Montgomery County lowers speed limits on 250 streets | The Locally Times
New 15 to 35 mph limits take effect by August 31 to reduce pedestrian injury risks.
Montgomery County lowered speed limits on 250 neighborhood streets to reduce fatal traffic injuries. The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) finalized these changes following the passage of House Bill 562, which authorizes the county to set local speed limits as low as 15 mph in residential zones. ## Crash Risk Data Data from the Maryland Highway Safety Office indicates that a pedestrian struck by a vehicle at 30 mph faces a 40% risk of serious or fatal injury. This risk drops to 10% at 20 mph. The county applied these findings to its Vision Zero initiative, a program designed to eliminate all traffic fatalities. ## Corridor Adjustments MCDOT and the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) adjusted limits on five major corridors. Urban Core segments now carry a 25 mph limit, Urban Center segments a 30 mph limit, and Suburban Activity Center segments a 35 mph limit. These changes apply to 18 High Injury Network corridors, which the county identifies as roadway segments with the highest statistical risk of serious or fatal crashes. MCDOT reduced speeds on 33 roads between July 2025 and July 2026. ## Implementation MCDOT scheduled the installation of new speed limit signage for completion by August 31, 2026. While the county published an online map of the affected streets, the records do not specify the exact enforcement start dates or the total cost of sign replacement. The department has not released data regarding expected citation volume or changes to police enforcement patterns. ## Key Questions **How will these changes affect my daily commute?** Drivers should anticipate longer travel times on residential routes and side streets where speed limits are now set between 15 and 35 mph. **When will the new speed limits be in effect?** The county scheduled the installation of all new signage to be completed by August 31, 2026.