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Illinois Compiled Statutes

625 ILCS 5/11-601 (2026)

General speed restrictions

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(625 ILCS 5/11-601) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-601)
    Sec. 11-601. General speed restrictions.
    (a) No vehicle may be driven upon any highway of this State at a speed which is greater than is reasonable and proper with regard to traffic conditions and the use of the highway, or endangers the safety of any person or property. The fact that the speed of a vehicle does not exceed the applicable maximum speed limit does not relieve the driver from the duty to decrease speed when approaching and crossing an intersection, approaching and going around a curve, when approaching a hill crest, when traveling upon any narrow or winding roadway, or when special hazard exists with respect to pedestrians or other traffic or by reason of weather or highway conditions. Speed must be decreased as may be necessary to avoid colliding with any person or vehicle on or entering the highway in compliance with legal requirements and the duty of all persons to use due care.
    (a-5) For purposes of this Section, "urban district" does not include any interstate highway as defined by Section 1-133.1 of this Code which includes all highways under the jurisdiction of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority.
    (b) No person may drive a vehicle upon any highway of this State at a speed which is greater than the applicable statutory maximum speed limit established by paragraphs (c), (d), (e), (f) or (g) of this Section, by Section 11-605 or by a regulation or ordinance made under this Chapter.
    (c) Unless some other speed restriction is established under this Chapter, the maximum speed limit in an urban district for all vehicles is:
        1. 30 miles per hour; and
        2. 15 miles per hour in an alley.
    (d) Unless some other speed restriction is established under this Chapter, the maximum speed limit outside an urban district for any vehicle is (1) 65 miles per hour for all or part of highways that are designated by the Department, have at least 4 lanes of traffic, and have a separation between the roadways moving in opposite directions and (2) 55 miles per hour for all other highways, roads, and streets.
    (d-1) Unless some other speed restriction is established under this Chapter, the maximum speed limit outside an urban district for any vehicle is (1) 70 miles per hour on any interstate highway as defined by Section 1-133.1 of this Code which includes all highways under the jurisdiction of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority; (2) 65 miles per hour for all or part of highways that are designated by the Department, have at least 4 lanes of traffic, and have a separation between the roadways moving in opposite directions; and (3) 55 miles per hour for all other highways, roads, and streets. The counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, Madison, McHenry, St. Clair, and Will may adopt ordinances setting a maximum speed limit on highways, roads, and streets that is lower than the limits established by this Section.
    (e) In the counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will, unless some lesser speed restriction is established under this Chapter, the maximum speed limit outside an urban district for a second division vehicle designed or used for the carrying of a gross weight of 8,001 pounds or more (including the weight of the vehicle and maximum load) is 60 miles per hour on any interstate highway as defined by Section 1-133.1 of this Code and 55 miles per hour on all other highways, roads, and streets.
    (e-1) (Blank).
    (f) Unless some other speed restriction is established under this Chapter, the maximum speed limit outside an urban district for a bus is:
        1. 65 miles per hour upon any highway which has at
    
least 4 lanes of traffic and of which the roadways for traffic moving in opposite directions are separated by a strip of ground which is not surfaced or suitable for vehicular traffic, except that the maximum speed limit for a bus on all highways, roads, or streets not under the jurisdiction of the Department or the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority is 55 miles per hour;
        1.5. 70 miles per hour upon any interstate highway as
    
defined by Section 1-133.1 of this Code outside the counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will; and
        2. 55 miles per hour on any other highway.
    (g) (Blank).
(Source: P.A. 98-511, eff. 1-1-14; 98-1126, eff. 1-1-15; 98-1128, eff. 1-1-15; 99-78, eff. 7-20-15.)

