Yesterday, Maryland lawmakers overwhelmingly voted
in favor of increasing the maximum speed on interstate highways to
70mph. The next step is sending the bill
to Governor Hogan and await his approval or disapproval. Even if he signs the bill into law, it does
not mean that the 65mph speed limits will be required to increase to
70mph. The Maryland Department of
Transportation has said increasing speed limits will still be determined on a
case by case basis, even if this bill becomes law. The Western Maryland delegate who sponsored
the bill would like to see the speed limit increased on Maryland’s highways
because it would save travel time that “adds up over time.”
If
the bill becomes law, Maryland would be the 23rd state with a top
speed limit of 70mph, but just the 5th in the highly-populated
northeast (Maine, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Virginia). This increase would still be far below the
nation’s top speed limit of 80mph in four western states.
Opponents
of increased speeds “equate higher speeds with more deaths.” While speeding has been proven to be a
leading cause of car accident deaths, distracted driving still leads the way, with drunk
driving not far behind.
Maryland’s
current top speed limit is 65mph, but even that is used on few highways
throughout the state including Interstates 95, 70, 97, portions of 83, and U.S.
50, among a few others. State
transportation officials calculate appropriate speed limits “by relying on how
fast 85 percent of traffic moves under normal conditions, as well as taking
road conditions and past accidents into account.” Further, AAA officials say that “70mph is not
too high for certain parts of the state.”
“While we (AAA) consistently advocate for ways to decrease traffic
congestion and increase motorist mobility, which increasing speed limits often
does, our primary concern remains the overall traffic safety of motorists on
our roadways.”
The
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety contends that “any increase in speed
makes crashes more likely and more damaging.”
Although it “gets people to their destinations a little faster…, it doesn’t
come without a cost.” As is the case
with everything in life, there are costs and benefits. As Maryland drivers know, people speed on
every roadway, especially on I-95, I-695, and I-83, with no regard whatsoever
for the posted speed limit. A 5mph increase
will likely not make a huge difference because the same fast drivers will
continue to drive fast and the “slow” drivers will continue to drive within the
speed limit. More must be done to combat
distracted driving (i.e. texting while driving) and drunk driving in order to
lower the number of driving deaths, which are more significant problems and
leading causes of car accident deaths than speeding.
If
you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident or has died as a
result of their injury suffered in a Maryland crash, and would like more
information, please call us at (301) 854-9000 for a free case evaluation or
visit us online at: http://www.portnerandshure.com/Auto-Accidents/Car-Accidents/
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