Speed limits across the US are on the rise! Up-to-date state-to-state info & news...

rotarykid

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update;Utah to soon post 80, Mass has a bill in the legislature that will allow 70

Massachusetts currently has a active bill in the legislature that will allow 70 mph on rural freeways across the state.

Utah is expecting to post some new 80 mph zones as early as August.
 

No More Buffalo

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I'm curious what sections you feel could/should be raised to 75mph? Aside from I-40 east of Raleigh.

Thanks!
64/264 of Raleigh are marked at 70, but traffic is typically moving closer to 80 as is. Even 95 sees speed close to that a lot of the time. I-85, at least the section from Durham north is a real straight shot with light traffic as well.
 

rotarykid

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64/264 of Raleigh are marked at 70, but traffic is typically moving closer to 80 as is. Even 95 sees speed close to that a lot of the time. I-85, at least the section from Durham north is a real straight shot with light traffic as well.
I'm not sure how accurate this is but this is what I found from a quick search, US 64 & 264 were built/completed from Raleigh to I-95 in 1975. US 64 east of Raleigh to Rocky Mount is today built to highest speed standard and is planned to become part of I-44 in the next decade.

In the mid 80s when it was still 55 maximum I drove on these roads twice a week for almost a year. I would set the cruise on 68-70 while crossing that stretch, always had my escort on while crossing every time! On that stretch and few others in NC during that time unless you were above 70 the NCHP would not bother you. Many here are too young to remember driving in the time when the posted speed limit maxed out at 55 across the US, many here are....

These highways(freeways) were designed for at least 75 mph. And they have had safety innovations and improvements added since they were built to make higher speed travel safer.......
 

No More Buffalo

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264, at least the modern incarnation (4+ lanes, divided), is much newer than that. It didn't open fully, in uninterrupted fashion to Greenville until 2004. I can remember "back in the day" Greenville to Raleigh being a 2 1/2 hour trek... through Farmville, Wilson, etc, most of it 2 lanes.
 
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rotarykid

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264, at least the modern incarnation (4+ lanes, divided), is much newer than that. It didn't open fully, in uninterrupted fashion to Greenville until 2004. I can remember "back in the day" Greenville to Raleigh being a 2 1/2 hour trek... through Farmville, Wilson, etc, most of it 2 lanes.
The stretches of US 64 & 264 I was talking about being built opening in 1975 were from Raleigh to I-95, they split at Zebulon.

From there on both they were mostly just divided highways with intersections, driveways and lot of traffic light for most or the way to Greenville on US 264. Greenville had a bypass, controlled access freeway built in the mid 1970s. I do remember when they were building the current freeway to Williamston. It was built and opened in stages.

I don't recall when the freeway parts of US 64 east of Rocky Mount were built, but if memory serves the freeway ended just outside of town.

I made the drive a couple of times a week for about a year (83-84) from Charlotte to Aurora. A drive which took me across the state on I-85 to Durham, Durham Freeway to the cut off stretch of I-40 between Durham & Raleigh, around Raleigh on the bypass. From there I used US 64/264 to 264 to Washington. Back then it was a patchwork of divided highways, freeways and two lane highways. From I-95 to Greenville it was a divided highway mostly that took you right through the center of Wilson. I remember a place east of Greenville where on the bypass you were going east,west,north & south all at the same time on one road, I have a picture of that sign somewhere.....

The state spent a lot of money to build freeways it east of I-95, there was a big fight in the legislature at the time.

I have made the drive on US 64 to Plymouth for work a few times over the years. Today it is 70 mph from Zebulon to just outside of Williamston. Today it is a divided highway from Williamston to just east of Plymouth. From there US 64 turns back into a 70 mph posted freeway again all the way to Columbia heading to the outer banks.

I could you tell the time frames of when each of the freeway stretches opened around a lot of the state because I have traveled many of the areas before and after they were built. It is so much easier, quicker, and safer to get around most of eastern NC today than it was just 10 years ago......
 

No More Buffalo

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Believe me, I know, I've lived in Greenville mile whole life (So, since the mid-'80s) and have been driving around here since 2001. These days I make a round trip to the triangle at least 2-3 times a month. Don't head east from here too often though, except the occasional trip up to Elizabeth City for work.
 

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I just crossed the whole US via I 80 and I 90 and the highest speed limit we came across was 75 MPH.

We will be heading home via I 70 and it'll be interesting to see if it is higher anywhere.
 

rotarykid

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I just crossed the whole US via I 80 and I 90 and the highest speed limit we came across was 75 MPH.

We will be heading home via I 70 and it'll be interesting to see if it is higher anywhere.
Right now the only 80 mph posted sections are four sections on I-15, two north of the I-70 intersection starting around Nephi and two on the way the Arizona border from just north of Beaver. I was through there two springs ago, watch the signs not a lot of warning when it goes up or down.

