Illinois may increase speed limit 70

[jeffandnicole]

And check out these two clips of someone pacing state police southbound on I-294 (posted 55 mph) during their commute.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=231930260315682&set=vb.198812230294152&type=2&theater

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=446701128838593&set=vb.198812230294152&type=2&theater

If a cop was going 55 mph during rush hour, clogging up the highway, would this person be posting video of the ensuing traffic congestion?

[ET21]

I love the colorful map of speed limits, you'll go from 70 to 55 to 60 in some cases..... 

[dietermoreno]

Just drove on I-355 tonight and I can confirm that a speed limit of 60 is now posted from I-55 to Army Trail Rd.  I didn't see any more cars obeying the speed limit than before, other than cars in the slow lane.  60 mph was already the actual speed driven in the slow lane.

[Joe The Dragon]

Just drove on I-355 tonight and I can confirm that a speed limit of 60 is now posted from I-55 to Army Trail Rd.  I didn't see any more cars obeying the speed limit than before, other than cars in the slow lane.  60 mph was already the actual speed driven in the slow lane.

So why IS army trail to I-290 still 55?

[Revive 755]

^ Beacause Army Trail to I-290 is under IDOT jurisdiction, not ISTHA.

[Joe The Dragon]

^ Beacause Army Trail to I-290 is under IDOT jurisdiction, not ISTHA.

odd but I-290 from I-355 to I-90 is 60 now.

[dietermoreno]

Actually that's what I meant, I-290 from Higgans Rd to the split with I-290 and I-355. Opps.  I drove I-290 and I-355 again tonight and I noticed that the speed limit is still 55 when both I-355 begins and when the tollway begins.  I was assuming the speed limit was changed to 60 on the tollway when I saw it posted at 60 in Elk Grove, but its not.  It appears that IDOT raised the speed limit to 60 to match the tollway raising the speed limit to 60, which is supposed to happen, but no signs have been changed yet.

But it is odd that IDOT did not raise the speed to 60 between I-290 and Army Trail as well.

IDOT actually lowered the speed limit to 45 on Rt 53 north of Dundee Rd.  I'm not sure if this is in anticipation of the Rt 53 extension being constructed to a speed limit of 45, or if this is a speed trap.  A state trooper likes to park underneath the bridge in the median at Dundee.

[Joe The Dragon]

Actually that's what I meant, I-290 from Higgans Rd to the split with I-290 and I-355. Opps.  I drove I-290 and I-355 again tonight and I noticed that the speed limit is still 55 when both I-355 begins and when the tollway begins.  I was assuming the speed limit was changed to 60 on the tollway when I saw it posted at 60 in Elk Grove, but its not.  It appears that IDOT raised the speed limit to 60 to match the tollway raising the speed limit to 60, which is supposed to happen, but no signs have been changed yet.

But it is odd that IDOT did not raise the speed to 60 between I-290 and Army Trail as well.

IDOT actually lowered the speed limit to 45 on Rt 53 north of Dundee Rd.  I'm not sure if this is in anticipation of the Rt 53 extension being constructed to a speed limit of 45, or if this is a speed trap.  A state trooper likes to park underneath the bridge in the median at Dundee.

Or that 45 is to just to try to slow down traffic before the end of the road ramp speeds are 35 there.

Rt 53 extension being constructed to a speed limit of 45??? come on us 12 has 45-55 parts to it.

[dave069]

Really wish they'd at least do 65 on tollways and freeways outside 294.

[StogieGuy7]

Rt 53 extension being constructed to a speed limit of 45??? come on us 12 has 45-55 parts to it.

It is unrealistic and, frankly, absurd to expect that traffic will follow a 45 mph speed limit on such a road.  Only a politician would find it logical in any way.  Any the question remains: what good is a 4-lane "parkway" design anyhow?  Why spend all the money and go to all the trouble of building a new highway only to have it be obsolete on day one. 

