Photo: AP
Idaho and Wyoming will become the third and fourth American states to bump speed limits on their interstates to 80 miles per hour (128.7 km/h).
Last week, Wyoming Governor Matt Mead signed a bill into a law to permit 80 mph speeds (up from 75 mph) on certain highway segments. The change was endorsed by 24 votes against 6 by the state’s Senate, while the House lawmakers approved it on a 53-6 vote.
Neighboring state Idaho is looking to do same, with certain stretches of interstate to have their speed limit increased to 80 mph. The bill passed the senate on a 30-4 vote, but it’s now up to the Transportation Department to decide which roads will allow drivers to travel at speeds of up to 80 mph.
Although the bill has seen strong opposition in Idaho, with some state representatives raising safety-related concerns, Rep. Marc Gibbs said the change can be safely implemented. In Utah, for instance, a research based on speed studies found that vehicle crashes have slightly dropped over the past three years.
The new 80-mph limits will come into effect as of July 1, 2014, in both Idaho and Wyoming. Until then, Utah and Texas will remain the only states that allow all vehicles to travel 80 mph or higher on certain roads.
Neighboring state Idaho is looking to do same, with certain stretches of interstate to have their speed limit increased to 80 mph. The bill passed the senate on a 30-4 vote, but it’s now up to the Transportation Department to decide which roads will allow drivers to travel at speeds of up to 80 mph.
Although the bill has seen strong opposition in Idaho, with some state representatives raising safety-related concerns, Rep. Marc Gibbs said the change can be safely implemented. In Utah, for instance, a research based on speed studies found that vehicle crashes have slightly dropped over the past three years.
The new 80-mph limits will come into effect as of July 1, 2014, in both Idaho and Wyoming. Until then, Utah and Texas will remain the only states that allow all vehicles to travel 80 mph or higher on certain roads.
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