I was talking to a friends husband that is UTHP officer a couple of weeks ago, he told me that I-70 is not going to be part of the first sections to see the increase. What I know right now is starting in August these sections will see the increase to 80 mph:,

I-80 from Wendover to Salt Lake, more of I-15 north & south of Salt Lake, I-84 to the Idaho border, possibly some of I-80 east of the mountains to the Wyoming border. If all goes well I-70 could see the increase in late 2014.

You are pretty safe going 80-83 over most of the states freeways today, but stay under 85! 85 or higher right now is the magic number that will get you pulled over in Utah.
 

rotarykid

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75 limit now law on the books in Maine....

I found this today, apparently the 75 limit in Maine is now law that goes into effect on Oct.10. Apparently it is still up in the air as to whether it will be widely posted or not across Maine..........

In ILLINOIS it's still up in air as to whether Gov. Quinn will sign the 70 bill into law or not. There is about a month left for him to decide, the 70 limit would go into effect on Jan.1,2014.......

USAtoday said:
The Maine Department of Transportation is studying the issue, after getting the green light to raise speed limits up to 75 mph on interstate highways by the legislature and governor. The department won't make a decision on whether to raise the limit until after Oct. 10 (the statute prohibits implementation before then). A spokesman for the state transportation department said the decision could go either way.

"The bill in the legislature did give the commissioner (David Bernhardt) the purview to raise the limits," Ted Talbot said. "If he saw fit, he could conduct the traffic study, and upon the results of that, he would decide if it's prudent."

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn is considering whether to sign a bill that would raise the limit on some interstates from 65 mph to 70 mph. The urban and suburban counties in the Chicago and St. Louis areas — Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, Madison, McHenry, St. Clair and Will — would have the option of setting lower limits if the governor agrees to the statewide increase. The legislature overwhelmingly approved the speed limit increase.

Quinn spokesman David Blanchette said the governor has heard from those who are for and against the speed limit increase. The secretary of transportation and the state police oppose it, and businesses and other transportation groups are for it. "He is weighing the feelings of both sides and will make a decision based on his own personal feelings and the input" by mid-August, Blanchette said.

If Quinn agrees, it will take effect Jan. 1.
 

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Most people drive 70 to 80 MPH, sometimes 90 MPH, on the rural interstates in IL. State cops just sit in the median and (rightfully) don't do anything.
 

rotarykid

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Wisconsin is looking at raising the limit to 70 across the state

With it looking likely last week that ILL would get the increases to 70 a Wisconsin representative proposed the raising of their limit to 70. His reason was since now they are the only state left in the region that is still 65. He is looking for a cosponsor and expects to have a bill on the floor soon.

RACINE — Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said this week he’ll back a proposed bill that would raise state speed limits from 65 mph to 70 mph, one of several measures he expects will be brought up when legislators return for the fall session in mid-September.

Vos said the speed-limit bill is the idea of state Rep. Paul Tittl, a Manitowoc Republican. Vos said he supported the move because it would bring Wisconsin in line with its neighboring Midwestern states.

Illinois doesn’t have a 70 mph speed limit, but it’s close. A bill to raise the speed limit from 65 mph cleared the Legislature this spring and is awaiting the Illinois governor’s signature.
 

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NJ & Michigan proposing a limit increase to 75

In the last few days a NJ representative has been proposing increasing a freeway limit of 75 mph where the DOT would consider it safe. This proposal is accompanied by Left Lane Passing Only law.

TRENTON — A lawmaker from Monmouth County thinks it's time for the state to re-examine the speed limits on major highways, but he wants politicians to stay out of the decision-making process.

"Speed limits should be set solely on sound engineering criteria, not the hunches of lay persons," Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon (R-Monmouth) said in a statement issued this afternoon.

O'Scanlon said his statements that were aired on WCBS radio in New York earlier today were taken out of context, making it appear he supports raising the speed limit to 75 mph on the state's two busiest highways: the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway.

In a phone interview with The Star-Ledger, the Assemblyman said he supports speed limits that can safely handle traffic, but he believes it's up to engineers and other experts to decide what is a safe speed.

Based on previous traffic studies, he said, it's likely experts would determine a safe speed for the Turnpike and Parkway would be 70 to 75 mph.

“We should never have the situation where observance of a given traffic law makes you a serious hazard to yourself and others,” O’Scanlon said. “But that’s what’s currently happening. Almost every section of the Parkway, where the posted limit is 55 miles per hour, is actually designed to safely handle speed limits of 65 to 75 miles per hour. And these are the speeds 80 to 90 percenttof motorists are driving anyway. That is the case around the world, people naturally drive at reasonably, safe and prudent speeds.”

In his radio interview, O'Scanlon said raising the speed limit on the Turnpike and Parkway would cut down on accidents because vehicles would be traveling at closer to the same speed, thus decreasing the number of lane changes.

