Posted on 05/06/2015 10:13:54 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
The speed limit on some Wisconsin highways would rise to 70 mph, under a proposal coming before the state Senate on Wednesday.
The bill would end Wisconsin's status as a lone island of 65 mph limits in the Midwest by increasing the maximum speed on stretches of interstates and some other four-lane highways that have overpasses, underpasses and ramps instead other roads that directly cross traffic on the highway.
If passed by the Senate, the proposal would return to the Assembly, which passed a different version of the bill on a bipartisan vote in March.
The proposal would mean that stretches of all interstates in Wisconsin could be marked up to 70 mph by the state DOT, as could stretches of state Highways 51, 53 and 151.
All of Wisconsin's neighbors have maximum speed limits of 70 mph or higher, and Wisconsin is the only state between Pennsylvania and Oregon that doesn't have a maximum speed limit of at least 70 mph.
Until now, opponents have blocked the proposal's passage in Wisconsin by arguing that there would be inevitable safety effects from allowing the higher speeds. But a compromise among GOP lawmakers cleared the way for the proposal to move forward by ensuring that highways with at-grade crossings for intersecting roads or even driveways couldn't be cleared for 70 mph speeds.
AAA Wisconsin has argued that the speed limit should not be changed in Wisconsin, particularly for heavy trucks, since an increase of 5 mph could lengthen the stopping distance for those vehicles by as much as 100 feet, or 20%.
(Excerpt) Read more at jsonline.com ...
State Senate debating 70 mph speed limit for WI.
FReep mail me if you want on, or off, this Wisconsin interest ping list.
70 is the new 50.
I do.
My kids make a game out of how many people they see stopped by traffic cops in WI.
You can drive through 5 other states, and not see combined the number of cars ticketed in Wisconsin.
Just another reason to love Texas.
That must be interesting. I thought 80 was pretty awesome in Wyoming, although me poor little Subaru had problems going that fast with a kayak strapped on top.
Excellent. Good for Wisconsin!
My bike will exceed 55 MPH in first gear. 2nd 90, 3rd 125. Speed limits are stuck in the 1950’s.
80 is a more realistic limit these days.
If it ain’t 0.98C, it ain’t nothin’.
I did warp factor 19 in my car once.
VROOM! VROOM! :)
The speed limit was dropped to 55 in my state during the Nixon-era oil crisis. Nobody actually drove at that speed.
Yes, it’s clear it would just be better for all involved if we just stayed home.
Yeah, we suffered through that as well.
January 2, 1974. That alone should have been an Impeachable offense, not Watergate.
Oh yeah, the EPA was a Nixon thing too. He was two for two.
Don’t forget Carter gave us the Department of RE-Education.
Overall the 70’s sucked.
Believe it or not, the People’s Republic of Maryland approved 70 mph too.
That means I’ll only be going 10 over now.
Driving from Milwaukee to Lac Courte Oreilles to fish for muskies in five hours or less appeals to me.
Megwich, Anishinaabe veteran brothers.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.