    
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 101 cases (30 in the last 5 years), 1995–2026 · leading case: People v. Galarza, 2023 IL 127678, 216 N.E.3d 834.
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People v. Galarza, 2023 IL 127678, 216 N.E.3d 834. · cites it 4× “¶ 28 Section 11-601(a) of the Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/11-601(a) (West 2016)) provides: “No vehicle may be driven upon any highway of this State at a speed which is greater than is reasonable and proper with regard to traffic conditions and the use of the highway, or…”
Welch v. United States, 604 F.3d 408 (7th Cir. 2010). · cites it 2× “See 625 ILCS 5/11-305 (obedience to traffic-control devices); 625 ILCS 5/11-601 (speeding). These traffic offenses are not felonies, or even misdemeanors, but rather are petty offenses.”
People v. Ciborowski, 2016 IL App (1st) 143352, 55 N.E.3d 259. · cites it 2× “Defendant was charged with: (1) failing to reduce his speed to avoid a collision (625 ILCS 5/11-601(a) (West 2 No. 1-14-3352 2014)); 1 (2) driving under the influence of drugs (625 ILCS 5/11-501(a)(4) (West 2014)); 2 and (3) failing to provide proof of valid insurance (625 ILCS…”
People v. Ziobro, 949 N.E.2d 631 (Ill. 2011). · cites it 2× “Ziobro On June 6, 2008, following a traffic accident, defendant James Ziobro was issued citations for driving under the influence (625 ILCS 5/11-501(a)(1), (a)(2) (West 2006)), failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident (625 ILCS 5/11-601(a) (West 2006)), and operating an…”
Watkins v. Schmitt, 665 N.E.2d 1379 (Ill. 1996). · cites it 2× “625 ILCS 5/11-601 (West 1994). In addition, drivers have a duty to decrease their speed when approaching any sort of special hazard present with respect to other traffic.”
Bohner v. Ace Am. Ins., 834 N.E.2d 635 (Ill. App. Ct. 2d Dist. 2005). · cites it 2× “, 625 ILCS 5/11-601 (a) (West 2004) (failure to reduce speed); 625 ILCS 5/11-601 (West 2004) (operating a vehicle at a greater-than-reasonable speed for traffic conditions); 625 ILCS 5/11-709 (West 2004) (improper lane usage). None of these "illegal acts" has a mens rea element.”
Fink v. Ryan, 673 N.E.2d 281 (Ill. 1996). “See 625 ILCS 5/11-601(a) (West 1994). An officer requested that Fink submit to a blood-alcohol content test and Fink was warned of the consequences if he refused—the suspension of his driver's license.”
People v. Molina, 2024 IL 129237, 266 N.E.3d 1031. “See 625 ILCS 5/11-601(f)(1.5) (West 2020) (setting the “maximum speed limit” at “70 miles per hour upon any interstate highway”).”
People v. ZIOBRO, 921 N.E.2d 1264 (Ill. App. Ct. 3d Dist. 2010). · cites it 3× “" ZIOBRO On June 6, 2008, James Ziobro was issued citations for driving under the influence (625 ILCS 5/11-501(a)(1), (a)(2) (West 2006)), failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident (625 ILCS 5/11-601(a) (West 2006)), and operating an uninsured vehicle (625 ILCS 5/3-707 (West…”
People v. Delhaye, 2021 IL App (2d) 190271, 185 N.E.3d 759. “Traffic Citation ¶5 On the day of the collision, October 11, 2016, Yorkville police officer Matthew Nelson issued defendant a uniform traffic citation, on an “Illinois Citation and Complaint” form, for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, in violation of section…”
People v. Smith, 2021 IL App (1st) 190421, 186 N.E.3d 415. “On appeal, the State maintained that the trial court could have taken judicial notice that the maximum speed for passenger vehicles traveling on two-lane highways in Illinois was 55 miles per hour under the Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/11-601(d) (West 2000)). Barham, 337…”