"You only have crashes and accidents when you have people overtaking other people," O'Scanlon told WCBS radio. O'Scanlon said he consulted with traffic engineers and studies before reaching his conclusion.

O'Scanlon also contends that a higher speed limit will make it less likely that police will arbitrarily pull over drivers.

A personal injury attorney quoted by WCBS disagreed strongly, saying that collisions will undoubtedly rise if vehicles are allowed to travel faster.

While most of the Garden State Parkway has a 65 mph limit, the top legal speed is 55 mph in some areas.

A bill that would change the speed limit hasn't been introduced in either the Assembly or Senate.

O'Scanlon is a co-sponsor of a bill that would double fines for motorists who fail to keep right. The Assembly passed that bill in June, but it is not yet law.
A Michigan representative is proposing the state drop the mandated maximum allowing the DOT to post whatever is prudent on freeways & highways across the state. He envisions the limit on freeways being 75- 80 or more where prudent.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. If you are one of the drivers that think the posted speed limit is ‘just a suggestion’ you may soon be in luck.

Sen. Rick Jones, (R) Grand Ledge, is working to change speed limits across the state based on how fast the majority of drivers are going.

Currently, the maximum speed limit allowed by state law is 70 miles an hour. Other states like Arizona, Colorado, Louisiana, Maine, Texas, Utah and others have speed limits as high as 75 or 80 mph.

There is a science behind most of the speed limit signs according to Michigan State Police. Both MSP and the Michigan Department of Transportation use it to determine how fast you should be driving.

“M-DOT will work with MSP and do speed studies and after they get a good sampling, they will take the 85th percentile. So if 85% of the drivers or higher are going a certain speed they will go with that speed if the road has engineering and line of sight that can call for that speed,” said John Richard a spokesperson for M-DOT.

In other words Richard said going with the flow works. In Michigan it only works up to a point. Senator Rick Jones says the state should not have a maximum limit of 70 miles an hour.

“The state police advised me that many of our highways can probably go to 75 and maybe a few to 80,” said Senator Jones.

Richard said safety can be determined by the behavior of a majority of drivers.

“If someone is going 40 and someone is going 55 that really creates a dangerous situation so if we get everyone going the same amount of speed, it creates a much safer driving environment,” he said.

Based on this theory it doesn’t matter what the speed limit is, as long as everyone goes the same speed. The drivers we spoke with say they’ve noticed a need for change.

“Whenever someone actually sticks to the speed limit it’s almost like an obstacle,” said Stephen Landlann.

Landlann just moved to Grand Rapids from Germany. He said he feels safer on American roads versus some European roads without limits. He said Americans driving style is consistent and fast.

“I passed so many states and no matter what the speed limit was, it was 65, 75, or 70, it was constant. Everyone was driving above 10 miles an hour,” he said.

State Police tell us the current maximum speed limit of 70 miles an hour was not picked based on science and therefore is not the safest speed for highways based on the 85th percentile method.

M-DOT said if the speed limits were to change it would first require speed studies to be conducted and then replacing the current signs with new speed limit signs. Richard estimates that could costs millions of dollars to complete.

Senator Jones said he plans to finish the bill this fall.
 

rotarykid

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GOV signs bill, ILLINOIS to get the 70 limit starting Jan 1,2014

Gov signs 70 mph law today, today was the last day to either sign or veto. But it will be a little while before we know where it will be posted.

SPRINGFIELD — Ignoring concerns voiced by members of his own administration, Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation Monday raising the rural interstate speed limit to 70 mph.

The move came despite lob-bying by his top transportation agency and the Illinois State Police to keep the top limit at 65 mph.

But Quinn said the increase will bring Illinois’ rural inter-state speed limits in line with most neighboring states.

“I encourage all motorists to continue to respect our traffic laws, avoid distractions and exercise common sense behind the wheel to protect the safety of themselves and others,” he said in a prepared statement.

Under the measure, the speed limit would increase to 70 mph on Jan. 1 in all but eight counties in the Chicago area. Those counties would be allowed to keep their limits at current levels.
Illinois is among 16 states with a maximum 65 mph limit. Thirty-six states have a maxi-mum speed limit of 70 mph or more.

Supporters argued this spring that higher limits would help commercial truckers deliver their goods faster. The measure had wide support in both the House and Senate.
 
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waltzconmigo

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rotary--you are all over this info. i saw this last night and was going to post. thanks again, at the time of your first post regarding illinios i had not yet heard anything about this.
 

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Finally, 70 MPH in IL. Most of us drive 75 to 85 MPH anyways, at least on 70 and 57, 74 too.
 

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An increase in NJ would be great - particularly on the NJTP. Michigan going up to 75 or 80 would be nice, as well... lots of wide open space in some areas.
 

