Town of Hanover Establishes Speed Limit on Thickly Settled and Business District Town-Owned Roads 10/13/22

On May 1, 2017, Hanover Town Meeting voted to opt-in to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 90, §17C.

"ARTICLE 44. ADOPT MGL CH. 90 §17C, §18B – SPEED LIMITS To see if the Town will adopt as local options Massachusetts General Law Chapter 90 §17C establishment of 25-miles per hour speed limit in thickly settled or business districts, and §18B establishment of designated safety zones, or take any other action relative thereto."

On September 12, 2022, the Hanover Select Board voted to apply this law to all thickly settled areas or business districts without existing speed limits, to clarify the intent of the 2017 vote.

This law establishes a town-wide 25 MPH speed limit on thickly settled and business district town-owned roads. Simply put, thickly settled roads currently without speed limit signage will default to a 25 MPH speed limit. The vast majority of Hanover is considered thickly settled and therefore subject to the 25 MPH speed limit.

This will primarily enhance the safety of our residential neighborhoods where most roadways have always defaulted to a 30 MPH speed limit. The Hanover Police Department will be working with the public in the coming weeks to educate motorists on the adopted change intended to slow down traffic and make our roadways safer town-wide.

Questions may be directed to Sgt. Derek Richards, Hanover Police Department Safety Officer.

Drive safe!