Planning a vacation to Oklahoma? Maybe you are even organizing a move to the state or have only just relocated?
There are many things to look forward to when you are in the Sooner State, including expansive, beautiful mountain ranges, glorious landscapes spanning across the state, beautiful lush forests, and national parks.
If you are a driver, planning on becoming a driver, or, are preparing to drive whilst visiting the state, knowledge of the different speed limits in Oklahoma is especially important, whether in the cities, on the highways, or in any of the rural communities.
That is because speeding in Oklahoma, like most places in the US, can attract some hefty penalties and fines, and you don’t want to receive a speeding ticket in Oklahoma as it can lead to having your license suspended due to an accumulation of points!
Knowing the correct speed limit in Oklahoma is not only about avoiding punishment. It is also about driving safely on the roads to prevent accidents. Driving within the speed limit helps reduce the possibility of crashes and promotes efficient use of the road.
In Oklahoma, legislation is put in place to govern the safe use of the roads. Speed limits in Oklahoma are established by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. The different limits indicate the fastest speeds you are legally allowed to drive when the conditions are good – that is when driving in fair weather and with good visibility.
However, similar to the majority of other states, Oklahoma has two differing speeding laws; the basic speeding law, and the absolute speed limits. The basic speeding law prohibits driving “at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions and having regard to the actual hazards then existing”. This quote means that motorists must always drive at a safe speed for the conditions and environment they are driving in.
An example would be that if you were driving on a 65 mph road on a windy, dark, and wet evening, you would be required to slow down to a speed significantly less than the signed speed limit of 65 mph. This is because the weather and road conditions would be considered dangerous, and if you were caught driving at the signed limit, you may get a ticket.
What are the Maximum Speed Limits in Oklahoma?
The maximum speed limit Oklahoma you can drive based on ideal conditions is 75 mph, here are all of the absolute speed limits in Oklahoma:
- 25 mph is the maximum speed limit for school zones and residential areas.
- 65 mph is the maximum speed limit for driving on undivided roads.
- 70 mph is the maximum speed limit for traveling on divided roads.
- 65 mph is the maximum speed limit when traveling on urban highways.
- 75 mph is the maximum speed limit for driving on rural highways.
With these different speed limits implemented in Oklahoma, it is important to pay attention to road signs. The last thing you want is to be slapped with a huge fine as a result of exceeding the speed limit in Oklahoma.
Just in case you were wondering, this is how the Oklahoma speeding ticket system works
- 1 to 10 mph over the limit: $10 fine.
- 11 to 15 mph over the limit: $20 fine.
- 16 to 20 mph over the limit: $35 fine.
- 21 to 25 mph over the limit: $75 fine.
- 26 to 30 mph over the limit: $135 fine.
- 31 to 35 mph over the limit: $155 fine.
- 36 mph or more over the limit: $205 fine.
Surpassing the speed limits in Oklahoma will not only result in a fine, jail time, or in some unfortunate instances, both! It also will result in you receiving points on your license and subsequent record. Here is how the point system works for traffic offenses in Oklahoma.
| Montana Speeding Ticket Points | Total Points |
|---|---|
| Reckless driving | 4 |
| Speeding 41 or more miles per hour over limit | 4 |
| Speeding 26 to 40 miles per hour over limit | 3 |
| At-fault accident | 3 |
| Improper passing | 3 |
| Speeding 11 to 25 miles per hour over limit | 2 |
| Speeding 1 to 10 miles per hour over limit (commercial drivers) | 2 |
| Cellphone use by bus or commercial driver | 2 |
| Wrong direction | 2 |
| Failure to stop at light or sign | 2 |
| Failure to yield to right-of-way | 2 |
| Following too closely | 2 |
| Careless driving | 2 |
| Racing | 2 |
| Railroad crossing violation | 2 |
| License restriction violation | 2 |
| Failure to turn on or dim lights | 1 |
| Defective lights, brakes, muffler, or other equipment | 1 |
| No license | 1 |
| Unsafe lane change | 1 |
| Improper passing | 1 |
| Failure to signal | 1 |
| Improper turn | 1 |
| Spinning wheels | 1 |
| Unsafe speed | 1 |
| Coasting | 1 |
| Disobey police officer | 1 |
| Disobey traffic sign | 1 |
When visiting or relocating your family to Oklahoma, it is normal to think of all the funs things you can do. Knowledge of the speed limits in Oklahoma – and adhering to them – will ensure your time is well spent and minimize the chance of you being fined.
