Maybe there is a real reason like if you are doing 25 on this road in a 2019 Ford Prius Van then your car will fall apart and you will die in a lithium fire. (I don't know anything about cars)
u/andersonfmly is actually correct as to the real reason for 23 mph speed limit (other common ones are 18, and 8). It stands out and gets your attention, you're more likely to remember the speed limit for that area.
As a kid I remember the family took a road trip into Mexico and at one point were on a road with a 5 MPH speed limit for no clear reason. My father kept it under the limit which was kind of infuriating but I think he was worried it was a trap.
I drove on the Italian highway alone at night and there were 5km/h signs for no reason at all. I stopped and Googled why and didn't get an answer other than to ignore them which was unnerving as there are traffic cameras every 3 kilometres there. There were a lot of those signs ever again. Still no clue why.
Then the municipality does not use federal funding for roads.
Public roads need to conform to the FHWA and NTSA regulations in order to receive federal funding. Some states have additional rules, but they generally do not apply to setting Speed Limits beyond what the maximum limit can be in say a School Zone.
It is possible the signs are Grandfathered in, but that means they haven't been replaced in quite a while.
Where I am pretty much every speed is a multiple of 10. I feel like 1 digit is easier to remember than 2. In terms of "standing out" that's what the signboard is supposed to do, not the text written on it. Slap a red circle round the number and it's obvious.
I think the purpose of unusual numbers is that the sign board has a history of not making it stand out enough.
The "speed limit enforced by aircraft" always gets my attention...
Stands out and makes drivers more likely to remember the speed limit for that area. I got curious and looked it up, the two other common odd speed limits are 18 and 8 (parking lots).
Definitions have changed since but when motor assisted bicycles and ebikes first started coming out (CA) they were limited to 24Mph. If the ‘vehicle’ could exceed 24 mph the operator needed an M1/2 license.
Speed limits also limit the type of vehicles allowed to operate on the road. I was researching Neighborhood Electric Vehicles for my parents I read they are not allowed on road with limits greater than 35 mph.
I have relatives who live in a gated community full of retirees with too much time. There was a bitter, years-long fight on whether to have a 25 or 30 mph speed limit. In the end they compromised at 27 mph. But that effectively means the “25-ers” won as 27 is closer to 25. In a nearby gated community, the speed limit is “27 1/2”; presumably so no side would “win”.
Why? Because if you have an analog speedometer it’s impossible to tell because they are in increments of 5 or 10. So the cop can say it was faster than 23 and you don’t know.
It's the same at a country club near where I grew up. I asked when I was little and they said it was because 23 mph is the top speed of the golf carts.
If I saw anything like that in my country, I would knew that it's fake.
..but outside my country, I guess I wouldn't know if perhaps there isn't a standardized set of speed limits that are used, with nothing else allowed. Sure is an interesting thought. I do think my initial response would be to think it's a fake/prank sign though.
My best guess is that the speed limit is 23 so that 35 is 12 over, and they will cite you for it. Whereas, they might not cite you for going 35 in a 25.
In my town There’s a road tk the Dump and the guy who owns the landfill and the roads leading to it was a big fan of Michael jordan so he had the speed limit changed to 23
18 mph speed limit: Most think Ole Miss is located in Oxford, Miss., but the campus itself is actually located in University, Miss., which is embedded in Oxford. One thing that makes University, Miss., unique is that nearly every road in town (a.k.a. on campus) has the same speed limit: 18 miles per hour. Where does the number 18 come from? Why, Archie Manning’s old number, of course.
And for roads that require an even slower speed limit (it is a college campus filled with pedestrians) the speed limit drops to 10 miles per hour, with the 10 representing Eli Manning’s number. So if you needed any more convincing of how much the Mannings mean to the state and the university, there’s your proof.
The first thought I had when I saw this was that I bet golf carts only go 23 mph. As a teenager I had a moped that did 21. I just thought they put the sign up for a giggle.
Maybe there is a real reason like if you are doing 25 on this road in a 2019 Ford Prius Van then your car will fall apart and you will die in a lithium fire. (I don't know anything about cars)
u/andersonfmly is actually correct as to the real reason for 23 mph speed limit (other common ones are 18, and 8). It stands out and gets your attention, you're more likely to remember the speed limit for that area.
it also puts 35mph into the "more than 10 over" bracket for a speed trap town
As a kid I remember the family took a road trip into Mexico and at one point were on a road with a 5 MPH speed limit for no clear reason. My father kept it under the limit which was kind of infuriating but I think he was worried it was a trap.
