It is official, New York State is rewriting speed signs, changing the top speed limit from 65 miles per hour to 70 mph on select highways and interstates. While the talks of changing limits have already received backlash, the decision to change speed limits was always only supposed to be taken in areas where traffic safety and engineering safety criteria allow for it to happen.
What seems to be on the speed decision cards for New York?
According to State Senate Bill S1500 brought to the fore by Sen. Tom O’Mara in January 2025, the New York Vehicle and Traffic Law is set to permit the maximum speed limit of 70 mph on state roadways. The transition would mean changing the speed limit from the current limit of 65 mph to ensure that roadways still meet safety criteria.
The bill seems to be in full alignment with the goal of the Department of Transportation or Thruway Authority, which has also decided to raise the maximum speed limit to 70 mph if appropriate. However, despite the backlash received for the bill, the bill has specified that only roadways able to maintain this increased speed limit and those that have a low crash history would be considered for the increase in speed limit. Rural interstates and sections of the Thruway will most probably be ruled out of the equation and will not see an increase in speed limits.
Two sides of the coin: Supportiveness and criticism
According to the many supporters of this State Senate Bill, the lower speed limit of 65 mph has become somewhat outdated. The fact that most New York drivers already exceed this speed limit in rural conditions has been mentioned as all the more incentive to change archaic speed limits. The hope is that increasing the speed limit will ensure that traveling time is slightly minimized without posing any increased safety risks. Many logistics groups are in favor of the change, considering slightly less travel time.
Not all New Yorkers have voiced positivity towards this speed limit increase. Traffic safety advocates seem to feel that a mere 5 mph speed increase could lead to more crashes. Roads are said to lack the modern monitoring tools to enforce this speed limit change properly. The question is whether the 5 mph increase in speed limit will result in more injuries and perhaps accidents.
New York City faces uncertainties about speed limit changes
Neither Senate Bill S1500 nor A3571 has been implemented in the state yet. Before these bills are passed, court hearings and more careful decision-making will have to take place. The idea is to take into account the full view of safety-related data and the results of engineering studies. There will only be a select number of highways that make the cut and qualify.
Should these laws start to come in, signage changes and perhaps even road works need to happen to ensure that roads and drivers in New York are ready for this change. Road laws, particularly speeding laws, seem to be changing in every state, with some states making speed-limiting devices mandatory as well.
Speeding away from the more archaic road rules
New York has taken a careful decision to increase speed limits by 5 mph on a few highways since the set speed limit on these highways is said to be outdated. The proposed changes under New York State Senate Bill S1500 and New York State Assembly Bill 3571 will modernize speed limits while ensuring that safety remains a priority. Careful consideration is required before the state modernizes certain speed limits. While NYC is looking to change certain road rules, the state is also coming down hard on speed laws and is cracking down on one group of drivers.
