A recycling and waste facility in Wisconsin has introduced an unusual speed limit of 17.3 mph, hoping the precise figure will make drivers pay more attention.
The Outagamie County Recycling and Solid Waste facility in Appleton, about 107 miles north of Milwaukee, announced the change on Monday via a Facebook post. The post explained that the decimal point is intended to break drivers' 'autopilot' habits on familiar routes.
'It makes you look twice. And most importantly, it breaks that “autopilot” feeling we can all fall into when driving familiar routes,' the facility wrote. The site sees heavy traffic from haulers, contractors and residents, making alertness crucial for safety.
The post included an image of the new sign. The previous speed limit was not disclosed. Social media users reacted with amusement, with one commenting: 'Worked last weekend when I was there. Made us laugh.' Another joked: 'Whatever you do DO NOT do 17.4 or the [police car emoji] gonna on yo tail!!'
Such specific speed limits are rare but not unprecedented. A sign reading 8.2 mph exists at a shopping centre in Colorado Springs, Colorado, while a 24 mph limit is posted at Opry Mills Mall in Nashville, Tennessee. However, a 2024 study by Minnesota transportation agencies found that lowering posted speed limits does not necessarily reduce driver speeds.
