Posted on 10/20/2010 5:57:35 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
A Virginia highway official is recommending the state raise the speed limit on most interstates to 70 mph by year’s end.
That would include nearly all of Interstate 81 in Virginia, except for major urban areas including the stretch between Christiansburg and Roanoke, and parts of I-64, I-66, I-85 and I-95.
Connie Sorrell, chief of system operations at the Virginia Department of Transportation, said this afternoon that she will brief the Commonwealth Transportation Board on her recommendation Wednesday.
Sorrell said she recommends the higher limit for “areas that we felt could be operated safety at 70 miles per hour.”
Sorrell said Virginia State Police representatives were consulted and “were comfortable with the recommendations.”
Won’t that cut into speeding ticket revenue?
Bout freaking time !
Yes, but gas tax revenue will go up as gas mileage decreases with increased speeds, one would hope.
WV has had 70 all the time. DC beltway goes 80+... but not the signs, just the traffic!
Long overdue...
Good!
It could be 80mph, and it wouldn’t matter. Many of the folks drive that fast on I81 anyway....
I got a ticket two years ago on I-81. Even though I was going 75mph, I had trucks passing me on the left and the right.
If I’m not mistaken, every state surrounding WV has 65 mph. Dumb.
I’m SO glad WV has 70. It is so much easier to brake from 85 to 70 than from 85 to 65.
Not necessarily. They'll just enforce all the others more vigorously. They do that in Montana. The interstate speed limit is 75 MPH here, but they can stop you for other violations like a busted lights, cracked windshield or not wearing seat belts, and many municipalities are passing cellphone laws.
Heads up! You’re gonna go faster!
NOOOOOO!!!
But, But, But, NOOOOOOOO!!!!
Hmmmppff
Call me when you get to 80... I10 Between Kerr and El Paso in Texas is 80mph. Now if we could just get it up to 100!!
I don’t know, I had a hard time following a Porsche up 81 in my pickup truck. Even worse was trying to keep up with a Corvette in VW up one of those mountains at about 90 in a V-6 Accura.
>> I got a ticket two years ago on I-81. Even though I was going 75mph, I had trucks passing me on the left and the right. <<
I know exactly what you mean:
The stretch of I-81 between Lexington and Roanoke has got to be one of the most dangerous rural interstates in the USA. You get a couple of trucks “double teaming” on your tail as you go down a long decline, and your life is seriously in danger if you AREN’T going at least 80 MPH.
(The only time I feel safe on that segment is early on a Sunday morning, while a lot of truckers are either sleeping in or at church!)
Whatchoo got against 70mph?
Speeding-Related Traffic Fatalities, by Road Type, Speed Limit, and State: 2007
I-81 Ain’t fun South of Roanoke either. lol
(you should be able to drive as fast as you need to in order to get away from the trucks and the nuts)
Ping
I was hoping for 80mph :)
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