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I am still waiting for Iowa to go to 75 or 80. I recently drove out to Colorado and I-80 was being highly enforced for speed as part of a nationwide campaign. I couldn't begin to count the number of cars that were pulled over. I-80 is 75 all the way across Nebraska other than a few short stretches through Omaha and Lincoln. With the actual flow of traffic pushing 85 already. It really could easily be 80-85 as shown by the daily traffic... You can see ahead for miles on end.
 

rotarykid

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70 law may be in trouble in wisconsin before it's even introduced!

Looks like a limit increase in Wisconsin will need some lobbying to become law, see below;

70 mph speed limit proposal hits bump in road: Scott Bauer of the Associated Press reports: "A proposal to increase Wisconsin's speed limit to 70 mph may race through the state Assembly, but it appears to be headed for a speed bump or two in the Senate and with Gov. Scott Walker. Just a day after Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn signed a bill raising the speed limit on rural highways in his state to 70 mph, Rep. Paul Tittl, R-Manitowoc, on Tuesday called for the same thing in Wisconsin. The bill would have to pass the Senate and Assembly, and be signed by Walker, before taking effect. Tittl's proposal has the backing of Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, who has said he wants a vote on the measure in September. But the measure appears likely to run out of gas in the Senate. 'There are no plans to tackle the speed limit proposal any time soon,' said Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald in a statement."
________________________________________________________________

Oregon now the only state left in the west that isn't at least 70

If Wisconsin raises their limit the only state from Ohio west that hasn't posted 70 or higher will be Oregon. Oregon has actually passed a bill that is law today which allows 70 but has never posted it anywhere. Their head of the DOT claimed that cost of having higher posted limits would impact local emergency services too much from increased crashes, LOL.

A claim of higher limits being a safety risk that is in no way backed up by the real collected DOT statistics from states that now allow higher speed travel today. IF I had to live in that state I would be trying to make them post it in rural areas. I would do this by forcing them to at least respond to the DOT collected data from across the US that shows there is no impact negatively to safety when higher limits are posted on freeways specifically designed to safely handle higher speeds...

________________________________________________________________

I am still waiting for Iowa to go to 75 or 80. I recently drove out to Colorado and I-80 was being highly enforced for speed as part of a nationwide campaign. I couldn't begin to count the number of cars that were pulled over. I-80 is 75 all the way across Nebraska other than a few short stretches through Omaha and Lincoln. With the actual flow of traffic pushing 85 already. It really could easily be 80-85 as shown by the daily traffic... You can see ahead for miles on end.
That crack down on I-80 is causing some real problems for the safety lobby in states that are still 55/65. In these states the increased enforcement of what are now clearly political limits has caused drivers to start to push for a limit increase to more match neighboring states. It is starting to be a hard sell today to have a crack down with the limits varying so much on the same highway state to state now. The safety lobby(insurance mafia) made up useless slogans like "speed kills" have lost their luster. It has shocked them to the point they have had to change their story in light of Ohio raising their posted limit a couple of years ago seeing no increase in danger. And in about 6 weeks the limits across the state of Ohio will rise on all sorts of roads. It comes down to the fact that no one that drives in neighboring states that now allow legal higher speed travel will put up with their home state keeping limits low for no reason.

The so called safety lobby ( Insurance lobby ) is now saying shockingly that
"each state needs to adjust, keep the same, or lower their speed limit with safety in mind".
And only in states where they believe their old garbage no longer is believed with a lot more emphasis on keeping the same & lowering. This is quite a change from the garbage they are still spewing even today in ILL which has just raised it's limit.

It looks like the next fight in ILL will be over the limit rising or not in the Chicago & ST Louis area. The new law will apparently allow these community to opt out of the increase which is drawing the ier of the representative that put the bill forward. He is now saying that it does not allow the new higher limit not to be posted on freeways in the region. Expect the next insurance lobby push to be in keeping the limits low wherever they think they can get away with it.......
 

rotarykid

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Massachusetts has introduced a 70 mph bill

Massachusetts has introduced a 70 mph bill, below is one of the stories I found today,;

BOSTON said:
— Rep. Dan Winslow wants to raise the speed limit on certain stretches of interstate highways in Massachusetts from 65 miles per hour to 70 miles per hour.

“Our roads are designed for 70. Our cars are designed for faster than 65,” Winslow told the Committee on Transportation Tuesday.

If approved, the bill (H 3175) would increase the speed limit on parts of the Massachusetts Turnpike, Interstate 91, and Interstate 95.

Newton resident John Carr, who told the News Service highway speeds have been “an interest of mine for about 15 years,” favors an increase in the speed limit, and said highways where the 55 mile per hour speed limit is disregarded by all but a small percentage of drivers are dangerous. He named Rte. 3 in Burlington as an example.

Carr said other areas of the country with higher speed limits, which includes much of the southern, midwestern and western states, have safer roads where people obey the higher speed limits.

“If you set your cruise control to 80 out there, you’re the fastest car on the road,” Carr told the committee.

