Current state speed limit increase proposals

[Pink Jazz]

Looks like Michigan's 80 mph bill has been revived.

Interestingly, I am a bit surprised that in 2016 not a single state has introduced a bill to raise their statewide maximum speed limits.  I would have expected that North Dakota or New Mexico would have introduced 80 mph bills this year, but that hasn't happened.

[jakeroot]

Interestingly, I am a bit surprised that in 2016 not a single state has introduced a bill to raise their statewide maximum speed limits.  I would have expected that North Dakota or New Mexico would have introduced 80 mph bills this year, but that hasn't happened.

Vision Zero has grabbed this nation by the balls. As the initiative becomes a state-level issue, speed limit increases will prove more difficult.

[J N Winkler]

Frankly, I am more interested in higher speed limits on rural two-lane roads (where justified by geometry) than I am in 80 or even higher on rural freeways.  When I was on my Lake Superior trip, having to adhere to the 55 MPH ceiling along M-28 and US 2 in Michigan and Wisconsin proved to be a bit of a drag.  When I ventured away from these two highly improved highways, it also meant there was no clear signal as to whether a given road had less forgiving geometry (M-123 between Paradise and Newberry, for example, is pretty twisty).

[corco]

Interestingly, I am a bit surprised that in 2016 not a single state has introduced a bill to raise their statewide maximum speed limits.  I would have expected that North Dakota or New Mexico would have introduced 80 mph bills this year, but that hasn't happened.

Vision Zero has grabbed this nation by the balls. As the initiative becomes a state-level issue, speed limit increases will prove more difficult.

Also neither ND or NM are at the point in their legislative cycle that they're introducing bills. The ND legislature only convenes in odd numbered years.  Wait until January.

[cl94]

Frankly, I am more interested in higher speed limits on rural two-lane roads (where justified by geometry) than I am in 80 or even higher on rural freeways.  When I was on my Lake Superior trip, having to adhere to the 55 MPH ceiling along M-28 and US 2 in Michigan and Wisconsin proved to be a bit of a drag.  When I ventured away from these two highly improved highways, it also meant there was no clear signal as to whether a given road had less forgiving geometry (M-123 between Paradise and Newberry, for example, is pretty twisty).

This. While New York's freeway speed limit needs to go to 70-75, the 55 restriction placed on all surface roads and parkways as well as anything downstate annoys the hell out of me. The Taconic is signed at 55 for the entire length, while most could easily be at least 60. Much of US 20 could safely be taken at 60 or more and again, 55. The thing about New York's 55 zones is that the ones on surface roads aren't typically enforced.

[tckma]

Frankly, I am more interested in higher speed limits on rural two-lane roads (where justified by geometry) than I am in 80 or even higher on rural freeways.  When I was on my Lake Superior trip, having to adhere to the 55 MPH ceiling along M-28 and US 2 in Michigan and Wisconsin proved to be a bit of a drag.  When I ventured away from these two highly improved highways, it also meant there was no clear signal as to whether a given road had less forgiving geometry (M-123 between Paradise and Newberry, for example, is pretty twisty).

This. While New York's freeway speed limit needs to go to 70-75, the 55 restriction placed on all surface roads and parkways as well as anything downstate annoys the hell out of me. The Taconic is signed at 55 for the entire length, while most could easily be at least 60. Much of US 20 could safely be taken at 60 or more and again, 55. The thing about New York's 55 zones is that the ones on surface roads aren't typically enforced.

Indeed.  Having rural interstates increased from 65 to 70 in MD last year was a good move.  However, in rural areas, speed limits are still too low.  Portions of MD-140 near my house that I typically take at 65-70 are signed at 55.  Similarly, the road I live on is 30, when I easily and frequently take it at 50 (with some exceptions such as a sharp curve near my house and through a short portion of what Massachusetts would call a "Thickly Settled" area).

Speaking of Massachusetts, MA-2 and MA-9 in the western part of the state are signed at 50 when they can easily be taken at 60-65 (or so I thought when I lived up in MA).  Nothing in MA that is a surface road is ever signed above 50 unless it's a multi-lane divided highway -- maybe that Super-2 portion of MA-2, I don't remember.

New York (where I grew up and where I took my road test -- on Lawn Guyland which is well downstate), defaults to 55.  Their driver's manual, in fact, even says to assume 55 if the SL is not posted (or at least it did in late 1994 when I got my learner's permit).  I went to college in the Finger Lakes region, where several roads such as NY-79, NY-96, NY-96A, NY-96B, NY-89, NY-13, and NY-34 can definitely be taken at higher speeds.  Same with US-20.

[PHLBOS]

Nothing in MA that is a surface road is ever signed above 50 unless it's a multi-lane divided highway -- maybe that Super-2 portion of MA-2, I don't remember

The Super-2 portion of MA 2 has a posted speed limit of 55.