It should be a standard six-lane freeway with a 65 mph speed limit.  And, getting back OT, when the heck is the ISTHA going to get with it and increase the speed limit on the Tri-State through Lake County to at least 65 mph?  The average speed exceeds that already and the road itself could easily be given a 70 mph limit, given it's design and excellent condition. 

All that you do by having unrealistic speed limits is to encourage MORE speeding because the average motorist stops taking speed limits seriously.  This seems to be a problem in states like IL, WI, NY, CT, MA, RI, etc.  Post unrealistically low limits so that people are trained to think that 55=70 or 35=50.  Stupid. 

[dietermoreno]

I've heard that speed limits in Illinois are set for the worst case scenario.  Say, a blizzard in rush hour.

What if speed limits varied with the season, so the speed limits would be more logical for drivers to follow?

If I was in charge of raising tollway speed limits, I'd change the speed limit to 80 on I-90 normally and speed limit 65 when snow covered, between Randall Rd and Rockford.  And change to speed limit 70 on I-90 normally from Randall Rd to 294 and speed limit 60 when snow covered.  Also, variable speed limits on overhead digital signs that override the default speed limit in rush hour to lower the speed limit if there is a crash ahead or parking lot ahead.

[StogieGuy7]

I've heard that speed limits in Illinois are set for the worst case scenario.  Say, a blizzard in rush hour.

Some states have the words "when conditions permit" under the top speed limit.  That said, in most places, the law is exactly that.  So there's no need to alter the speed limit for things like snowstorms because you can (and likely will) get a ticket for going 55 on an ice-covered freeway.  Driving too fast for the conditions, or something along those lines, is what you'd be charged with.

No, the present speed limits are simply absurd as they stand now.  A joke and, thus, not taken seriously. 

[hobsini2]

I've heard that speed limits in Illinois are set for the worst case scenario.  Say, a blizzard in rush hour.

What if speed limits varied with the season, so the speed limits would be more logical for drivers to follow?

If I was in charge of raising tollway speed limits, I'd change the speed limit to 80 on I-90 normally and speed limit 65 when snow covered, between Randall Rd and Rockford.  And change to speed limit 70 on I-90 normally from Randall Rd to 294 and speed limit 60 when snow covered.  Also, variable speed limits on overhead digital signs that override the default speed limit in rush hour to lower the speed limit if there is a crash ahead or parking lot ahead.

65 when it is snow covered? No. Way to fast for conditions and with the way some people drive around here, I don't trust them to not lose control with a posted SNOW 65 speed. I drive professionally in Chicagoland. People who have lived here their whole lives forget way to easily of how to drive in snow. Back in February when we had a freezing rain turn to snow situation, even though 88 was plowed reasonably, there were at least a dozen spin outs and people hitting the center wall at 355. And you want to propose a high speed than 55 in snow conditions? Sorry. Not me. When it's dry, 65-70 is plenty.

[Brandon]

^^ As for how fast one should go in rain or snow conditions, that should be driver dependent.  I've seen some around here who are total idiots.  Then, on the other extreme are those of us who can actually handle those conditions at higher speeds.  Don't punish the capable due to the lack of skill of the idiots.

[ET21]

^^ As for how fast one should go in rain or snow conditions, that should be driver dependent.  I've seen some around here who are total idiots.  Then, on the other extreme are those of us who can actually handle those conditions at higher speeds.  Don't punish the capable due to the lack of skill of the idiots.

^^^^^ This

[StogieGuy7]

The speed limit is supposed to be the "maximum" allowable speed, which implies a dry road and proper visibility.  Speeds should be reduced for rain, snow, poor visibility, etc.  Which does not conflict - in the least - with my assertion that the present speed limits are absurdly low and should be changed. 

Utah is an example of a state that gets it: their rural freeways are posted as high as 80 mph.  But 80 means 80 and 75 means 75.  Go 3 or 4 over and you may well get stopped because the highway patrol there feels that the speed limit is reasonable and is set where it needs to be.  I know a UHP trooper and he told me exactly that. And, I can assure you that 80 in a snowstorm will get you a nice fat citation. 

