DEAR SGT. AL: WHAT'S THE SPEED LIMIT WHEN IT'S NOT POSTED?

DEAR SERGEANT AL: What is the speed limit on a road when there are NO signs posted? --SPEED AT YOUR OWN RACE NOT AT RISK ALL-RIGHT?

DEAR SAYORNARA: Be careful here. I did some digging on the internet and found that just about every state has it's own law regarding speed limits, both maximums and minimums. On the maximum side it seems the states seem to be more consistent. Wikipedia has a great comprehensive run down on maximum speed limits and it seems the states like to do what its neighboring ones do and thus takes a regional approach to how fast you can go. With the exception of Maine (75 mph) the Northeast likes to stay around 65 mph. The South, Midwest, and California and Washington State like to stay at 70 mph (except Illinois, Oregon, Alaska, and Wisconsin at 65 mph) . Most of the Louisiana Purchase likes to go 75. The rogue ones on this issue seems to be Texas and Utah. Utah's max is 80 mph statewide. Texas believes this is such a states rights issue, that it has let its individual counties decide for themselves how fast they want people to go, but the fastest for some seems to be 80. Some states submit legislation that comes and go, so far Texas is deciding if the maximum uniform should be 80 on the Interstates. The last time the US had a uniformed limit was during the energy crisis during the Ford Administration at 55. It was lifted under Reagan.The 55 limit got such blowback I don't think Congress will ever pass such legislation ever again. 

This is a sign that is begging for trouble and if posted, is not there for just informational purposes.  Think about it, why not just round it off to 10 mph? This sign is made to MAKE you go slow, and is just begging for a cop to enforce it. Whenever you see unusual speed limits like this I would be VERY CAREFUL AND SLOW WAY WAY WAY DOWN!

I am not even going to touch the minimums. It seems just about every state has its own minimums and it seems so arbitrary that there doesn't seem to be a rhyme to any reason. The commonality I do find, however, is that most states, not all, have minimums for residential areas. But the range can go from 10-55 mph. So my suggestion is to check your state CAREFULLY because just about each one gives varying limits under certain conditions. This is what makes enforcement of these laws so enticing because unless you pay strict attention to the signage you can spell trouble for yourself.

Cops LOVE these kind of areas, it justifies their existence and makes you look REAL BAD in court, SO SLOW WAY WAY WAY DOWN when you see signs like this.

So, SAYORNARA, my suggestion? If you can't find signs, not sure how fast you can go,  and factor in officers' arrest speeds regardless of where you are in the country, if you go no more than 65 max on any highway in the US (that's about a mile a minute, and plenty fast if you think about it) and no  more than say 30-35 on a local road, that should keep you off any substantial police radar since there are plenty of other lead foots out there for the cops to catch. I would be more mindful of the limit if you come to a pedestrian or school zone, or see people walking about. In that case you should be going a bit slower. Dirt and gravel roads you should go even slower than that. Any kind of park or federal property, go WAY SLOW. That's my opinion, but don't hold me to it as every rule has an exception . . .

Good question SAYORNARA. You're off with a WARNING. Eyes should be WIDE OPEN and on the lookout if suddenly you don't see signage and not sure how fast or slow you should go.

Related Reading:

PART 1: How to Avoid a Traffic Ticket: Situational Awareness

PART 2: How to Avoid a Traffic Ticket: Arrest Speed

PART 3: How to Avoid a Traffic Ticket: Beware of What You Drive

PART 4: How to Avoid a Traffic Ticket: Detector, Jammers, and Apps

PART 5: How to Avoid a Traffic Ticket: Know What Cop Cars Look Like

PART 6: How to Avoid a Traffic Ticket: You Can’t Run and Only the Cops Can Hide

PART 1: How to FIGHT a Traffic Ticket: Preparing a Plan of Action Right at the Car Stop

PART 2: How to FIGHT a Traffic Ticket: Evidence Collection

PART 3: How to FIGHT a Traffic Ticket: Schedule a Court Date then Delay Delay Delay

PART 4: How to FIGHT a Traffic Ticket: When and when not to Lawyer Up

PART 5: How to FIGHT a Traffic Ticket: How to Testify in Court

PART 6: How to FIGHT a Traffic Ticket: Appeals and Final Thoughts