History of Florida State Speed Laws

• Speed limits are meant to save lives.highway image by BR from Fotolia.com
  
  Historically, the power to set speed limits belongs to the states with a few exceptions where the federal government may step in and alter the legal limits. Speeding is a non-criminal infraction, but automobile collisions kill thousands of people each year. Florida began speed laws in the 1950s to save lives and the state has continued with this tradition by overseeing how fast automobiles are allowed to travel on rural roads and busy interstates to reduce collisions.
  
  

June 11, 1957

• speed limit 25 image by Stephen VanHorn from Fotolia.com
  
  In 1957, Florida legislation enacted the 65 miles-per-hour (mph) speed limit with the hope of saving lives. Prior to 1957, speeding over 65 was not unlawful, but was considered reckless and dangerous. This new legislation stated that the 65 mph was only lawful during daylight hours and a speed limit of 55 mph was applied to nights.
  
  

1973 to 1974

• The Emergency Highway Energy Conservation Act of the U.S. instated the National Maximum Speed Law, which prohibited speed limits in excess of 55 mph. This was done to lower gas consumption as well as lower the number of annual fatalities due to automobile collisions. Florida was forced to comply, thus lowering the state speed limit to 55 mph.
  
  

July, 1986

• Florida challenged the National Maximum Speed Law by posting 65 mph signs for three days on the turnpike in Osceola County. After three days, the signs were removed due to financial pressures from the federal government. Florida was the first state to contest the law, resulting in a nationwide dispute over the federal government infringing on a state's right to determine speed laws.
  
  

1987

• In April 1987, The Surface Transportation and Uniform Relocation Assistance Act was passed by the U.S. Congress, allowing states to raise speed limits to 65 mph on rural highways. In December of that year, Florida was allowed to increase the speed limit of their non-rural Interstate quality roads to 65 mph.
  
  

1995

• Congress removed the 55 mph speed limit law on all roads. Afterward, Florida was one of the first to raise their speed limit to 70 mph, starting with Interstate 10 east of Pensacola. This event marked the beginning of the system established during the 21st century.
  
  

2000 to 2010

• As of 2010, the Florida state speed laws are 55 mph in all locations unless otherwise stated, such as 70 mph or 65 mph on highways and interstates outside urban areas. In business and residential areas, the legal speed is 30 mph. In addition, no one can drive slow enough to block any other vehicles or interrupt normal traffic flow. These are state regulations, but are in agreement with national laws.