[cl94]

Nothing in MA that is a surface road is ever signed above 50 unless it's a multi-lane divided highway -- maybe that Super-2 portion of MA-2, I don't remember

The Super-2 portion of MA 2 has a posted speed limit of 55.

We've mentioned earlier that a bunch of stuff in Western Massachusetts is 55. A good portion of US 7, for example.

New York (where I grew up and where I took my road test -- on Lawn Guyland which is well downstate), defaults to 55.  Their driver's manual, in fact, even says to assume 55 if the SL is not posted (or at least it did in late 1994 when I got my learner's permit).  I went to college in the Finger Lakes region, where several roads such as NY-79, NY-96, NY-96A, NY-96B, NY-89, NY-13, and NY-34 can definitely be taken at higher speeds.  Same with US-20.

It still does. Other than places like Erie County which post everything lower for the ticket revenue, rural roads are generally 55 unless there are a decent amount of buildings. That being said, the 55 is rarely enforced and the speed you can safely do ranges from 20 to over 70. NY 218 along Storm King Mountain? 55. US 44/NY 55 through the hairpin curve? 55.

[Pink Jazz]

Looks like Michigan has signed its 75 mph bill (lowered from 80 mph) into law:
http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2017/01/05/speed-limits/96200216/

And looks like another state is proposing 80 mph speed limits, and that state is North Dakota, which was one of the two states that I was predicting (the other being New Mexico):
http://www.valleynewslive.com/content/news/ND-interstates-could-soon-have-higher-speed-limits-408669845.html

Meanwhile, Mississippi and Missouri have remained quiet about their bills.

[jakeroot]

Washington is attempting to pull an Oregon; a lawmaker from Republic wants to see a 75 mph limit wrote into law. It would raise the limit along certain stretches of 90 in Eastern Washington.

While I'm not the biggest fan of letting lawmakers decide speed limits, I do feel like a 75 mph limit is appropriate in Eastern Washington (this side of 80 mph, at least). WSDOT made the mistake last time around of consulting with the state patrol and transport commission, people who are as equally unqualified to decide speed limits as lawmakers. I believe that "vision zero" was to blame for WSDOT's decision to not increase the limit to 75 last year.

Ultimately though, I doubt the governor would sign the bill (if it passed the house, the senate, and the transport committee before him), especially when the DOT already warned against an increase (as much as I disagree with that decision).

[Great Lakes Roads]

Indiana is proposing a bill that would increase the truck speed limit on rural and urban interstates (currently 65 in rural areas, 60 in urban areas) to the same speed limit as cars (70 in rural areas, 65 in urban areas).  That would end the speed limit separation by 5 mph...

Articles:
http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/local/from-roundabouts-to-pets-what-new-laws-might-indiana-pass/article_97c5f167-0af5-5ce5-a449-8200a2fc0421.html

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/news/ct-ptb-speed-up-trucks-st-0112-20170112-story.html

[Great Lakes Roads]

Bill increasing speed limit on many ND roads rejected by lawmakers

http://www.inforum.com/news/north-dakota/4210783-bill-increasing-speed-limit-many-nd-roads-rejected-lawmakers

[Pink Jazz]

Bill increasing speed limit on many ND roads rejected by lawmakers

http://www.inforum.com/news/north-dakota/4210783-bill-increasing-speed-limit-many-nd-roads-rejected-lawmakers

If you read the article, it isn't totally dead yet, only the bill that would have also increased the speed limit on other types of roads by 5 mph.  There is another bill that would increase the speed limit on the Interstates only.

[gonealookin]

Although a bill creating an 80 mph maximum speed limit in Nevada was passed by the 2015 legislature, was signed by Gov. Sandoval and took effect on 10/1/2015, the highest posted speed limit on I-80 remains 75 mph.  Raising the posted limit is at the discretion of NDOT, NDOT answers to Sandoval and I don't think Sandoval wants the posted limit raised in spite of signing that as part of the legislative give and take.

The law did make one change:  prior to 10/1/2015, 75 mph was a hard limit.  Now, if you're stopped for doing up to 80 mph in a 75 mph zone, the maximum punishment is a $25 fine with no points charged against your driving record.  So the de facto speed limit on most of I-80 could be said to be 80 mph, or it could be viewed as a $25 toll road where the toll is very unlikely to be charged.

I'm not aware of any proposal in the upcoming 2017 legislature to take the decision out of NDOT's hands and require the posting of 80 mph signs, so I'd guess the next move if any will be by whomever is elected governor in November 2018.

[vdeane]

If Sandoval didn't want the limit to go to 80, why didn't he veto the bill?  Was he hoping everybody would just forget the speed limits were supposed to go up instead of blaming him for blocking it?

