More states may be following the lead of Illinois Gov. Pat Quin who signed legislation Monday increasing the state’s top speed limit to 70 miles per hour the first of next year.

In Wisconsin a bill has been proposed in the state Assembly increasing the speed limit from 65 to 70 mph.

Currently, the Badger State is the only one in the region with the lower speed limit. Supporters say it would bring the state in line with its neighbors. But some question increasing the speed limit for trucks, saying the only way they might support the bill is if it calls for keeping trucks at 65.

Currently, 37 states have laws or have recently adopted them that allow for the top speed limit to be at least 70 mph.

Meantime, there is a push to raise the top speed limit along two New Jersey toll roads.

According to published reports, legislation is expected to be introduced in the state Assembly increasing it from 65 mph along the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway.

Rather than specifying a particular top speed, Assemblyman Declan O’Scanion says his proposal would leave any possible hike to 70 or even 75 mph up to traffic engineers once they determine it could be safety done. He argues that if people drive the current speed limit, which is as low as 55 in some areas, they pose a danger because most other traffic is traveling faster.

About the author
Evan Lockridge

Evan Lockridge

Former Business Contributing Editor

Trucking journalist since 1990, in the news business since early ‘80s.

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