Texas (80mph!), Iowa (70), Indiana(70) Raise Maximum Speed Limit

http://www.thenewspaper.com ^ | 6/20/05 | not stated

[Diddle E. Squat]

Drivers in Texas, Iowa, and Indiana will enjoy higher speed limits next month as legislation raising the top speeds on rural roads takes effect.

On Friday, Texas Governor Rick Perry (R) signed HB 2257 into law making 80 MPH the maximum allowable speed in the state. Rural portions of I-10 and I-20 will enjoy the new top speed, while other rural roads could see the limit rise to 75 MPH. Both the state House and Senate adopted the legislation without opposition last month.

On July 1, a law signed by Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack (D) creating a 70 MPH speed limit goes into effect. This new limit better reflects the actual speed of cars on rural highways which averages 69.8 MPH according to sensors embedded into the pavement.

In May, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels (R) signed SB 217 into law raising the maximum limit from 65 MPH to 70 MPH in areas with less than 50,000 population. The law also raises the limit for trucks from 60 to 65 MPH, and gives a 10 MPH boost to several roads currently posted at 55 MPH. The state will begin placing the higher-limit signs on July 5.

[MHT]

The death rates in those states will go up proportionally, especially if semi-trucks are given the same limits and unlimited lane usage.

[muawiyah]

Now, for a problem with Indiana roads. Due to budgetary constraints, on Interstate highways leading INTO the state, they no longer maintain the roadway until they get to the first intersection with an Indiana state road.

That means that if you think you can cross over from Ohio to Indiana on I70 and immediately go 70MPH, you are probably going to leave a lot of your suspension in the chuckholes.

[Echo Talon]

I like to go fast like everyone else, but going fast also does one other thing... Waste gas... with oil over $60 a barrel not sure if this makes sense.

[nuconvert]

It's been 75 around here for yrs

[hoosiermama]

Last time I drove though down town Indianapolis, I had a truck on my left, a truck on my right, one in front and one behind me......All traveling 80+ mph......Really frightening

Maybe by raising the limit they will start enforcing it.

[Keith in Iowa]

The death rates in those states will go up proportionally, especially if semi-trucks are given the same limits and unlimited lane usage.

The few more dead people could help save social security...(sarcasm...)

Iowa will also double fines...and they say they're going to enforce the new limit strictly.

[vetvetdoug]

Looks like me and Harley need to go for a road trip to Texas.

[Socratic]

This means that people will spend less time getting to where they want to go - thus saving gas! ;o)

[RWR8189]

If people want to waste their gas, I see no reason for the nanny state to intervene and stop them.

[mvpel]

The death rates in those states will go up proportionally, especially if semi-trucks are given the same limits and unlimited lane usage.

I seem to recall the crash and fatality rates went down when Montana recently had no daytime speed limit, and back up again when they imposed one. Ah, here's the document I was thinking of:

http://www.motorists.com/pressreleases/montana.html

In 1999, after 4 years of no numerical or posted daytime speed limit on these classifications of highways, outside of urban areas, Montana recorded its lowest fatality rate. For the last 5 months of no daytime limits in Montana, the period after its Supreme Court had ruled that the Reasonable and Prudent law was unconstitutional, reported fatal accident rate declined to a record low. Fixed speed limits were reinstated on Memorial Day weekend 1999. Since then, fatal accidents have begun to rise again.

[gg188]

Maybe by raising the limit they will start enforcing it

More like they will ticket only for >100 mph now. Raising the limit just raised the threshold.

[xrp]

Thank goodness. 65mph makes driving through Iowa painfully slow.

[agitator]

The MA State Police actually admitted in public that traffic safety INCREASED when they raised the speed limit on the MA Turnpike. Why they're cutting into their own shakedown revenue in these states I don't understand.

[Koblenz]

People have been claiming that higher speed limits would increase the death rate since 1995, when Newt Gingrich's minions raised the limit. There's been no increase in deaths.

I've never been to Texas, but 80 seems like a high speed limit. But I guess in rural areas it makes sense. Fastest I've ever been in a car is on the autobahn in Germany. 190 kph and it was raining. And people were passing us. And no, I wasn't driving.

[rwfromkansas]

Explain how the autobahn is one of the safest roads in the world despite no speed limit at all?

[AFreeBird]

Hell, here in Indy on I-465 I do 70 all the time. 55 is posted, and have had troopers/sheriff's pass me. Everyone on 465 does 70. Not a rural road.

[agitator]

"Waste gas... " is your *opinion*, not fact. My time is valuable, it's your opinion whether my time is worth my increased gasoline usage.

[Buck W.]

Will they also increase the NIGHT speed limits in Texas?

[Balding_Eagle]

How about Iowa? It's 65 on the interstate.

Driving through Iowa is like being in reverse hyper-space. It takes an immeasurably long period of time to travel immeasuarbly short distances.