Visiting Kansas for the first time? Maybe you are planning a move to the Sunflower State or have just relocated?
There is a lot to look forward to, including some incredibly beautiful landmarks, natural attractions, breathtaking national parks, and stunning landscapes.
Try not to get sidetracked with the big city amenities and the small-town feel of Kansas because you need to be aware of the speed limits and the various speeds you can travel on different roads in Kansas.
Knowledge of the different speed limits in Kansas is especially important if you plan to do some driving, whether in the cities, on the highways, or in rural communities. That is because speeding in Kansas can and most likely will attract hefty penalties and fines.
You can be slapped with a speeding ticket, for example, as well as have your license suspended due to an accumulation of points.
Knowledge of the correct speed limits is not only about avoiding punishment. It is also about driving safely on the roads to prevent accidents. Driving within the speed limit in Kansas helps reduce the possibility of crashes and promotes efficient use of the road.
Traffic laws, including speed limits and other motor vehicle-related laws, are established by the Kansas Department of Transportation. These speed limits are defined by two different types of speed limits, basic speeding law, and absolute speed limits.
The basic speeding law prohibits driving at the maximum prescribed limit if you are doing so in adverse traffic, weather, or roadway conditions. You should drive at a slower speed in these situations.
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 less than the 65 mph signposted Kansas speed limit, Failure to do so may result in a fine and points on your license.
What is the Maximum Speed Limit in Kansas?
The absolute speed limits are the speed limits you see signposted, what you see is what you get. If the weather conditions are good and safe, you may go at the maximum speed limit in Kansas. Surpassing the limit will again, likely cost you in fines.
Kansas has one of the highest maximum speed limits in the U.S., with only 4 states having legally higher limits. The maximum speed at which you can travel on certain roads in Kansas is 75 mph.
The various different speed limits including the max speed limit in Kansas are:
- School zones and residential areas are 25 mph.
- Urban areas of Kansas have a speed limit of 30 mph.
- 65 mph is the maximum speed limit for undivided roads.
- 70 mph is the maximum speed limit for divided roads.
- Urban highways in Kansas are 65 mph.
- Rural highways in Kansas are 75 mph.
When driving through residential areas, something to be aware of is schools, hospitals (or on the highway – construction zones), as these areas often have temporarily lowered speed limits and enforce these limits very strictly. You don’t want to receive a hefty fine for not being aware of this.
Kansas Speed Limit Laws
Generally, anyone convicted of a speeding violation will have to pay a fine plus court costs. Court costs vary depending on the location of the violation in Kansas but typically start from $25. Fines also vary by location but usually range from about $25 to $300 or more, depending on how much you exceeded the speed limit.
Unlike many other states, if you exceed the speed limits in Kansas and get a ticket, you will not have points added to your record too. Kansas takes a different approach to this, and instead of the points system, they punish repeat offenders in a much more specific way. Kansas law states that if you receive 3 major moving violations within a 12-month period, your license can be suspended.
When visiting or relocating your family to the beautiful and historical state of Kansas, brimming with interesting places and even more interesting facts, it is normal to have your mind focused on fun things to do. Knowledge of the Kansas speed limits – and adhering to them – will ensure your time is well spent and minimize the chance of you being fined or getting into an accident.
