The 55-mph speed limit, which many drivers consider old-fashioned but still essential for safety, has been a defining feature of Indiana’s highway driving culture for many years. After one of the largest changes to local highway regulations in years, drivers in Central Indiana started to see faster limits on one of the state’s busiest interstates this summer, formally ending that era.
I-465 Speed Limit Officially Increases
Starting July 1, 2025, the large section of Interstate 465 near Indianapolis was subject to a 65 mph speed limit instead of the previous 55 mph limit. The amendment was brought about by House Enrolled Act 1461, a comprehensive infrastructure and funding bill that Governor Mike Braun signed into law on May 1, 2025.
The Senate included the I-465 speed increase as the bill passed the chambers, even though its main focus was on tolling and state road funding. The additional provision was backed by the bill’s author, Representative Jim Pressel, who stated that most drivers were already exceeding the 55 mph limit.
“This is really not anything to do with road funding, but I like it,” Pressel said with a laugh on the House floor. “For those of us who struggle driving 55 miles an hour on 465, it increases the speed limit to 65. There you go.”
What Drivers Can Expect This Summer
The installation of new speed limit signs across I-465 began in early July. The decision was driven by INDOT studies conducted in 2021, indicating that 96% of vehicles on a northwest section of I-465 exceeded 55 mph. This suggested that actual speeds were not reflected in the posted limit. The study had a 13-day duration.
Despite the fact that most of the 53-mile loop allowed for a 65-mph speed limit, INDOT confirmed several noteworthy exceptions.
Full List of I-465 Speed Limit Exceptions
- a) Northwest Side (86th to 96th Streets) – The speed limit on this stretch will remain at 55 mph due to an existing roadway design and curve geometry.
- b) Southeast Side (Between I-70 and I-65) – The variable speed limit system will remain and will be adjusted in real time based on traffic and weather conditions.
- c) Active Work Zones – Speed limits will continue to be in effect in construction areas, including the I-465/I-69 Clear Path project on the northeast side.
Drivers are urged to be aware of the changing signs and adhere to the new speed limits, especially since new laws allow speed cameras in work zones. Under a 2023 Indiana law, drivers caught driving 11 mph over the posted limit will face financial penalties, even if those speeds would be legal elsewhere on the interstate.
Enforcement and Safety Concerns
The Indiana State Police established a specialized trooper squad to enforce the new boundaries and work zone regulations. Reporters were informed by ISP Sgt. John Perrine that enforcement expectations remain unchanged despite speed limit increases.
“We certainly expect people to push the limits as they already do,” Perrine said. “Just because the speed limit is raising 10 miles per hour doesn’t mean their threshold is raising 10 miles per hour.”
Increased speed limits may lead to more serious collisions, according to safety advocates AAA and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). After the speed limit change, INDOT pledged to keep an eye on accident trends and traffic flow.
Speed Enforcement Trends Spreading Nationwide
Other states have implemented speed limit increases and updated enforcement tactics. New speed cameras were also installed along important interstates and highways in Colorado, such as the “Diagonal Highway” that runs between Boulder and Longmont.
Drivers were allowed a 30-day warning period before issuing of tickets. This was part of the pilot program that the Colorado Department of Transportation and State Patrol started in 2025 to improve safety in work zones.
As more governments adopt automated enforcement and flexible speed control, experts anticipate that other states will implement similar systems.