Here in Illinois, the speed limits have been set so low for so long that no one takes them seriously.  That also leads to idiocy when the conditions are poor.

[hobsini2]

Brandon and ET, while I can appreciate your confidence n your abilities in inclement weather, that still doesn't change the fact that there are idiots abound in the snow. And since I can't force them to stay home, having a SNOW limit higher speed limit than 55, that dietermoreno suggested, to accommodate the skilled drivers in snow is not only dangerous but incredibly stupid. Talk to the troopers and professional drivers and see what they say.  The reality is in 4 inches of snow no one should be doing better than 45.

Do you want this to happen? Remember this north of Milwaukee on US 41 a year ago? Look at the road conditions prior to this pile up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgvOHnujspg

You are just asking for this to happen more often.

[SSOWorld]

Changing speed limits will do nothing to fix that.  You cannot fix behavior using new laws.  It's that's simple.

[kkt]

Changing speed limits will do nothing to fix that.  You cannot fix behavior using new laws.  It's that's simple.

Sure you can.  That's what laws are for, to change people's desire to do socially unacceptable things.  55 mph national speed limit, people caught on.  Some of them, it took a couple of tickets.

[tchafe1978]

No matter what the speed limit is set at, or how dumb or smart people think they are, or how well you think you can drive in snow, nothing will overcome the laws of physics. I've slid into the ditch going 5 mph in my neighborhood.

[SSOWorld]

Doesn't stop politicians from being large hams, but that's a different topic...

[Brandon]

Changing speed limits will do nothing to fix that.  You cannot fix behavior using new laws.  It's that's simple.

Sure you can.  That's what laws are for, to change people's desire to do socially unacceptable things.  55 mph national speed limit, people caught on.  Some of them, it took a couple of tickets.

They did?  More like most of the states just ignored the 55 mph crappola and ticketed only for speeds above 65 or 70.

[kkt]

Changing speed limits will do nothing to fix that.  You cannot fix behavior using new laws.  It's that's simple.

Sure you can.  That's what laws are for, to change people's desire to do socially unacceptable things.  55 mph national speed limit, people caught on.  Some of them, it took a couple of tickets.

They did?  More like most of the states just ignored the 55 mph crappola and ticketed only for speeds above 65 or 70.

The ticket point moved from 70 mph to 60 mph.  It was enforced pretty vigorously for the first 7 years or so.  Then the fuel shortages ended (for a while) and the new Reagan administration was not going to be quick to withhold highway funding just because of lax speed enforcement.

[GeekJedi]

I think a "snow" limit is ridiculous. How do you possibly enforce that? A dry, light snow doesn't cause any driving issues, and therefore cars would be - at best - driving slower than necessary and, at worst, driving dangerously because some will do the "snow" limit, and others won't, thinking that it doesn't apply. On the same token, roads can be slippery long after the snow cover is gone.

There is a law that works. It's called "Driving too fast for conditions". It applies in this situation.

[corco]

Changing speed limits will do nothing to fix that.  You cannot fix behavior using new laws.  It's that's simple.

Sure you can.  That's what laws are for, to change people's desire to do socially unacceptable things.  55 mph national speed limit, people caught on.  Some of them, it took a couple of tickets.

They did?  More like most of the states just ignored the 55 mph crappola and ticketed only for speeds above 65 or 70.

The ticket point moved from 70 mph to 60 mph.  It was enforced pretty vigorously for the first 7 years or so.  Then the fuel shortages ended (for a while) and the new Reagan administration was not going to be quick to withhold highway funding just because of lax speed enforcement.

That's a dramatic overgeneralization. Many states in the west continued enforcing at 70, giving very cheap, energy wasting tickets that weren't even moving violations to those that chose to go between 55 and 70. As you might suspect, officers didn't bother wasting their time to pull people over on those grounds very often.