Massachusetts Procedures for Speed Zoning on State and Municipal Roadways

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Speed regulation is, and always has been, a subject of both interest and controversy to almost everyone. Whether we drive or not, most of us are directly affected by the speed of motor vehicles. There has always been a small segment of motorists who drive in a careless and reckless manner. This leads to demands from all sides that definite rules must be established regarding the operation of the motor vehicle and that a special effort be made to control those motorists who do not conform with the vast majority when governing their vehicular speeds.

It should be understood that it has been the consistent objective of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Highway Division (MassDOT) over the years to provide means to promote safe and efficient traffic flow in the Commonwealth. The goal of our Speed Limit Traffic Control Program has always been to provide appropriate and enforceable speed limits on all paved streets and highways within the commonwealth in the best interest of the motoring public’s right to use a roadway in a reasonable and proper manner. Speed limits shall be established only after an engineering and traffic investigation has been conducted in compliance with established traffic engineering practices. The ideal speed limit is both acceptable to the prudent driver and enforceable by our police departments. This publication provides guidelines used by MassDOT to set speed limits in the state.