The drive has arrived again within the state legislature to accelerate up to 75 mph the speed limit on certain interstate and North Carolina highway routes.
Bipartisan was filed on Feb. 12 with Rep. Brian Biggs, R-Randolph, as one of three primary sponsors.
The bill faces clearing four House committees 鈥� Transportation, State and Local Government, Judiciary 1 and gatekeeper Rules and Operations 鈥� before being presented for a floor vote.
鈥淩aising the speed limit by just 5 mph may seem like a small increase, but it can make a noticeable difference in safety,鈥� said Leigha Jordan, injury prevention coordinator for Safe Guilford, which is based at Moses Cone Hospital in Greensboro.
鈥淗igher speeds result in longer stopping distances, reduced reaction times and more severe accidents.
鈥淚n the event of an accident, higher speeds contribute to greater force of impact, increasing the likelihood of serious injuries or fatalities.鈥�
HB112 represents a resurfacing of House Bill 386, which was not heard in committee during the 2023-24 sessions.
The last time that legislation raising interstate speed limits in N.C. to 75 mph was addressed was in 2013.
At that time, Senate Bill 709 cleared the Senate by a 45-1 vote in April 2013.
However, the House hit the brakes on SB709, amending it into a N.C. Transportation Department study bill that could have resulted in four interstates or state highways being used in a pilot program. SB709 was voted down by a 64-44 vote in June 2013.
During the 2013 House floor debate, several House members spoke against the change, worried that it would lead to more fatal accidents from faster speeds being driven.
Supporters of the change said they would leave it up to DOT to decide which interstates and state highway were safe for 75 mph speed limit.
Under HB112, the 75 mph speed limit would be allowed on interstates and state highways that the N.C. Transportation Department determines is capable of handling a higher maximum speed.
If HB112 becomes law, it would be eligible to go into effect on Dec. 1, but only after speed limit signs had been changed on the eligible interstates and state highways.
鈥淩aising the speed limit to 75 mph will result in more gasoline expenditures due to less efficiency when traveling at higher speeds, slightly reduced commuting and transport times over long distances,鈥� said Zagros Madjd-Sadjadi, an economics professor at Winston-Salem State University.
鈥淚t will result in more serious and frequent accidents, especially when weather conditions are suboptimal.
鈥淭here will be more wear and tear on the interstates, as well as individual vehicles, due to higher speeds.鈥�
The legislation acknowledges that for some motorists, 75 mph will not be the maximum speed they will drive.
Motorists pulled over by law enforcement officers for driving more than 85 mph in a 75-mph zone would be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor. The same would hold true for someone driving more than 80 mph in a 70-mph zone.
Otherwise, motorists would only be subject to a Class 3 misdemeanor if going more than 15 mph over the posted speed limit.
Those caught going more than 85 mph in a 75-mph zone could be subject to having their license suspended for at least 30 days 鈥� the same as now for going more than 80 mph in a 70-mph zone, or more than 15 mph over the posted speed limit.
There are 17 states, mostly in western U.S., that have a maximum speed limit of at least 75 mph.
Texas allows speeds of up to 85 mph, according to the . Maine is the only East Coast state with a 75 mph limit in urban areas.
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety released in December the latest in a series of studies in driving risk factors. listing higher speeds as a significant factor in nearly 41,000 people dying in U.S. traffic crashes during 2023.
鈥淪peeding, distracted driving and aggressive driving emerged as the most prevalent dangerous habits,鈥� according to the foundation鈥檚 report that was titled
鈥淵et, many drivers have admitted to doing these dangerous behaviors at least once in the previous 30 days.鈥�
According to the study, most drivers perceive aggressive driving (89%) and running red lights (81%) as dangerous, while 27% said they have ran at least one red light in the previous 30 days.
About 49% admitted to driving 15 mph over the posted speed limit on a freeway at least once in the past 30 days, while 36% of drivers reported driving 10 mph over the posted speed limit on a residential street.
The conclusion of the study was that 鈥渋ncreasing speed limits may not always yield the positive results envisioned by traffic planners.鈥