Legislation that would raise highway speed limits, and in some cases hold heavy trucks to a lower limit than other vehicles, is on the table in several states. In others, amendments and bills have died or been defeated.

The Illinois House Friday voted no on House Bill 575, which would have ended the state's split speed limit in some areas. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Charles Hartke, would have raised the speed limit to 65 mph for vehicles weighing more than 8,000 pounds. The higher speed limit wouldn't have applied to urban areas or to tollways. Hartke said the bill, which would have applied mainly to downstate rural interstates, would have improved safety by having all vehicles traveling about the same speed.
In neighboring Missouri, the state Senate voted down an amendment that would have created split speed limits on Missouri highways. The amendment was defeated with a 19-15 vote on March 13. However, another Missouri Senate measure, SB138, still could reduce truck speed limits by 5 mph, leaving a 5-mile split between passenger vehicles and commercial trucks. That bill would fine drivers who exceed the speed limit by more than 5 mph $50 per mile over that limit in addition to the established fine. That bill is now stalled in committee. The last action was a committee hearing on Jan. 30.
Another split speed bill died in New Mexico. Legislation that would create a 10-mph differential speed limit for the state's highways died in the House Transportation Committee on March 15, the last day it could be considered for this year's session. The bill's Senate sponsor, Lidio Rainaldi, pledged to reintroduce the measure again next year.
An Ohio bill to eliminate the state's split speed limit is still churning, however. HB55 has gone through three rounds of testimony over the past few weeks. Further testimony is planned for this week, as well as a possible vote by the Transportation Committee to send the bill to the Speaker of the House for approval and then onto the full House.
The Ohio bill's sponsor, Rep. Bryan Williams, as well as trucking officials, provided representatives with copies of studies reporting the dangers of split speeds. However, Larry Davis, president of the Ohio Trucking Association, told Land Line magazine he doesn't see the legislation becoming law.
In Indiana, a proposal to increase the speed limit to at least 70 mph passed in the House probably won't make it to the Senate floor. If it does, lobbyists for police, the insurance industry and traffic safety groups are prepared to rally against it. Rep. David Wolkins, R-Winona Lake, who is behind the increase, argues that motorists already travel 70 to 72. After several past failures, Wolkins finally got an amendment into a transportation bill that passed the Indiana House last month. It has been assigned to the Senate Transportation Committee, which will consider the bill in the next two weeks.
In Oregon, a proposed bill that would raise the state’s 65-mph speed limit to 75 would keep trucks at 70.
According to The Oregonian, this is the third time Republican State Sen. Randy Miller has tried to raise the speed limit. Two years ago, his proposal was passed by the House and Senate but was vetoed by Gov. John Kitzhaber. This time, however, Kitzhaber has said he's open to a change if the state police agree, the paper reports.
Miller's bill, SB502, establishes a 75 mph limit for cars on rural interstates currently posted at 65 mph. Trucks would be limited to 70 mph. The bill gives ODOT the authority to decide where higher speed limits are appropriate.
Two other Oregon bills, Senate Bill 88 and Senate Bill 564, also seek to raise the speed limits throughout the state -- not just on freeways. Sen. Gary George, chairman of the transportation committee, said parts of each bill probably will be merged into one, which will receive further hearings.