also joins the likes of other states by coming down harder on penalties for breaking the the speeding limit. Going forward, the minimum speeding fine on an interstate will be $20, or $5 for each mile per hour over the speed limit on interstates and divided highways, whichever is greater. An additional $20 will be liable to be paid if speeds are more than 15 mph over the limit.
New signage to be expected later this month
With the speed limit being implemented in North Dakota, the interstate signage needs to be updated to reflect the change. The law officially goes into effect on August 1, meaning that, ideally, signage would be prepared by then. However, drivers can expect the signs begin to be updated from August 4. Because the law does not go into effect until August 1, the signage technically cannot be updated until the speed limit is legally 80mph.
“According to [3D Specialties contracted workers’] schedule, they’re going to try to get it done within about two weeks, but we did give them three weeks,” said Kirk Hoff, North Dakota Department of Transportation design engineer.
Across locations, other changes underway include implementing new automated camera technology in order to monitor the roads and to assist law enforcement with fining individuals breaking speed limit laws. The use of cameras on the roads is becoming increasingly popular, with only nine states explicitly outlawing their use. 24 states explicitly allow for their use, while the remaining fifteen do not have any explicit legislation regarding their implementation or not.