“By having a law that’s on the books that’s not being enforced, we actually incur sort of a lawless approach to driving in Massachusetts, which makes it all the more fun,” said Winslow, a Norfolk Republican. “But my hope is that we can at least join the majority of states by having the maximum speed be 70 rather than 65.”

Winslow’s bill is cosponsored by Reps. Angelo Scaccia of Hyde Park, Randy Hunt of Sandwich and Cleon Turner of Dennis, a former police officer in Maine and on Cape Cod.
 

rotarykid

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Utah adds 289 miles of roads with 80 mph speed limits Speed

Utah adds 289 miles of roads with 80 mph speed limits
Speed » Higher speeds allowed on I-80, I-15 and I-84



And they’re off: Utahns now have 289 extra miles of highway with 80 mph speed limits — or will as soon as crews finish posting the new signs during the next week or so..

Utah expanding 80 mph speed zones Utah is adding to its 80 mph speed zones on freeways, tacking on 289 extra miles of them.

80 mph sections added;


• Interstate 80 from the Nevada border to milepost 99, near Tooele.

• Interstate 84 from the Idaho border to its intersection with Interstate 15 near Tremonton.

• Interstate 15 from the Idaho border to milepost 366 near Brigham City.

• Another 116 miles of I-15 in southern Utah. Combined with previous 80 mph zones there, such zones will now extend almost all the way from Santaquin to Leeds (north of St. George). However, some mountain passes and the area around Cedar City still will have lower speed limits.

Earlier this year, the Legislature passed HB83 by Rep. Jim Dunnigan, R-Taylorsville, to allow the Utah Department of Transportation to study 80 mph speed limits in those areas, and add them where it is safe. Sen. Scott Jenkins, R-Plain City, HB83’s Senate sponsor, told lawmakers it was "the coolest bill of the whole year."

Robert Hull, UDOT’s director of traffic and safety, said studies found it would be safe to add the 80 mph zones almost everywhere the Legislature had allowed them.

"Based on our engineering judgment, there are a couple of mountain passes and the section through Cedar City where we retained a slower speed limit because of issues with geometry, and in Cedar City because we have a lot more traffic entering and exiting there," Hull said.

UDOT studied how fast people were already driving in the areas with the new 80 mph zones. Hull said the vast majority were going between 80 and 82 mph on the stretches, which previously had a speed limit of 75 mph.


"That’s indicating the majority of the drivers feel safe and are driving prudently at those speeds, 82 and below," Hull said, and now that will be legal.

In previous studies of 80 mph zones tested over several years on I-15, Hull said, the average speed increased by only 1 mph — which is one reason the Legislature said it was safe to expand those zones.

"Again, people were already driving at that speed and felt comfortable and safe,", Hull said. UDOT will continue to study speeds, he added, to ensure that they do not rise significantly.
 

V-Rod

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I miss back in the late 90's when Montana had no speed limit cruising past the hp at 95/100 mph:D
 

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I just finished a trip from here (Toronto area) to North Carolina and back. The 70 mph signs are up along a lot of I75 through Ohio (finally) but there is no rhyme nor reason to the sections still at 65 mph ... hopefully it just means they're not finished changing the signs!

Ontario's 100 km/h limit is looking more and more ridiculous.

This video is from BC but it sure applies here, too ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BKdbxX1pDw
 

rotarykid

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this is not just a north american legislative fight

In Australia & NZ, both places I have driven across in the past are right now having a spirited discussion over what the maximum should be on their newly built and growing freeway system.

In Australia the fight right now has just taken a few strange twists, first the NT had no posted limit until a few years ago but is now posted at a maximum of 130km/hr. There was no decrease in safety with the imposistion of the limit so there is currently a political fight over returning to no limit.

The last articles I saw were at the end of June stating the some of the regions highways would see a increase or become unrestricted again next year with other stretches in more populated regions( a relative term there ) would see the limit stay in place. While other areas would see a drop to 110-120.

