Five states pursue, approve speed limit rule revisions

Speed limit rule changes are being discussed at statehouses from the Carolinas to the Dakotas.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association says roadways are safest when all vehicles are allowed to travel at the same rate of speed. The Association does not advocate for a specific speed limit.

Montana

A new Montana law gives the state’s Transportation Commission full authority to change speed limits throughout the state.

The state has an 80-mph speed limit for cars and a 70-mph limit for trucks on rural interstates. State law permits the commission to lower or to leave unchanged speed limits.

Gov. Greg Gianforte has signed into law a bill to add the authority to raise speed limits.

Dustin Rouse, Montana DOT highways and engineering administrator, testified at a recent hearing on SB452 that during a speed differential review it was determined that split speeds can be problematic.

“One of the things we found is in locations that have high large commercial vehicle, semi use, that mix if you have that speed differential can lead to an increase in crashes.”

He said the state DOT acted in 2019 to address safety concerns resulting from the speed differential on U.S. 212 between Crow and the Wyoming line. As a result of a safety review, the speed limit for cars was lowered from 70 mph to 65 mph to match the truck speed limit.

Sen. Barry Usher, R-Laurel, added there are roads around the state that need to have speed limits modified.

“Our department of transportation, their goal is to be safe, but it’s also to keep commerce moving,” he said. The new rule takes effect Oct. 1.

Alabama

In Alabama, a rule revision also covers speed limits. Currently, state law permits municipalities to set speeds on county roads that run through the city limit.

Previously SB33, the new rule prohibits municipalities from setting speeds on county-maintained roads within their limits.

The change requires a civil engineering speed study and traffic investigation prior to any change. Cities also must receive approval from the county engineer following an investigation.

Advocates said the rule change is necessary because a city may decide to increase the posted speed where it could exceed the design and safety of the road. They add that a speed limit could be lowered for no real justification.

North Dakota

Pursuit in North Dakota to authorize higher speed limits on the state’s fastest roadways was turned back twice.

State law authorizes speeds of 75 mph on Interstate 29 and Interstate 94.

In March, Gov. Doug Burgum vetoed a bill to increase speed limits to 80 mph for all drivers on interstates. Burgum cited safety concerns as reasons for his veto.

“Increasing the maximum speed limit on interstate highways increases both the risk of speed-related crashes and the potential severity of such crashes,” Burgum wrote in his veto message.

He also cited a study by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety that found a 5-mph increase in the speed limit is associated with an 8.5% increase in fatality rates on interstate highways and freeways.

On the same day as the veto, state lawmakers approved a new seat belt rule allowing for primary enforcement, which allows officers to pull over drivers for just this infraction. Effective Aug. 1, all passengers also are required to be buckled.

Hopeful the legislative action to address road safety via the seat belt rule would benefit their pursuit, speed increase advocates brought the issue back for another attempt.

House lawmakers again approved the change, but the Senate did not.

Elsewhere, pursuits to revise speed limit rules continue.

North Carolina

A North Carolina House bill would boost the existing 70 mph speed limit on the state’s fastest roadways.

H386 would authorize the state DOT to increase the speed limit to 75 mph on any interstate highway or controlled-access highway. The rule would apply to affected roadways inside or outside the corporate limits of a municipality where it is deemed “reasonable and safe” to make the change.

Supporters say many people already are driving above 70 mph. They add that some highways are designed to handle increased speeds.

The bill is in the House Transportation Committee.

Texas

A Texas bill headed to the governor’s desk would authorize the use of variable speed limits.

Variable speed limits use speed limit signs that change to slow drivers to avoid creating heavy traffic congestion.

House and Senate lawmakers approved a bill that would allow the Texas Transportation Commission to establish variable speed limits. HB1885 would allow the temporary lowering of a speed limit to address inclement weather, congestion, road construction, or any other condition that affects “orderly movement of traffic.”

The bill clarifies that variable speeds must be based on an engineering and traffic investigation.

Variable speeds could not be set less than 10 mph below the posted speed limit.

Critics say the change could be used to intentionally slow traffic for an indefinite period of time. They add the authority could be used to set up speed traps.

A provision added to the bill clarifies that a speed limit could not be lowered “to divert traffic to a toll road for the purpose of increasing revenue from toll charges.” LL