Trucking Laws · Multi-state · October 28, 2026

New Hampshire, New Jersey and New York Weigh Speed Limit Changes That Would Reach Truckers

By Big Rig Daily Staff

Update, 4:53 a.m. PT Oct. 28, 2026: Added a table of the bills in the three states.

Several Northeast states are looking at faster speed limits, and truckers have a stake in how they are set. Lawmakers in New Hampshire, New Jersey and New York have bills or proposals that would raise or reset limits, Land Line reported on Tuesday, Oct. 27. All of them are pending, and none has become law.

What OOIDA says

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association says roads are safest when all vehicles travel at the same speed. The association does not back a specific speed limit. It supports a common speed for all traffic, Land Line reported, because different limits for cars and trucks can create speed gaps in traffic.

New Hampshire: I-93

New Hampshire lawmakers could revisit a proposal in the 2027 session to raise the limit on Interstate 93 between the Massachusetts border and the I-89 junction in Bow. HB135 would raise it from 65 to 70 mph. It could get a hearing when the session begins Jan. 6, Land Line reported.

Since 2014, all vehicles have been allowed to travel 70 mph along an 80-mile stretch of I-93, from mile marker 45 near Canterbury to the Vermont border. The limit through Franconia Notch remains 55 mph.

New Jersey: the 85th-percentile rule

A New Jersey bill, S2497, would have the state use the 85th-percentile rule to set limits on limited-access highways, including the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway. The rule uses the speed that most motorists choose when traffic flows freely. Sen. Declan O'Scanlon, R-Monmouth, said real-world driving data should guide limits rather than political guesses. Under the bill, limits would be reviewed at least every 10 years, or sooner after major road changes.

New York: 70 mph proposals

Two New York bills would raise limits for cars and trucks from 65 to 70 mph on interstates and other limited-access roads, but only where the state Department of Transportation and the Thruway Authority decide it is safe. Sen. Tom O'Mara, R-Big Flats, said New York is falling behind other states. Both bills remain in committee, and the issue could return in 2027, Land Line reported.

What it means for planning a trip

Land Line noted that a higher limit could help traffic move more smoothly on some roads, but different rules from state to state can complicate trip planning.

Quick facts

• New Hampshire: HB135 would raise I-93 from 65 to 70 mph between the Massachusetts border and Bow.
• New Jersey: S2497 would set limits using the 85th-percentile rule.
• New York: Two bills would raise limits from 65 to 70 mph where deemed safe; both in committee.

Big Rig Daily has also covered Missouri's plan for 75 mph limits on eight rural interstate stretches and New Jersey bills on truck GPS and low bridges. Check the rules where you drive with truck laws by state.

A question for readers

Should speed limits follow how traffic really moves, or should lawmakers keep them lower for safety?

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