SPEED LIMIT CHANGES


27 June 2013
The Northern Territory Government is reducing the maximum speed limit on a high-risk stretch of the Arnhem Highway from 130 to 110 km/h.
The change will apply to a 61km section of the highway between Lambells Lagoon and Bark Hut Inn.
"We promised to look at the evidence and all the experts said there are too many trucks on this stretch of road for people to travel at 130 km/h an hour," Chief Minister Adam Giles said.
The change reflects concerns expressed by community groups, as well as the transport and mining industries at recent road safety forums.
"Darwin is growing. Traffic volumes in the area have increased 10 per cent in the past five years and the Territory Government has decided to put safety first," Mr Giles said.
By law, heavy vehicles and road trains are already limited to driving at 100 km/h, but this new measure will make it safer for all users of this busy section of the highway.
"The previous government made a similar decision to reduce speed limits on the Arnhem Highway in the Humpty Doo area because of increased traffic. We’re now doing the same thing."
The Government has also assessed speed limits around roadhouses on the highway.
There will be new 80 km/h limits introduced in front of Bark Hut Inn. In front of Corroboree Park, the speed limit will be reduced to 100 km/h. The South Alligator Roadhouse is not as busy as it once was and the experts say it is safe to increase the limit there from 80 to 100 km/h.
The speed limit will remain 130 km/h along the rest of the highway.
"The Territory Government is also strengthening and widening the road, upgrading truck stop facilities and installing several overtaking lanes to make the highway safer," Mr Giles said.
The changes come into effect on Monday 8 July 2013.
"The Government will be applying the same approach on the Barkly, Stuart and Victoria Highways with speed limits going up and down in different locations according to the experts’ advice."
A little over a year ago Australia TopGear started their new season with a media push to raise under posted limits across the country.

TOP Gear Australia August29 said:
TopGear Australia hosts are revving up the Government to raise speed limits on our freeways.

Hosts Shane Jacobson, Ewen Page and Steve Pizzati want speed limits to be lifted to 130km/h on interstate freeways to combat fatigue.

"Undoubtedly you do get to the destination quicker and it would combat fatigue," Jacobson said.

"Australia's big freeways and highways are designed to cope with 130 to 140km/h.

"And going a bit faster, people do tend to concentrate a bit more," he added.

Should the speed limit on interstate freeways be raised to 130km/h

Top Gear Australia's second series premieres tonight on Channel 9, with the revheads saying our cars and roads are "light years" ahead in terms of safety than when our freeway limits were set in the 1970s.

"Our roads have improved immeasurably than when that 110 limit was first set," Page said.

But VicRoads Director of Safer Roads, Julian Lyncolgn, said the most effective way drivers could reduce the likelihood of being involved in a fatigue-related crash was to plan in advance to ensure adequate rest and sleep before any long journey.
Auguast30 said:
POLICE and road groups have condemned a call by Top Gear Australia hosts for increased speed limits on our freeways.

Hosts Shane Jacobson, Ewen Page and Steve Pizzati want speed limits to be lifted to 130km/h on our interstate freeways to combat fatigue.
"Undoubtedly you do get to the destination quicker and it would combat fatigue," Jacobson said yesterday.
"Australia's big freeways and highways are designed to cope with 130 to 140km/h.
"And going a bit faster, people do tend to concentrate a bit more," he added.
A police spokesperson said the comments were irresponsible considering around 100 people die each year on Victorian roads due to speeding.
"Seventy-eight per cent of our regional Victoria road toll occurs within the 100 and 110km/h zones, which clearly indicates that they are dangerous enough without increasing the speed," a police spokesperson said.
Start of sidebar.

"Drivers need to remember that driving conditions can change instantly and drivers require as much response time as possible."

Should the speed limit on interstate freeways be raised to 130km/h?

TAC chief executive Janet Dore said Top Gear viewers should be disappointed with the show’s hosts.

"The comments made are absolutely ridiculous and offensive to anyone who may have lost a loved one in a crash involving speed or fatigue,” Ms Dore said.

"Speed limits are in place for a reason and if you choose to drive above them you are placing yourself, your mates, and other road users in potentially deadly situations.”

RACV roads and traffic manager Peter Daly said the comments were irresponsible and out of sync with all international road safety research.

"There’s no scientific basis whatsoever for what they’re calling for," Mr Daly said.

"The market research that RACV has done shows that by and large people don’t have a desire to be travelling at those higher speeds."

Mr Daly said Australia’s road network was not capable of sustaining higher speeds, as suggested by the hosts.

"There is no road in Australia that is safe at speeds of greater than 110km/h," he said.

Both experts dismissed the claims that higher speeds would help prevent driver fatigue.

"It’s just completely illogical, irresponsible and wrong," Mr Daly said.

Top Gear Australia's second series premieres tonight on Channel 9, with the revheads saying our cars and roads are "light years" ahead in terms of safety than when our freeway limits were set in the 1970s.

"Our roads have improved immeasurably than when that 110 limit was first set," Page said.

VicRoads Director of Safer Roads, Julian Lyncolgn, said the most effective way drivers could reduce the likelihood of being involved in a fatigue-related crash was to plan in advance to ensure adequate rest and sleep before any long journey.
Recently a car magazine writer made( in the words of the safety lobby he survived ) a trip across the NT region while safely & comfortably traveling @ 130 km/hr. When he returned to his home region where the maximum allowed is 100-110 he wrote a article stating he saw no reason for the limit to so restricted in the rest of Australia.

Since all of the attention last year Queensland & New South Wales both are currently reviewing the current 110 maximum allowed speeds across their respective states.

Queensland just today announced limit change plans;

Queensland speed limits to be raised after feedback from motorists said:
SPEED limits on 100 roads and highways across the state will be reviewed after Queenslanders told the Newman Government they wanted the green light to go faster.