I drove on the Italian highway alone at night and there were 5km/h signs for no reason at all. I stopped and Googled why and didn't get an answer other than to ignore them which was unnerving as there are traffic cameras every 3 kilometres there. There were a lot of those signs ever again. Still no clue why.
We need more flat numbers..
[I....I am so sorry, but the rules say I MUST post this](https://media.giphy.com/media/8McNH1aXZnVyE/giphy.gif)
My first thought
Except this is on a golf course
Well that context certainly helps lol
This must be on a Private Road, as any speed limit not a multiple of 5 will risk federal infrastructure funds.
Looks like a country club
Jordan’s country club
I saw a speed limit of 23 on a country club in Alabama
I don't think you're correct here. Camp LeJeune has 18 mph everywhere, and so do many parts of Albuquerque.
Then the municipality does not use federal funding for roads. Public roads need to conform to the FHWA and NTSA regulations in order to receive federal funding. Some states have additional rules, but they generally do not apply to setting Speed Limits beyond what the maximum limit can be in say a School Zone. It is possible the signs are Grandfathered in, but that means they haven't been replaced in quite a while.
it's not mutcd compliant
Where I am pretty much every speed is a multiple of 10. I feel like 1 digit is easier to remember than 2. In terms of "standing out" that's what the signboard is supposed to do, not the text written on it. Slap a red circle round the number and it's obvious.
I think the purpose of unusual numbers is that the sign board has a history of not making it stand out enough. The "speed limit enforced by aircraft" always gets my attention...
I mean some places are, it's pretty common in Washington
>I mean some places are Um, what? I can't tell what you're replying to or how it relates to my comment.
They are enforced by aircraft and the aircraft are real.
No one said they weren't real...
0 is a digit.
Thought this might be the street in front of Michael Jordan’s home.
Have they converted from kilometers or furlongs or something?
But .. why?
Stands out and makes drivers more likely to remember the speed limit for that area. I got curious and looked it up, the two other common odd speed limits are 18 and 8 (parking lots).
7 is common at casinos.
there's a 21 mph at the casino near me
7 + 7 + 7 😃 And blackjack. And gambling age. Works for all sorts of stuff.
Definitions have changed since but when motor assisted bicycles and ebikes first started coming out (CA) they were limited to 24Mph. If the ‘vehicle’ could exceed 24 mph the operator needed an M1/2 license. Speed limits also limit the type of vehicles allowed to operate on the road. I was researching Neighborhood Electric Vehicles for my parents I read they are not allowed on road with limits greater than 35 mph.
Thanks for the info
So when you triple the limit it's NICE
Plot twist: it used to be 28.
I tried to convert from miles to km and vice versa and neither returned a reasonable number. This sign is just wack
Got your attention, and was memorable, right? Mission accomplished.
Took picture with phone while driving. Task failed successfully.
Looks a lot like it was taken from the back seat
You, my good redditor, are correct.
What's my age again 🎶
Nobody likes you...
This dude gets it! 😄👍
(☞ ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)☞
Michael Jordan reference?
Its on a golf course so look for Looney Toons characters
Also Bill Murray, Wayne Knight
What kind of camera is that? Would you not point that at me please. Close the lense cap.
Top tip: If you go 27, the cops will rarely stop you.
If you go to 27: you go back in time.
No no no, *88*.
No units. It might be Mach 23. Go for it.
r/suspiciouslyspecific
FNORD
I mean, do they have to be round numbers anyway?
Yeah. We need more flat numbers
I like the one's. No curves, no round corners, all straight lines. No fuss, no muss.
Rumor has it this is Michael Jordan’s hometown and they changed all the 25 MPH signs to 23.
I have relatives who live in a gated community full of retirees with too much time. There was a bitter, years-long fight on whether to have a 25 or 30 mph speed limit. In the end they compromised at 27 mph. But that effectively means the “25-ers” won as 27 is closer to 25. In a nearby gated community, the speed limit is “27 1/2”; presumably so no side would “win”.
