Traffic laws are some of the most disregarded in society, especially speed limits, as we have all been in a situation where we have pushed the envelope a little bit to get to where we are going faster. But the speed limit is there for a reason, even if it is unbeknownst to us, and we should all follow traffic laws as we can put ourselves and others at risk if we do not. But now, a law in the US is changing the speed limit once again and there is one group of drivers that will be especially affected by the change.
Many have argued over the years that many speed limits are outdated, after all they were established years ago when the road construction materials were worse and the safety features in the cars were also nowhere near as good and effective as they are today. In all fairness, they are not wrong, as nowadays we have a lot less road fatalities than we used to, but that does not mean that the ones that do happen are not gruesome and way too many, The aim is to get the number to cero deaths on the road, not to change the limits and get the number of deaths back up.
However, something that many have not considered is that in some cases raising the speed limit can also reduce the number of accidents under some circumstances and in some stretches of road, so the matter is not as clear cut as it may seem at first glance.
The new law that will regulate the speed limit on certain roads in Indiana
Driving too fast is dangerous and we all know it. Depending on the conditions of the road it can be fatal, as we know that fast drivers do not keep adequate distances between cars, tend to brake suddenly and weave in and out of lanes to avoid slower cars with little regard to their surroundings.
But also driving under the speed limit, or at least slower than everyone else surrounding you is not a good thing. Disrupting the natural flow of traffic and forcing drivers to avoid you at higher speeds can be just as dangerous, plus, it can lead to frustration and instances of road rage that end up in fatalities.
That is why authorities in Indiana have decided to increase the current speed limit of 55mph to 65mph on Interstate 465 in Indianapolis. This highway was well known for speeding and many tickets had been issued there, as well as plenty of accidents that had ended up in fatalities. This has been attributed to the very different speeds that those following the speed limit and those speeding had, which made it difficult for both paces to be matched.
In a statement, the Indiana Department of Transport (INDOT) acknowledged the change and explained their commitment to increase the limit saying “The INDOT is currently working to develop plans to safely execute an increased speed limit on I-465. We will work collaboratively with the Federal Highway Administration throughout the process.”
The change has been codified in Indiana’s House Bill 1461, approved in May, which introduces a legal increase to speed limits starting July 1, though the change will not apply within construction zones. The legislation also grants Marion County the opportunity to secure up to $50 million in state funding for infrastructure projects, provided the county matches the amount using new, non-transportation-related revenue.
Thanks to this new bill, starting next month, drivers in the state will be permitted to legally exceed posted speed limits by 10 miles per hour, but do not get ambitious, going too fast will still get you a ticket.