Chapter 7 · Lesson 8 of 38
Speed limits on Indiana roads
5 min read · Safe Vehicle Operation
Explanation
Indiana law requires you to drive at the posted speed limit. Speeding reduces your ability to steer around curves or objects, lengthens the distance you need to stop, and makes crashes more severe; air bags and seat belts work less well as speed rises.
When no other limit is posted, these maximums apply (“or the posted speed limit” in every case):
| Road | Limit |
|---|---|
| Rural interstate — passenger vehicles | 70 mph |
| Rural interstate — trucks over 26,000 lb declared gross weight | 65 mph |
| Rural state divided highway | 60 mph |
| Urban interstate | 55 mph |
| Non-divided state highway | 55 mph |
| County roads | 55 mph |
| Most urban residential areas | 30 mph |
| Alleys | 15 mph |
Urban areas have a population of at least 50,000; rural interstates are outside those areas.
Example
You leave Indianapolis on I-70 heading east. Inside the city the interstate limit is 55 mph unless posted otherwise. Once you are out in the countryside, the limit for your car rises to 70 mph unless posted otherwise — but a heavy truck beside you is limited to 65.
Common mistake
Assuming every state highway is 60 mph. That is for rural divided state highways; non-divided state highways are 55 mph.
What the manual says
Indiana law requires drivers to operate vehicles at the posted speed limit.
Passenger vehicles may not exceed 70 miles per hour or the posted speed limit
On a rural state divided highway, vehicles may not exceed 60 miles per hour or the posted speed limit.
In alleys, vehicles may not exceed 15 miles per hour or the posted speed limit
Sources
- Manual p. 40
“Indiana law requires drivers to operate vehicles at the posted speed limit.”
- Manual p. 40
“It also extends the distance required to stop a vehicle in emergency situations. Crash severity increases with the speed of the vehicle at impact.”
- Manual p. 40
“Rural interstate highways are located outside urban areas with a population of at least 50,000 people.”
- Manual p. 40
“Passenger vehicles may not exceed 70 miles per hour or the posted speed limit”
- Manual p. 40
“Trucks that have a declared gross vehicle weight greater than 26,000 pounds may not exceed 65 miles per hour or the posted speed limit”
- Manual p. 40
“On a rural state divided highway, vehicles may not exceed 60 miles per hour or the posted speed limit.”
- Manual p. 41
“Urban areas have a population of at least 50,000 people.”
- Manual p. 41
“On an urban interstate highway, vehicles may not exceed 55 miles per hour or the posted speed limit”
- Manual p. 41
“On a non-divided state highway, vehicles may not exceed 55 miles per hour or the posted speed limit”
- Manual p. 41
“On county roads, vehicles may not exceed 55 miles per hour or the posted speed limit”
- Manual p. 41
“In most urban residential areas, vehicles may not exceed 30 miles per hour or the posted speed limit”
- Manual p. 41
“In alleys, vehicles may not exceed 15 miles per hour or the posted speed limit”
Check your understanding
Question 1 of 3