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New Law Would Increase Texas Speed Limit

Posted on May 24, 2011

The Texas Senate has just passed a bill that would increase the speed limit on some Texas highways from 70 miles per hour to 75 miles per hour. Commercial trucks would be allowed to travel at this same increased speed limit.

The proposed law would also do away with reduced nighttime speed limits. Currently, Texas is the only state that has reduced speed limits at night.

Originally introduced by Representative Lois W. Kolkhorst, the bill that passed the House had a provision for raising the speed limit to as much as 85 miles per hour. Fortunately, this provision was taken out of the bill in the Senate. Governor Rick Perry is expected to sign the Senate version of the bill into law.

Critics of the bill note that not only will the increased speed limit increase gas consumption and cause even more pain at the pump for consumers who choose to travel at the higher speed limit, but it will also make the roads more dangerous. Increasing the speed limit by just five miles per hour could have a dramatic and deadly impact on the roads.

Currently, most highways in Texas have speed limits of 70 miles per hour. Urban cities have lower speed limits, but on some rural roads, the speed limit tops out at 80 miles per hour, the highest in the country.

Combine these higher speed limits with the potential for more trucks on the road thanks to NAFTA, and Texas may have a recipe for deadly car wrecks.

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