Texas House Approves 85 MPH Speed Limit
Published Apr 8, 2011
The Texas House has passed a measure that would allow the state's Department of Transportation to establish a speed limit not to exceed 85 mph on designated lanes or entire stretches of the state highway system.
If approved, the new 85-mph limit would be the highest in the U.S.
One opponent observed that "the two things that kill most people on our highways are speed and alcohol."
AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas House has passed a measure that would allow the state's Department of Transportation to establish a speed limit of up to 85 mph on designated lanes or entire stretches of the state highway system. The Texas Senate is considering a similar proposal.
If approved, the new 85-mph limit would be the highest in the U.S., according to Reuters, which noted that Texas and Utah are the only two states currently with posted limits of 80 mph on remote stretches of the interstate.
The Associated Press quoted Representative Lois Kolkhorst, who introduced the bill, as saying: "They have high-speed roadways in Europe, and there could be some merit in having some of those highways in Texas. Given the right engineering, we should consider it."
Jerry Johns, of the Southwest Insurance Information Institute, told the AP the proposed 85-mph speed limit in Texas would be a bad idea: "Obviously, the two things that kill most people on our highways are speed and alcohol. Increasing it to 85, or even 75, will have a dramatic impact on the death and injury rate on those highways where it's implemented."
Published Apr 8, 2011
The Texas House has passed a measure that would allow the state's Department of Transportation to establish a speed limit not to exceed 85 mph on designated lanes or entire stretches of the state highway system.
If approved, the new 85-mph limit would be the highest in the U.S.
One opponent observed that "the two things that kill most people on our highways are speed and alcohol."
AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas House has passed a measure that would allow the state's Department of Transportation to establish a speed limit of up to 85 mph on designated lanes or entire stretches of the state highway system. The Texas Senate is considering a similar proposal.
If approved, the new 85-mph limit would be the highest in the U.S., according to Reuters, which noted that Texas and Utah are the only two states currently with posted limits of 80 mph on remote stretches of the interstate.
The Associated Press quoted Representative Lois Kolkhorst, who introduced the bill, as saying: "They have high-speed roadways in Europe, and there could be some merit in having some of those highways in Texas. Given the right engineering, we should consider it."
Jerry Johns, of the Southwest Insurance Information Institute, told the AP the proposed 85-mph speed limit in Texas would be a bad idea: "Obviously, the two things that kill most people on our highways are speed and alcohol. Increasing it to 85, or even 75, will have a dramatic impact on the death and injury rate on those highways where it's implemented."