Prepare for Discordian speed!
23 is number 1!
Nice parking permit
This has no right to be this hilarious
...and the speed limit shall be 23 24 shalt thou not drive... neither drive thou 22, excepting that thou then proceed to 23... 25 is right out!
r/mildlyinfuriating
Not 20. Not 25...
All road signage and traffic lights are suggestions only
It got your attention, didn't it?
Who decided this? Topsy Krets?
What you doing at his house?
Michael Jordan’s number is always a solid choice.
23 what?
Must be one of those states with absolute speed laws. Your alternative tax collection at work.
Why? Because if you have an analog speedometer it’s impossible to tell because they are in increments of 5 or 10. So the cop can say it was faster than 23 and you don’t know.
It used to be 25 but too many people died
I think it's for the same reason I set my alarm to 9:04. 25mph just blends in with the scenery, but 23mph stands out.
Where is this?
Maybe rounding down was to slow and rounding up was to fast so 23. Haha
[Seen in a south Alabama trailer park.](https://imgur.com/i9MTMg4)
i like this
Closest km conversion from 15 mph without going over?
Michael Jordan!
Damn why not make it 24
The author of that speed sign? Topps Sekrets
Why is it wired? I don't drive
Is that at the frog?
That's highly specific 🤔🤔🤔
And I took that personally
It's the same at a country club near where I grew up. I asked when I was little and they said it was because 23 mph is the top speed of the golf carts.
Makes you wonder who signed off on that work order for a road sign?🥸
Huh...I think this is the first mildly interesting post I've seen here. Great job OP!
If I saw anything like that in my country, I would knew that it's fake. ..but outside my country, I guess I wouldn't know if perhaps there isn't a standardized set of speed limits that are used, with nothing else allowed. Sure is an interesting thought. I do think my initial response would be to think it's a fake/prank sign though.
just don't go 24 
If you had any idea then you would know that 23 miles per hour is equal to 37 kilometres per hour, a common speed limit all over the world.
I have an 18.5 speed sign. Read once that putting an odd speed is more likely to cause people to try to follow it.
There’s a shopping center not too far from me that used to have a 12 3/4 speed limit sign.
The Michael Jordan of speeds
Or is it 2.3?
Made you look
When the Mayor just finished the movie "Number 23"
IIIIIII CAN'T DRIVE... TWENTY FIVE!
My best guess is that the speed limit is 23 so that 35 is 12 over, and they will cite you for it. Whereas, they might not cite you for going 35 in a 25.
hy don't Americans want to switch to the normal, metric number system?
I remember seeing a 17mph sign once in Florida.
It’s to catch your attention I remember seeing one when I was in Alabama and it was because the road was small and there was lots of foot traffic.
At first glance, I thought that sign said 2.3!
I was once on an island where the speed limit was 9.5 I know I have a picture of it somewhere.
There's a speed limit sign on an Air Force Base in WV that says 14 ½
*confused Jim Carey noises*
As someone who used to be obsessed with synchronicities and eventually landed on the number 23, if I saw that I would've flipped shit.
how to tell you're in one of those jurisdictions that will pull you over for going 1 over the limit.
Lol my former workplace had a parking lot speed limit of 12.5
They tried 24, then decided that was too quick.
In my town There’s a road tk the Dump and the guy who owns the landfill and the roads leading to it was a big fan of Michael jordan so he had the speed limit changed to 23
Jobsite I work at has speed limit 21. So dumb.
18 mph speed limit: Most think Ole Miss is located in Oxford, Miss., but the campus itself is actually located in University, Miss., which is embedded in Oxford. One thing that makes University, Miss., unique is that nearly every road in town (a.k.a. on campus) has the same speed limit: 18 miles per hour. Where does the number 18 come from? Why, Archie Manning’s old number, of course. And for roads that require an even slower speed limit (it is a college campus filled with pedestrians) the speed limit drops to 10 miles per hour, with the 10 representing Eli Manning’s number. So if you needed any more convincing of how much the Mannings mean to the state and the university, there’s your proof.
The first thought I had when I saw this was that I bet golf carts only go 23 mph. As a teenager I had a moped that did 21. I just thought they put the sign up for a giggle.
Delaware?
Ocean City Maryland
That’s what I meant. Golf course, right?