TxDOT Increases Speed Limit on Some Highways

Truckinginfo ^ | September 1, 2011 | Truckinginfo

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

New laws regulating speed limits on state highways in Texas are beginning to take effect. Some speed limits will increase.

Gov. Perry signed House Bill 1353, which takes effect today. This legislation allows the Texas Department of Transportation to create a 75-mph speed limit on any state highway found to be reasonable and safe through a speed study.

TxDOT will be reviewing existing 70-mph limits to determine where a 75-mph speed limit may be safely posted.

HB 1353 also eliminates the 65-mph nighttime speed limit and all truck speed limits. On Sept. 1, the existing nighttime and truck speed limits are repealed and no longer enforceable.

TxDOT awarded maintenance contracts in August to remove the nighttime and truck speed limit signs and is also in the process of hiring consultants to perform the required speed studies needed to implement the higher speed limits.

The state will be removing the existing nighttime speed limit signs, truck speed limit signs, and evaluating approximately 50,000 miles of state highway with a current 70-mph speed limit.

However, any increases in speed limits are not officially in effect until the physical signs are installed.

Speed limits in Texas are set by the 85th percentile method, which represents the speed the majority of drivers are traveling at or below. This is a sound engineering principle used to set speed limits on highways nationwide for the past 60 years, say state officials.

The existing 65-mph night and truck speed limit signs should be removed by the end of this year. The complete evaluation of the state highway system and posting of all new 75-mph speed limits should be complete by early 2013.

For more information: www.txdot.gov

[Army Air Corps]

FYI Ping.

[mylife]

Hooray!
Now we can get to the gunshop faster!

[lightman]

All the more reason it was good that TX ended the “one for the road” open container custom a few years ago. DWD definitely not a good idea at those speeds.

[Oceander]

G*d-da&ned RINOs!

/sarc

[svcw]

Good, makes sense.

[Raider Sam]

I am so glad they got rid of that stupid night time speed limit. Coming from La into Tx at night when you need to get to Dallas is just awful.

[razorback-bert]

Did I read that right?

No speed limit for trucks.

[oyez]

And fuel economy will not suffer. Of course those people in the clown cars are going to have to pedal a lot harder.

[Flycatcher]

Ever notice that everyone who drives faster than you is a maniac and everyone who drives slower than you is an idiot?!

_{Old joke alert!}

Good for Texas. Any freeway/open highway limit below 75 is downright barbaric and uncivilized.

[PAR35]

Coming from La into Tx at night when you need to get to Dallas is just awful.

Never noticed it slowing me down. Going the other direction, however, I always found Mississippi to be a state-wide speed trap.

[org.whodat]

One way to stimulate the economy is a nation wide. 70 or 75 mile speed limit and do away with all the BS lane and two speeds BS. A truck and car running 70 burns more fuel, increases fuel sales and adds tax revenue. Enforce the right side for slow traffic rules to make up the traffic fines.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

I’m pretty sure that any truck doing over 75 will be fair game for tickets. :-)

[Deaf Smith]

When I used to drive 18’s back in the 80’s, my Petercar was set at 78 for night time speeds...bird dog on.

[Tornillo]

Nope,Ft Hancock to Kerrville on I-10 and Odessa on I-20 the speed limit is 80.(So everybody runs 85.)

[Bikkuri]

lol.. at 15yo, I learned how to use the CB and get in a convoy... Had to learn the HARD way not to be on the END of a convoy >.< (first ticket by a TxDPS).. lol

[Bikkuri]

In Texas (at least when I used to live there), Trucks had a lower speed limit at night.. Totally separate speed limit sign.

[Bikkuri]

:O Seriously?!

I have never seen a speed limit of 80! When did that happen?

(BTW, my hometown is Odessa.. or as we called it, “Slo-Deatha”)..

;^)

OH.. it is very conservative... and the most LIBERAL town/city for 100s of miles is just 20 miles away (Midland >.<)

[Tornillo]

A couple of years ago. It goes by county lines. It’s going to get really western when they throw all those Mexican trucks in the mix. I drive El Paso to Van Horn regularly and there are places in I-10 that are so bad they will throw you off the road if you’re not carefull.

[DaGman]

Well I’ll be damned. The Texas Legislature did something that didn’t threaten anyone’s life, liberty or property. And it even makes a lot of sense. Incredible.