In response to bills in nine states proposing to alter speed limits, leadership of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Assn. said it is imperative for road safety that any changes made to driving speeds promote uniformity.
“If lawmakers choose to change speeds it is essential that the change allow all vehicles to travel at the same speed,” OOIDA Executive Vice President Todd Spencer said in OOIDA’s magazine, Land Line. “Requiring trucks to drive at speeds slower than other vehicles does not promote safety. It does exactly the opposite by requiring vehicles to be constantly in conflict with each other.”
OOIDA provides the following rundown on state speed proposals:
- In Indiana, a bill proposes to rid the state of speed differentials on rural stretches of interstates by increasing trucks speeds from 65 mph to 70 mph – the same as smaller vehicles. Another Indiana House bill would raise speed limits for all vehicles on divided, rural highways around the state from 60 mph to 65 mph.
- An Oklahoma bill would increase speeds on turnpikes from 75 mph to 80 mph.
- In Utah, a measure would expand the portion of Interstate 15 where speeds can reach 80 mph. It would also add stretches of Interstates 80 and 84.
- In Wyoming, the Senate voted to advance a bill to increase the speed limit for all vehicles on limited access roads from 65 mph to 70 mph.
- An Iowa bill would increase speeds to 60 mph on highways posted at 55 mph.
- Mississippi lawmakers are considering a bill to increase Interstate speeds to 75 mph – up from 70 mph.
- Two Connecticut bills would increase posted speeds on multi-lane, limited access highways to 75 mph – up from 65 mph. One bill would increase speeding fines by 15%.
- Multiple bills in New Hampshire would increase Interstate speeds by as much as 10 mph. The first bill would increase speeds from 65 mph to 70 mph on Interstate 93 from mile marker 45 to the Vermont border. The second bill would apply the change to all Interstates posted at 65 mph. It would also increase speeds to 60 mph on Interstates posted at 55 mph. One more bill would authorize 75 mph speeds on Interstates posted at 65 mph. Interstates posted at 55 mph would be increased to 60 mph.
- Maryland lawmakers are looking at multiple efforts to increase vehicle speeds. One bill would increase vehicle speeds from 65 mph to 70 mph on interstates, state expressways and some other highways. Vehicle speeds on the Intercounty Connector would also increase from 55 mph to 70 mph. Another bill would limit the 5 mph boost to Interstate 68.
