Slow down you crazy kids! (First speed limit in the US)

On this day in 1901 Connecticut became the first state in the United States to pass a speed limit law strictly for motor vehicles. The law stated that on city streets automobiles could travel no faster than 12 miles per hour and on country roads the speed limit was set at 15 miles per hour.
Speed limits in the United States had been passed into law as early as 1652 for animal drawn wagons. The colony of New Amsterdam, which is now New York, had a regiment that stated, “[N]o wagons, carts or sleighs shall be run, rode or driven at a gallop.” Drivers who disobeyed this law could be fined “two pounds Flemish,” about $150 in today’s currency.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

The best way to support This Day in Automotive History is to become a monthly subscriber on Facebook.

Subscriber benefits include:

  • Most importantly, you’re supporting great content about Automotive History
  • Early access to content on Facebook
  • Discounts on our store
  • Special live videos

If you learned something today, please buy me a beer!

No payment method connected. Contact seller.

Categories

This Day in Automotive History - the book!

This Day In Automotive History

By Brian Corey

This book tells fascinating tales, bringing individual days to life with short stories, photographs and illustrations.

This Day in Automotive History

This Day in Automotive History is a transportation history, car history and general automotive history website dedicated to providing informative and entertaining content.

We encourage you to share our page and connect with us on Facebook or sign up for our automotive history newsletter. If you’d like your car featured, reach out to us!

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER!

Connect with us on Facebook or sign up for our automotive history newsletter to keep in touch.

Love automotive history? Support this site!

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER!

Sign up for our automotive history newsletter to keep in touch.

By clicking “Sign up” you agree to receive marketing and promotional emails from This Day in Automotive History and Cars & Copy Media Co.