25 MPH Townwide Speed Limit

On August 22, 2023, the Select Board voted to amend the Town of Dennis Traffic Rules and Orders to opt-in to Massachusetts General Law (MGL) c. 90 § 17C, reducing the statutory speed in thickly settled or business district areas to 25 MPH on a town-wide basis.  MGL c. 90 § 17C defines a thickly settled or business district as "the territory contiguous to any way which is built up with structures devoted to business, or the territory contiguous to any way where dwelling houses are situated at such distances as will average less than two hundred feet between them for a distance of a quarter of a mile or over." 

Opting into MGL Chapter 90, Section 17C, reduces the statutory or "prima facia" speeds from 30 MPH to 25 MPH in these areas.  The reduction in speeds is intended to make Dennis streets safer for drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians, and to reduce the risk of serious injury in the event of a motor vehicle crash.  Almost all of the roads in Dennis are "thickly settled".

The graphic below demonstrates how reducing vehicle speed significant reduces the likelihood of a death or serious injury to a pedestrian when struck by a vehicle. 

Reducing vehicle speeds also allows motorist to see more of the road and road shoulder areas to be able to identify potential hazards such as pedestrians, bicyclists, and animals.  The graphic below shows how the motorist "cone of vision" increases with reduced speed.  Having a larger cone of vision allows the motorists more time to react to objects in, along or trying to cross the road.

The amendment to the Town of Dennis Traffic Rules and Orders was submitted to MassDOT and approved for implementation on September 15, 2023. One of the MassDOT requirements to enforce the reduced speed is to install signs at the main roads that enter the Town so motorists are aware that the 25 MPH speed limit is in effect town-wide.  The sign below was standardized by MassDOT so the signs are consistent between towns that opted-in to Massachusetts General Law (MGL) c. 90 § 17C.

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The Town plans to install the signs in Winter 2025/Spring 2026.  Public outreach messages will be pushed through social media informing motorists of the new amendment and that enforcement will begin in Summer 2026.

More information on MGL c. 90 § 17C is available by clicking on the following links:

MassDOT Thickly Settled or Business Districts

MassDOT Speed Limits and Advisory Speed Signs

MGL c. 90 § 17C