Answer:
When establishing speed limits, traffic engineers and police officers consider various factors such as the number and type of crashes, vehicle speed, road conditions, traffic volume, presence of pedestrians and bicycles, road design, weather, and visibility.The 85th percentile speed, which is the speed at or below which 85% of the traffic moves, is also taken into account1. Additionally, speed limits are set based on engineering studies that consider traffic volumes, operating speeds, roadway characteristics, and crash history. It's important to note that the federal government does not set or enforce speed limits; this authority belongs to state and local agencies. Properly set speed limits aim to provide a safe, consistent, and reasonable speed to protect all road users, while also reducing driver frustration and confusion.
