Speed limits
Under New York's general rule, what is the highest speed you may drive on a road where no speed limit sign is posted?
- 55 mph. Correct answer
- 65 mph.
- There is no fixed maximum, only a speed that is reasonable for conditions.
Why
New York sets a statewide ceiling for roads with no posted limit: 55 mph. It is a ceiling, not a target, and two things keep it from being the whole story. First, some cities have lower limits that are not always posted; New York City is the example the manual gives, with 25 mph unless a sign says otherwise. Second, conditions can make even a lower speed unlawful if it is not reasonable. The idea that there is no fixed number and only a reasonable speed is wrong: the reasonableness test works on top of the 55 mph cap, not instead of it. 65 mph is a real New York number, but it belongs to some rural expressways where that higher limit is posted on signs. With no sign in view, 55 mph is the most the state allows, and in New York City the unposted number drops to 25.
Where this comes from
New York State Driver's Manual (MV-21), April 2026 version. The correct answer is 55 mph.
More on speed limits
- You are driving on a street in New York City and see no speed limit sign. What speed limit applies?
- Fog has settled over an expressway with a posted limit of 55 mph. You keep driving at 50 mph. Can a police officer give you a speeding ticket?
- What speed limit do New York expressways normally have, and what higher limit may be posted in some rural areas?
- Modern roundabouts are built to hold the speed of every vehicle inside them to what level?