Fast & Curious: What is the Fastest State in the USA?
FTE forum member ‘GreyWolf’ sparks interesting conversation about speed limits–and speed demons.
Have you ever been on the road in your home state and driving down the highway at a comfortable pace only to notice that everyone else is either on your bumper or speeding by you in droves? Do those moments make you wonder if they’re going too fast, or if maybe you’re going too slow for the “accepted” rules of the road that should but may not always jibe with the speed limit signs posted on the side of those highway roads? Ever wondered how this same speed limit scene would play out in Peoria, as opposed to Atlanta, and overall, which is the fastest state in America? Our forum members may have that answer.
We found a classic but timeless thread in the Ford-trucks forums titled “What is the Fastest State in the USA?” where member “GreyWolf” sparked an interesting conversation among forum members about speed limits–and speed demons. The question was posed in our General Automotive Discussion section and considers which area has the most agreeable and safest speed limits. And…what state has the most motorists who are pushing those limits?
“I used to think it was Montana,” says the OP, “GreyWolf.” “But Arizona has a set limit of 75, normal traffic seems to run at 85, and ‘hot shoes’ tend to go ballistic…”
“And then there is always Oklahoma,” he adds, “where they say the limit is ‘as fast as you want to go — until you get caught.’”
‘I drive through NJ every so often. They fly on the highways. I set the cruise on 75 and people are tailgating me.’
Having made this next trip many times from Los Angeles, we can totally verify forum member “rlh’s” description of SoCal traffic on the I10.
“Traffic moves on down the road on the I10 going east by Palm Springs,” he says. “I’ll be cruising on 90 and people are blowing by me.”
And “jhjessfactor’s” response intrigues and scares us at the same time: “My brother went cross country a few years ago. He said some roads out west didn’t have speed limits.”
No speed limits? That may be a bit too Mad Max-ish for some tastes.
“I’d say Jersey is the fastest I’ve experienced (maybe b/c I live there),” says “uxhryo.” “But on the way to the shore on the AC expressway, my speedometer only goes to 80 I’m going well over and I have people passing me w/ the pedal to the floor.”
‘The right lane was doing 55, middle lanes between 60 and 80, but the left lane was doing 90 bumper to bumper.’
This could be why the highway is jammed with broken heroes on a last-chance power drive. Fellow forum member “bigdimzer” shared similar road experiences as those of “uxhryo.”
“I drive through NJ every so often,” he says. “They fly on the highways. I set the cruise on 75 in the middle lane and people are tailgating me. The fast lane…….well if you want to risk your life….go ahead.”
‘My brother went cross country. He said some roads out west didn’t have speed limits.’
The ATL apparently has some fast and furious roadways too, with forum member “F150daniel” recalling a story about his dad once cruising through Atlanta GA on I 85, where the posted speed limit was 55. “The right lane was doing 55, the middle 2 lanes were between 60 and 80, but the left lane was doing 90 bumper to bumper,” he says. “Cops in the carpool lane were going faster.”
Then there are those areas that you may assume are a bit more laidback when driving. But apparently, that’s not always the case.
We’re still not sure exactly which state is the fastest, but if it does turn out to be Indiana, one of its native sons has already written the perfect theme for any potential honor ceremony.
Check out the full thread here, then join the conversation and share your thoughts on the topic and tell us if you think your state is speedier than New Jersey or faster than Georgia.
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