Why does Wisconsin have a max speed limit of 65mph on I-94 whereas Michigan has a limit of 70mph on I-94?

Answer 1

Speed limits are set by state legislatures. While the Supreme Court has ruled that states should set some speed limit, exactly what that limit is is up to the states.

For a while there, the federal government set a national speed limit of 55mph, but this was revoked in the mid 1990s. States began incrementally raising speed limits on their own. Most states have a speed limit between 65-70mph, though some sparsely populated states, especially in the Midwest and Rockies, can have speed limits at 80mph or higher.

The reason Wisconsin has a lower limit than Michigan is that the legislatures in those states came to different conclusions as to how fast they want people to drive. Exactly how they came to those conclusions is an excruciatingly uninteresting process: suffice it to say that it's arbitrary.

Answer 2

Wisconsin Speed Limit

Answer 3

Because the Congress passed a law and the Federal Highway Admin told the states they could set the speed limits on their parts of the Federal Highway system at whatever speed they want within a limit (55 to 80, I think).

Obviously, the legislatures in Wis and Mich wanted to prove that they don't cotton coordinatin' with those yahoo's in the other state.

Answer 4

It's all about revenue under the guise of safety, the lower speed limits cause more people to speed and the state collects more revenue. It also causes more rear end collisions and slower speeds cause boredom and drowsiness causing a much larger safety issue. The state of Illinois has a 10 mile per hour lower limit for trucks and the car limit is 65, IL. also has the highest accident rates and their roads are in the poorest condition because of the slow speeds for loaded trucks.

Answer 5

The federal government used to withhold highway funds for states with more than 55 mph speed limits (They do the same with states who allow under 21 drinkings, which no state does now).

The 55 mph restriction was lifted about 10 years ago, now states set their own speed limits.

Hope this is detailed enough for 10 points. The other answers before mine were weak.

Answer 6

The U.S. adopted a national maximum speed limit of 55 miles per hour in 1973 as a way to enforce fuel economy.

Congress repealed the law in 1995, leaving it up to the states to set speed limits within their boundaries.

Since then, it's been common to cross note changes in speed limits when crossing state lines, especially on interstate highways.

For a summary of speed limits in the various states, see http://www.ibiblio.org/rdu/sl-attud/.

Answer 7

I don't know the technical/official reason. However, the REAL reason is because Wisconsin is a fuddy duddy state when it comes to law enforcement.

I know - I live here.

Not only are there bars on every corner, there are cops too. Waiting, just waiting for someone to jaywalk! Or to creep even slightly over the speed limit.

Pah!

Answer 8

Your chum is conversing bo!!o.ok.!! it truly is: 30 on city till in any different case indicated. 60 on single carriageway and national speed shrink (NSL) roads 70 on toll highway & Motorways those limits have been imposed as a procedures back as December 1965.

Answer 9

We rock! Get a load of Montana with their 75 mph! The states set the limits.

Answer 10

speed limits are set by states