Administrative or legislative action is needed to change maximum speed limits in the other States. At this point, the estimate on how many States will increase their maximum speed limits varies anywhere from nine to 37. Different sources within States have been contacted by various groups seeking information about how the repeal of the NMSL will affect each State. Since administrative or legislative action is required in most States, there is no way to accurately predict the outcome. However, the DOT cautions that differential speed limits increase the speed variance on roadways, which in turns increases the chances of a crash occurring.
Lane changes increase as the ranges of vehicle speeds on the roadway increase.
The FHWA will work closely with States and recommend that appropriate engineering criteria be used in setting speed limits. With the repeal of the NMSL, States are not required to submit the NMSL certification or compliance statements. The repeal of the NMSL eliminates any Federal requirements for collecting and monitoring data on speed limits. Since the law has deleted the NMSL program requirements, the only formal notification needed is a technical correction in the Federal Register to delete 23 CFR 1260. States are strongly encouraged to continue monitoring speed for their own information and in order to submit data that is necessary for the Safety Report specified under Section 347 of P.L. 104-59, the NHS Designation Act if they change their speed limits from NMSL levels.