The maximum highway speed limit might also be increased beyond 110km/h as part of the government review of speed limits, the first in 20 years.

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Transport Minister Scott Emerson revealed most of the 3300 submissions to the review wanted increased limits.

Among the changes being considered are extending the 110km/h zone on the Bruce Highway south to the Pine River, and increasing the speed limit on the Pacific Motorway.

"About 52 per cent of the submissions identified speed limits being too low and 32 per cent as being too high," Mr Emerson said.

Most of the other responses focused on too many speed limit changes on certain sections of road.

"This input will pinpoint where speed limits may need to be changed," Mr Emerson said.

"Over the next month TMR will narrow the list of thousands of roads down to 100, to be reviewed as part of our Road Safety Action Plan."

A submission by Queensland's peak motoring body RACQ included a proposal to increase speed limits on four sections of road.

Senior traffic and safety engineer Greg Miszkowycz said they included the Bruce Highway between the Gateway Motorway and Caboolture.

"That section is 100km/h and the section north of Caboolture 110km/h despite being of a lower standard," Mr Miszkowycz said.

"It seems like a mismatch and one we would like to see changed, providing a higher speed limit would not contribute to more crashes on the Gateway to Caboolture stretch."

Other roads identified by the RACQ as suitable for a higher speed limit were the Mount Lindesay Highway from Browns Plains to Park Ridge, Petrie Creek Road at Nambour and Bli Bli Road, also on the Sunshine Coast.

He said they did not include the Pacific Motorway in their submission for higher speed limits, despite previously indicating that was a road where 130km/h could be considered.

"You would first want to improve the safety of the road, possibly installing variable message type signs, and variable speed limits, to support a higher maximum speed limit," he said.

Other issues raised by the RACQ for the Government's consideration were more speed signs on Queensland roads, and an overhaul of speed management at roadwork sites.

"And then there's the problem of having to keep to the lower speed limit for a couple of kilometres after the roadworks ends."

Mr Emerson said the speed review was one of 60 actions announced as part of the Newman Government's $350 million, two-year Road Safety Action Plan.
The leader of NSW has come out earlier this year in favour of allowing some of the states freeways to see a 130 km/hr limit



Now fast forward to last weekend, this one caught my attention;

Wheels magazine said:
Sydney experiment Wheels magazine has driven from Melbourne to Sydney at speeds up to 130km/h in the latest episode of its campaign to have Australia’s highway speed limits raised.

The magazine recruited British motoring journalist Ben Oliver for the drive, aiming to demonstrate that travelling at higher speeds on good quality roads can be completed safely and has the potential to lower the road toll.

Wheels claims raising the limit to 130km/h on Australia’s best highways would help reduce fatigue and mean drivers spent less time on the road, thereby reducing their chances of being involved in a crash.

Oliver’s story features on the cover of the latest edition of the magazine, boasting: “We drove Melbourne to Sydney at 130km/h, didn’t die and didn’t get booked”




For the purpose of the story, Oliver drove at the signposted speed limit at all times except in 110km/h zones where he travelled at 130km/h, as indicated by the speedometer in his Volvo S60 Polestar test car. He slowed to the speed limit for fixed speed cameras to avoid being automatically snapped.

Oliver completed the circa-776km journey along the Hume Highway in six hours and 23 minutes; an hour and 11 minutes faster than a control car that stuck to the speed limit at all times.

Oliver, who regularly drives legally at higher speeds in Europe, was the first to admit that a blanket 130km/h limit for the Hume Highway was not the answer.

“There was nothing the Volvo couldn’t handle with 95 per cent of its ability in reserve, but a newly qualified driver in a worn-out car in the dark and rain might get into trouble sooner at these speeds,” Oliver writes. “A variable limit would seem right…”

But “the greatest danger”, according to Oliver, is the fact that “on those laser-straight, perfectly surfaced stretches of the Hume, even 130km/h felt safe enough to be dull”.

“I marvelled at the staggering wrong-headedness of the constant roadside signs warning drivers of the dangers of fatigue when an unnecessarily low limit forces them to remain behind the wheel for longer.”

Failing to attract the attention of the boys in blue and having saved more than an hour, Oliver concluded, “Your speed limit is nuts”.

While not planning to penalise Oliver despite his admission of guilt, NSW Police has condemned the action as “reckless”.

“This stunt has potentially endangered other people’s lives,” NSW Police commander of traffic and highway patrol John Hartley told News Limited. “Speed is still one of the biggest killers on our roads.

“It’s a deliberately reckless action. We take a dim view of what is clearly a stunt. It sends a bad message to other drivers and could have had tragic consequences.”

Wheels’ online petition to increase the limit to 130km/h has attracted more than 11,000 signatures on its way to its target of 15,000.

of course we got the expected police response;

Wheels Magazine has hired a British journalist to drive from Melbourne to Sydney at 130km/hour to make a point.

