Under an agenda of “made-you-think” so you’ll drive more carefully, a Wisconsin county has imposed a speed limit of 17.3 mph at its county Recycling and Solid Waste facility.
It’s near Appleton, a 2 hours drive north of Milwaukee.
Outagamie County Recycling and Solid Waste installs a 17.3 mph speed limit sign to enhance driver safety at the facility. pic.twitter.com/v2Pv60Yfb5
— Title Town Times (@titletown_times) April 29, 2026
A Wisconsin road has added a decimal point to its speed limit — in the hope that the unusual traffic sign will give drivers’ second thoughts about putting the pedal to the metal.
The Outagamie County Recycling and Solid Waste facility in Appleton, 107 miles north of Milwaukee,… pic.twitter.com/KtaIF0EAcV
— Yahoo News (@YahooNews) April 29, 2026
Online reports confirmed the “decimal point” has been added to the limit, “in the hope that the unusual traffic sign will give drivers’ second thoughts about putting the pedal to the metal.”
A report at the Independent said the facility announced on Facebook there was something a “little different.”
“Why 17.3? Because it makes you pause. It makes you look twice. And most importantly, it breaks that ‘autopilot’ feeling we can all fall into when driving familiar routes.”
The operators said there are “haulers, contractors, and residents moving through our site every day. With so much activity, staying alert is key to keeping everyone safe.”
It’s goal is to get people to slow down, stay aware and look out for others.
Commenters couldn’t resist:
“I would be like I am not speeding because the speed limit is 173 mph I was only doing 95.”
“Finally, a speed limit precise enough for my Tesla’s autopilot to argue with. ‘But officer, it said 17.3 … I was doing 17.3001.”
And “I would ignore that twice as hard.”
Officials said other counties have tried similar stunts, with some speed limits set at 15.6, instead of a more traditional 15 mph.
