The United States doesn’t have a speed limit set at a national level; each state decides on its own limitations on speed on its highways. Normally, the speed limit can range from 55 mph to 70 mph on a highway. However, one state, thirsty for speed, stands out with its 85 mph speed limit.
Excuse me, officer, was I speeding?
If you are driving at 85 mph in a state like Vermont, you are definitely speeding, and you will get a fine. Vermont has a speed limit of 57 mph. However, if you happen to be in a particular Texan highway—well, howdy, my friend, you’ll fit right in.
The state of Texas holds the record for the fastest speed limit at a breezy 85 mph in State Highway 130 between State Highway 45 in Austin and Interstate 10 in Seguin. Although this very high speed limit only pertains to this particular freeway, Texas is pretty fast and furious when it comes to the allowed driving speed.
Most of the highways and freeways in this southern state allow for a speed limit of 70 to 75 mph. The 21st century is known for being in a perpetual hurry, and Texas certainly understands that.
Although they hold the record, other states are breathing down its neck. The medal for the second fastest state is shared by South Dakota and Idaho at a whopping 77 mph, mainly because, like Texas, their terrain is also very flat.
Why is the speed limit so high in Texas?
As we have already established, each state determines its speed limits; sometimes they coincide, and sometimes they don’t. Some states decide to be cautious and set a lower speed limit. Most speed limits are established by taking into consideration many factors.
Some of them are engineering studies that analyze the optimal speed for each road. They also take into account how the drivers behave in general, the traffic trends of each town, the number of accidents, and the condition of the roads.
The 85th percentile speed: sounds crazy, but apparently it is not
For Texas in particular, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) arrived at a very curious conclusion after analyzing the behavior of its drivers. They saw that they were already breezing by at an average of 85 mph, so they said, “Fine y’all, just drive at that speed if you want”.
It may seem absurd, but there is actually a principle behind it, believe it or not. According to the 85th percentile speed, if 85% of drivers are already driving at a certain speed, the chance of a crash happening is minimized. So, the TxDOT knows that Texans already drive fast, so in a sort of “if you can’t fight them, join them” situation, they put their seal of approval on the speed limit.
Is the Texan speed limit the highest in the world?
No, it is not. It is the highest in the United States. In other places around the world, the speed limits are even higher. Take, for instance, Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. In some parts of the city, you can drive at around 99 mph.
In Germany, the country of cars that boast amazing engineering and design, there isn’t a speed limit for the autobahn. Almost 70% of the German high-speed highway system has no speed limit, drivers just go at whatever pace they deem suitable. Most of them drive at around 88 mph, which is faster than in Texas.
So, if you are crossing, say, from Oklahoma to Texas, you can step on it, roll down the windows, and let the exhilaration of speed embrace you. However, if you are going from the Lone Star State to the Sooner State, you are going to have to hold your horses.