[gonealookin]

It's part of the legislative sausage-making.  The rural legislators were pushing for the 80 mph limit.  Meanwhile, Sandoval wanted business taxes increased to support education funding and was having a hard time getting members of his own party to go along.  So in the simplest terms, I'll sign your speed limit bill which really does raise the effective limit to a wink-wink 80 mph even though the signs say 75, and you hold your nose and vote for my education program.

I don't know for a fact that NDOT won't raise the signed limit to 80 in the next couple years.  Their last public comment was that they were doing speed limit safety studies or some such.  It seems like a dormant issue though.

[vdeane]

No speed limits will be going up in North Dakota any time soon.
http://www.thedickinsonpress.com/news/4217982-lawmakers-put-brake-speed-limit-changes-interstates-nd

[Great Lakes Roads]

Remember that Illinois raised the speed limit to 70 from 65 three years ago?  Well, three years later, Illinois wanted to raise the speed to 75...

Articles:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chicagoinc/ct-oberweis-speed-limit-0217-chicago-inc-20170216-story.html

http://foxillinois.com/news/local/possible-speed-limit-increase-on-majority-of-illinois-interstates

[kphoger]

Back in Illinois's 65-mph days, on many occasions I drove past a cop while doing more than 75 and not once got chased down.  Once back in the early 00s, I was doing 78 mph in the middle of the night on I-88 and had an officer barely crawl past me at 79 or 80 mph; he never batted an eye.  When the highway patrol would run a motorcycle game on I-57 downstate, they would often ticket people for less than that, but I always got wind of those games.

The enforcement point in the majority of the state for the majority of time seemed to be 80 mph.  So I don't really see how an increase to 75 mph is really going to change all that much, except that the signs will more closely resemble reality.

[hotdogPi]

Back in Illinois's 65-mph days, on many occasions I drove past a cop while doing more than 75 and not once got chased down.  Once back in the early 00s, I was doing 78 mph in the middle of the night on I-88 and had an officer barely crawl past me at 79 or 80 mph; he never batted an eye.  When the highway patrol would run a motorcycle game on I-57 downstate, they would often ticket people for less than that, but I always got wind of those games.

The enforcement point in the majority of the state for the majority of time seemed to be 80 mph.  So I don't really see how an increase to 75 mph is really going to change all that much, except that the signs will more closely resemble reality.

If the enforcement point is 80, the signed speed limit should not be 70 if signing at 75 is allowed.

It's also safer for the speed limit to be closer to the average speed. The majority of people drive at the speed they want, but a small percentage try to go the speed limit, creating a large difference in speeds, and difference is speed is more dangerous than the speed itself. Also, large speed differences can increase congestion.

[kphoger]

Back in Illinois's 65-mph days, on many occasions I drove past a cop while doing more than 75 and not once got chased down.  Once back in the early 00s, I was doing 78 mph in the middle of the night on I-88 and had an officer barely crawl past me at 79 or 80 mph; he never batted an eye.  When the highway patrol would run a motorcycle game on I-57 downstate, they would often ticket people for less than that, but I always got wind of those games.

The enforcement point in the majority of the state for the majority of time seemed to be 80 mph.  So I don't really see how an increase to 75 mph is really going to change all that much, except that the signs will more closely resemble reality.

If the enforcement point is 80, the signed speed limit should not be 70 if signing at 75 is allowed.

It's also safer for the speed limit to be closer to the average speed. The majority of people drive at the speed they want, but a small percentage try to go the speed limit, creating a large difference in speeds, and difference is speed is more dangerous than the speed itself. Also, large speed differences can increase congestion.

In my experience, most people in Illinois drive around 70 to 75 mph on the open Interstate.  Average speed on the two-lane roads varies widely by region.

[Joe The Dragon]

Remember that Illinois raised the speed limit to 70 from 65 three years ago?  Well, three years later, Illinois wanted to raise the speed to 75...

Articles:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chicagoinc/ct-oberweis-speed-limit-0217-chicago-inc-20170216-story.html

http://foxillinois.com/news/local/possible-speed-limit-increase-on-majority-of-illinois-interstates

and get rid of the split truck / car bs. Also all toll roads 70-75.

[Revive 755]

Remember that Illinois raised the speed limit to 70 from 65 three years ago?  Well, three years later, Illinois wanted to raise the speed to 75...

Maybe they will do something about the stretches that are eligible for 70 yet are remaining at 65 as well (I-90 from I-39 to the Elgin area for example).

[vdeane]

Looks like Iowa might go to 75.
http://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/government/bill-aims-to-raise-iowa-interstate-speed-limit-to-75-mph-20170221

[Pink Jazz]

Looks like Iowa might go to 75.
http://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/government/bill-aims-to-raise-iowa-interstate-speed-limit-to-75-mph-20170221

Looks like this is the second attempt within the past two years, since a previous bill was introduced in 2015 but died last year.