Summary of State Speed Laws - NHTSA

JURISDICTION: PENNSYLVANIA
General Reference: Pennsylvania Statutes Annotated
Basis for a Speed Law Violation:
Basic Speed Rule: No person shall drive a vehicle at a
speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the
conditions and having regard to the actual and potential
hazards then existing. Title 75, §3361
Statutory Speed Limit: 65 mph on certain interstate highways and freeways 409 Title
75,
See Other below. §3362(a)(1.1)
55 mph on other highways Title 75, §3362(a)(2)
35 mph in urban districts Title 75, §3362(a)(1)
25 mph in residential districts Title 75, §3365(a)(1.2)
15 mph in a school zone Title 75, §3365(b)
Posted (Maximum) Speed Limit: Based on engineering and traffic investigations, the State or a
local government may increase or decrease the above speed
limits on the highways under their jurisdictions. 410 Such speed
limits "may vary for different weather conditions and other
factors bearing on safe speeds." Title 75, §3363. Note:
Pennsylvania law does not specifically state whether different
highway speed limits may be established for different types of
vehicles or for different times of the day.
Minimum Speed Limit: I. No person shall drive a motor vehicle at such a slow speed
as to impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic,
and, if so driving on a 2-lane road, must pull off the road onto
the berm or shoulder to let other traffic pass. Title 75,
§3364(a) and (b)
II. A person driving at less than the normal speed of traffic
shall drive in the right-hand lane then available for traffic or as
close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the
roadway 411 . Title 75, §3301(b)
Posted (Minimum) Speed Limit: Based on engineering and traffic investigations, the State or a
local government may establish minimum
speed limits on the highways under their jurisdictions. Title
75, §3364(c). Note: via signs, specified lanes may be
designated for specified types of traffic (e.g. slow-moving
vehicles). Title 75, §3309(3)
409
Likewise, the maximum speed limit on the Pennsylvania Turnpike is 55 mph unless a maximum speed limit of 65 mph
has been posted. Title 75, §6610(a)
410
However, a maximum speed limit so established cannot exceed (1) the statutory 65 mph speed limit for certain interstate
highways and freeways or (2) 55 mph for other highways. Title 75, §3363
411
On limited access highways where at least two lanes of traffic are moving in the same direction, all vehicles shall remain
in the right hand lane except when passing or overtaking another vehicle, traveling at a speed greater than the traffic flow,
moving to the left to merge, or preparing to make a left turn. Title 75, , §3313(d)(1)
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SPEED 2005