North Dakota is big. If you've ever driven the long, straight stretch of I-94 between Fargo and Bismarck, you know exactly what I’m talking about. It feels like it goes on forever. Because the horizon is so wide and the traffic is often so thin, there has been a persistent, years-long debate about whether the North Dakota 80 mph speed limit should finally become a reality.
People want to get where they’re going. Faster.
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Right now, the limit on rural interstates stays at 75 mph. For some, that extra 5 mph feels like a common-sense update to modern vehicle technology. For others, particularly the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) and the Highway Patrol, it feels like an invitation for more severe crashes. It’s a tug-of-war between the desire for efficiency and the harsh physics of kinetic energy.
The legislative battle for 80 mph
State lawmakers have been chewing on this for a while. In 2023, the North Dakota House of Representatives actually passed House Bill 1475, which aimed to bump the limit up to 80 mph on interstate highways. It wasn't just a random whim. The argument was basically that people are already driving that fast, so why not make it legal? Proponents argued that a higher limit reduces the speed differential—the gap between the slowest and fastest drivers—which is often what causes accidents in the first place.
But the Senate didn’t buy it. They killed the bill.
The pushback was intense. Organizations like the Vision Zero program and various medical groups pointed out that North Dakota's weather isn't exactly "high-speed friendly" for half the year. We’re talking about ground blizzards that can turn a dry road into a skating rink in twenty minutes. While the law would only apply to "ideal conditions," the reality of enforcement becomes a nightmare when the weather turns.
What the data actually says about North Dakota roads
It’s easy to think 5 mph doesn't matter. It does.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), even small increases in speed limits lead to more fatalities. Why? Because the energy involved in a crash increases exponentially with speed. If you hit something at 80 mph instead of 75 mph, the force isn't just a little higher—it’s significantly more destructive.
In North Dakota, the "Great Open" comes with risks.
- Deer strikes: These are a constant threat. At 80 mph, your reaction time is shaved down to a sliver.
- Blow-overs: High-profile vehicles like semi-trucks already struggle with North Dakota’s notorious crosswinds.
- Response times: If you wreck in a remote part of Kidder County or Golden Valley, it takes a long time for an ambulance to reach you.
Honestly, the "time saved" argument is pretty weak when you crunch the numbers. If you’re driving from Fargo to Bismarck—roughly 190 miles—bumping your speed from 75 to 80 mph saves you about 9 minutes. That’s it. You’ll probably lose those 9 minutes at a single long red light once you get off the exit ramp. Is 9 minutes worth the increased fuel consumption and the higher risk of a catastrophic roll-over? Most safety experts say no.
Comparing North Dakota to its neighbors
North Dakota isn't an island. To the west, Montana has an 80 mph limit on its interstates. To the south, South Dakota does too. This creates a weird pressure on North Dakota legislators. They don't want the state to look like the "slow" neighbor, especially when trying to attract tourism or simplify logistics for trucking.
However, those states have different topographies and, in some cases, different road maintenance schedules. Montana’s 80 mph limit was a return to form after years of "reasonable and prudent" non-limits in the 90s. South Dakota moved to 80 mph in 2015 and saw mixed results in terms of safety data. North Dakota’s reluctance stems from a very specific brand of Midwestern caution.
The NDDOT often cites that our interstate system, while well-maintained, was originally designed for 70 mph. Pushing it to 80 mph tests the limits of "design speed," which includes things like the banking of curves and the length of sightlines over hills.
The "85th Percentile" argument
If you talk to any traffic engineer, they’ll bring up the "85th percentile rule." This is the idea that speed limits should be set at the speed that 85% of people are naturally driving. The theory is that most people are inherently safety-conscious and will drive at a speed that feels comfortable for the conditions.
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In many parts of North Dakota, the 85th percentile is already hovering around 79 or 80 mph.
When the legal limit is 75, and everyone is doing 80, the police have a choice: ticket everyone or ignore it. Usually, they ignore the 5 mph overage unless there’s reckless weaving. But proponents of the North Dakota 80 mph speed limit argue that this creates a "culture of law-breaking." They want the sign to match the reality of the road.
The hidden cost of high-speed travel
Let’s talk about your wallet. Wind resistance is a beast. Most cars are tuned for peak fuel efficiency somewhere between 55 and 65 mph. Once you cross that 75 mph threshold, your fuel economy drops off a cliff.
At 80 mph, your engine is working significantly harder to push through the air. You’re burning more gas. You’re wearing down your tires faster. For the average commuter, the North Dakota 80 mph speed limit might actually be a financial net negative. If you're a trucking company, that 5 mph difference across a fleet of 100 trucks can mean hundreds of thousands of dollars in extra fuel costs per year.
Then there’s the insurance side. Insurance companies hate higher speed limits. They know that higher speeds mean more expensive claims. If North Dakota ever does pull the trigger on 80 mph, don’t be surprised if your monthly premium ticks upward shortly after.
Why the 2023 bill failed and what's next
The death of House Bill 1475 wasn't just about safety. It was about politics and local control. Some senators felt that the state shouldn't mandate a higher speed when individual counties might not be ready for the increased infrastructure wear and tear.
There's also the "winter factor." North Dakota has some of the most brutal winter driving conditions in the lower 48. Opponents of the 80 mph limit argued that having such a high number on the sign might encourage out-of-state drivers to maintain that speed during light snow or icy conditions, unaware of how quickly things can turn deadly.
Will it come back? Probably.
Legislators like Representative Ben Koppelman have been vocal about the need for modernization. The debate isn't dead; it's just idling. As vehicle safety tech like lane-keep assist and automatic emergency braking becomes standard, the "speed kills" argument starts to lose some of its punch in the eyes of the public.
What you should do right now
Since the North Dakota 80 mph speed limit isn't legal yet, you're stuck with 75. But even then, you need to be smart.
- Check your tires. If you’re pushing 75 or 80 on a hot July day, your tire pressure increases. Blowouts at those speeds are often fatal. Make sure your rubber is in good shape before hitting I-94 or I-29.
- Respect the "Slow Down, Move Over" law. North Dakota is strict about this. If you see a trooper or a tow truck on the shoulder, you have to move over or slow down significantly. At high speeds, the "vacuum" created by your car can literally pull a person toward your vehicle.
- Watch the wind. If the flags are standing straight out, slow down. North Dakota winds can gust up to 60 mph. If you’re doing 80 mph into a 40 mph headwind, your car thinks it’s doing 120 mph in terms of aerodynamic stress.
- Keep your distance. The "two-second rule" is for city driving. On the interstate at 75 mph, you need more like five or six seconds of lead time.
The speed limit debate will continue to roar in the halls of the Capitol in Bismarck. Until the signs actually change, keep it at 75—or better yet, 72. You'll save gas, your engine will last longer, and you'll arrive just a few minutes later than the guy who's white-knuckling it at 85.
North Dakota is a place meant to be seen, not just zoomed through. Whether the limit is 75 or 80, the most important thing is making it to the other side of the state in one piece.
Next steps for North Dakota drivers:
Monitor the North Dakota Legislative Branch website for upcoming sessions in 2027 to see if a new version of the speed limit bill is introduced. You can also use the NDDOT "Traveler Information Map" (the 511 system) to check real-time road speeds and conditions, which often dictate your safe speed more than the number on the sign ever will.