A recycling and waste facility in Wisconsin has introduced an unusual speed limit of 17.3 mph, hoping the decimal point will make drivers think twice before speeding.
The Outagamie County Recycling and Solid Waste facility in Appleton announced the change on Facebook, stating that the specific number is intended to break drivers' 'autopilot' on familiar routes. 'It makes you look twice,' the facility wrote.
The site sees heavy traffic from haulers, contractors and residents, and the facility emphasised that the unusual limit is a reminder to slow down and stay alert. 'We want every single person to have a safe visit and make it home at the end of the day,' the post concluded.
Social media users reacted with amusement, with one commenting that the sign 'made us laugh' when they visited. Another joked that drivers should not exceed 17.4 mph or risk police attention.
While such specific speed limits are rare, they are not unprecedented. A shopping centre in Colorado Springs has an 8.2 mph sign, and a Nashville mall limits drivers to 24 mph. However, a 2024 Minnesota study found that lowering posted speed limits does not immediately reduce driver speeds, though it may be a useful first step.
