625 ILCS 5/11-601 – Speeding

625 ILCS 5/11-601 – Speeding

This law explains how fast people can legally drive on different kinds of roads in Illinois.

This statute says drivers must always go at a safe speed, even if they are under the speed limit. It also lists the maximum speed limits for cities, highways, and special vehicles like trucks and buses.

(a) You can’t drive faster than what’s safe for traffic, road conditions, or weather. Even if you stay under the limit, you must slow down near intersections, curves, hills, small roads, or when people or other cars are nearby.

(a-5) The term “urban district” doesn’t include interstate highways that are managed by the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority.

(b) No one can drive faster than the maximum speed limit set in this law or by any local rule or sign.

(c) Unless a different rule applies, the speed limits in a city area are:

1. 30 miles per hour on regular streets.
2. 15 miles per hour in alleys.

(d) Unless a different rule applies, the speed limits outside city areas are:

1. 65 miles per hour on highways with at least four lanes and a divider separating directions.
2. 55 miles per hour on other roads, highways, or streets.

(d-1) Unless a different rule applies, the speed limits outside city areas are:

1. 70 miles per hour on interstate highways managed by the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority.
2. 65 miles per hour on four-lane highways with a divider.
3. 55 miles per hour on other roads, highways, or streets.

Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, Madison, McHenry, St. Clair, and Will counties can make their own lower speed limits.

(e) In Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties, unless a different rule applies, large trucks or vehicles weighing over 8,001 pounds must follow these limits:

1. 60 miles per hour on interstate highways managed by the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority.
2. 55 miles per hour on all other roads, highways, or streets.

(e-1) (This part has no text.)

(f) Unless a different rule applies, buses can go:

• 65 miles per hour on highways with at least four lanes and a divided road, except buses on local roads not managed by the Department or Toll Highway Authority are limited to 55 miles per hour.
• 70 miles per hour on interstate highways outside Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties.
• 55 miles per hour on all other roads, highways, or streets.

(g) (Blank)

View the full statute here.

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