In re Est. of Case, 2016 IL App (2d) 151147, 59 N.E.3d 175. · cites it 4× “Additionally, plaintiff contends that Hanneman was driving in excess of the speed limit or at an excessive speed for the conditions, which also constitutes a breach of a duty to Case.”
Show all 101 citing cases →
625 ILCS 5/11-601(a): 48 cases
People v. Galarza, 2023 IL 127678, 216 N.E.3d 834. “¶ 28 Section 11-601(a) of the Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/11-601(a) (West 2016)) provides: “No vehicle may be driven upon any highway of this State at a speed which is greater than is reasonable and proper with regard to traffic conditions and the use of the highway, or…”
People v. Ciborowski, 2016 IL App (1st) 143352, 55 N.E.3d 259. “Defendant was charged with: (1) failing to reduce his speed to avoid a collision (625 ILCS 5/11-601(a) (West 2 No. 1-14-3352 2014)); 1 (2) driving under the influence of drugs (625 ILCS 5/11-501(a)(4) (West 2014)); 2 and (3) failing to provide proof of valid insurance (625 ILCS…”
Fink v. Ryan, 673 N.E.2d 281 (Ill. 1996). “See 625 ILCS 5/11-601(a) (West 1994). An officer requested that Fink submit to a blood-alcohol content test and Fink was warned of the consequences if he refused—the suspension of his driver's license.”
People v. Ziobro, 949 N.E.2d 631 (Ill. 2011). “Ziobro On June 6, 2008, following a traffic accident, defendant James Ziobro was issued citations for driving under the influence (625 ILCS 5/11-501(a)(1), (a)(2) (West 2006)), failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident (625 ILCS 5/11-601(a) (West 2006)), and operating an…”
People v. Delhaye, 2021 IL App (2d) 190271, 185 N.E.3d 759. “Traffic Citation ¶5 On the day of the collision, October 11, 2016, Yorkville police officer Matthew Nelson issued defendant a uniform traffic citation, on an “Illinois Citation and Complaint” form, for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, in violation of section…”
625 ILCS 5/11-601(a)(2): 1 case
People v. Moreno, 2020 IL App (1st) 182307-U.
625 ILCS 5/11-601(b): 33 cases
People v. Ziobro, 949 N.E.2d 631 (Ill. 2011). “Ziobro On June 6, 2008, following a traffic accident, defendant James Ziobro was issued citations for driving under the influence (625 ILCS 5/11-501(a)(1), (a)(2) (West 2006)), failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident (625 ILCS 5/11-601(a) (West 2006)), and operating an…”
People v. ZIOBRO, 921 N.E.2d 1264 (Ill. App. Ct. 3d Dist. 2010). “" ZIOBRO On June 6, 2008, James Ziobro was issued citations for driving under the influence (625 ILCS 5/11-501(a)(1), (a)(2) (West 2006)), failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident (625 ILCS 5/11-601(a) (West 2006)), and operating an uninsured vehicle (625 ILCS 5/3-707 (West…”
People v. West, 2017 IL App (3d) 130802, 76 N.E.3d 60.
People v. Pulido, 2017 IL App (3d) 150215, 83 N.E.3d 1111.
People v. Torruella, 2015 IL App (2d) 141001, 38 N.E.3d 602.
625 ILCS 5/11-601(c)(1): 2 cases
Maschek v. City of Chicago, 2015 IL App (1st) 150520.
Maschek v. City of Chicago, 2015 IL App (1st) 150520, 46 N.E.3d 843.
625 ILCS 5/11-601(d): 2 cases
People v. Smith, 2021 IL App (1st) 190421, 186 N.E.3d 415. “On appeal, the State maintained that the trial court could have taken judicial notice that the maximum speed for passenger vehicles traveling on two-lane highways in Illinois was 55 miles per hour under the Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/11-601(d) (West 2000)). Barham, 337…”
People v. Barham, No. 5-02-0047 Rel (Ill. App. Ct. 5th Dist. Apr. 1, 2003).
625 ILCS 5/11-601(f): 1 case
People v. Molina, 2024 IL 129237, 266 N.E.3d 1031. “See 625 ILCS 5/11-601(f)(1.5) (West 2020) (setting the “maximum speed limit” at “70 miles per hour upon any interstate highway”).”
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