Speed Limits and Enforcements

Position Paper (pdf)

The League of American Bicyclists strongly supports the enforcement of speed limit laws on all roadways, particularly those where bicyclists may ride or are likely to cross.

BACKGROUND:
Increased speed reduces the ability of a motor vehicle driver to control his/her vehicle on curves and turns. The distance required to stop a motor vehicle also increases with its speed.
The difference in speeds between impacting vehicles is a determining factor in the severity of injuries in a crash. All these factors increase the risk of collision and injury for bicyclists sharing the road with motor vehicles travelling in excess of the speeds appropriate for that road.

(Approved by the Board of Directors, August, 2001 and revised March 2005)