80 Mile per Hour Speed Limit Goes into Effect in North Dakota

The North Dakota Highway Patrol says it will take a week or so to get new signs put up throughout the state.

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) – North Dakota’s interstate highway speed limit has officially been increased to 80-MPH – and the North Dakota Highway Patrol wants to make sure drivers stay safe at those higher speeds.

Gov. Kelly Armstrong signed the increased speed limit bill on May 5th

The bill increases the current 75 MPH speed limit to 80 MPH.

It also increases fines with a minimum fee of $20 for driving up to 4 miles per hour over the limit and $25 for 5 miles or more over the limit.

North Dakota Highway Patrol Captain Bryan Niewind says he hopes drivers follow the new change and do not exceed the limits.

“Eighty miles per hour is fast enough,” he said. “Anytime you have an increase in speed like five miles, ten miles per hour over what the speed limit is – the severity of that crash is going to increase exponentially. Every five miles per hour, the amount of energy that is involved in those crashes increases by about 50 to 75 percent.”

While the speed limit has officially risen, Niewind says that the change in signage will not be fully completed until next week.