Police are "dumbfounded" after Wheels Magazine hired a British journalist to drive from Melbourne to Sydney at 130km/hour to make a point about Australia's speed laws.

The journey took less than 6.5 hours and the driver was not booked once for speeding.

Editor Stephen Corby says the magazine is now launching a national campaign to raise the speed limit to 130km/h.

"We did it to show that it could be done and to show that if you did that you'd get to Sydney almost an hour and 20 minutes quicker," he told 3AW Breakfast.

"The speed limits are too low.

"We would have less fatigue on the road.

"It would put us in line with many countries around the world."


Mr Corby told 3AW Breakfast the magazine hired the British journalist to avoid any staff losing their license.

"We assumed we would be booked repeatedly ... but we did not get booked once," he said.

"The police haven't called me yet, but I'm hearing a lot of comments that they aren't happy."

The driver slowed down to the legal limits for sections under 110km/h.

Supt. Neville Taylor, of Victoria Police, told Justin Smith he was "really dumbfounded" by the stunt.

"This has been a very irresponsible activity to embark on," Supt. Taylor said.

"To try to put this under the banner of research into road safety, I would hope the whole community would see that this is just completely reckless."

But Supt. Taylor would not entertain retrospective fines.

"We're not embarrassed (that police didn't catch the speeding driver), but it is unfortunate," he said.

"It would be wise for us to focus on the positive things we do."
 

rotarykid

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I just finished a trip from here (Toronto area) to North Carolina and back. The 70 mph signs are up along a lot of I75 through Ohio (finally) but there is no rhyme nor reason to the sections still at 65 mph ... hopefully it just means they're not finished changing the signs!

Ontario's 100 km/h limit is looking more and more ridiculous.

This video is from BC but it sure applies here, too ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BKdbxX1pDw
In a couple of weeks in Ohio under a law signed June 30 they are going to start posting higher limits on US & Ohio routes that meet design spec and are outside of city areas as designated by the last US census. What I have read is that many of these built to freeway spec roads will see a increase ranging from to 60-70 mph depending on age & design. Another 300-450 miles are likely to see increase starting some time in October.

They are pretty much done with raising the limit on interstates, using the last census data to determine where it is allowed under the current recently passed increase.

And on the completely ignored 100 km/hr maximum in Ontario & Quebec, It looks like its' days may be numbered.

The Maritain's long ago raised their maximum to 110 on freeways. There has been some talk in recent years of allowing up to 120 on some sections but nothing concrete.

Alberta & Saskatchewan has had freeways & two lane highways alike posted @ 110 for as long as I have been driving up there.

BC today has a maximum of 110 that is widely posted across the province. And has in recent days stated that they are now looking at allowing some highway limits up to 130 km/hr. A study a couple of years ago that has been pushed back to forefront politically stated the limit needed to raised to 130 on some sections of freeways across the province.

Manitoba has finally raised a couple of stretches of the transcanada & another highway to 110 in the last year or so.

I have been driving across the region with the today 100 posted maximum for close to 3 decades now, did anyone ever obey it?? I always tried to stay between 65-70 but was many times passed like I was standing still while crossing from Montreal to Windsor. It doesn't seem safe to go that slow most of time on the regions freeways. I don't really see how they can keep it that low for much longer with the rest of Canada long ago doing away with it.
 

TDI_

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An increase in NJ would be great - particularly on the NJTP. Michigan going up to 75 or 80 would be nice, as well... lots of wide open space in some areas.
Please do not say this! There are already enough stupid/dumb/crazy drivers here and enough accidents the way it is. We cannot add to that craziness. The law around here also says if you do not see a speed limit sign (except the highway) for a certain amount of miles you are suppose to proceed at 25 MPH?!?! Stupidest thing I heard a cop said when he pulled me over. But yeah, no speed limit increase on the highway please in Jersey.
 

VeeDubTDI

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Please do not say this! There are already enough stupid/dumb/crazy drivers here and enough accidents the way it is. We cannot add to that craziness. The law around here also says if you do not see a speed limit sign (except the highway) for a certain amount of miles you are suppose to proceed at 25 MPH?!?! Stupidest thing I heard a cop said when he pulled me over. But yeah, no speed limit increase on the highway please in Jersey.
My thought was that since a lot of people go 70 anyway, that an increase to reflect the actual speed of traffic would reduce the speed differential between the speeders and the people who actually drive the speed limit, thus reducing accidents. I could be wrong, but that seems to be the way it's working in other areas of the country.
 

teledan

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I am always amazed when I need to go 75mph on I-15 (65mph posted limit) in Utah County just to keep up with traffic and there are still cars flying past me. I think the 80mph zones are good though, a lot of people already go that fast and this will just get everybody up closer to the same speed.
 
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