Opponents of a bill in the Iowa state legislature to raise the state’s speed limit say it could lead to 10 percent more highway deaths
and a 10 percent drop in fuel economy.
That’s according to a study released by state transportation officials this week. The study found that fatalities increased 10.7 percent in Midwestern states that raised the speed limit, while they dropped 1 percent in states that kept the 65 mph limit. Illinois and Wisconsin have seen highway deaths decline 3-4 percent since keeping their speed limits at 65, says the study.
Although the study supports the governor’s position that raising the speed limit is unsafe, supporters say the bill is gaining momentum. Sen. John Redwine pointed out that his proposal doesn’t automatically mean higher speed limits. It simply allows the state Department of Transportation to raise limits where it feels it would be safe to do so. “There may be some areas in the eastern half of the state where traffic wouldn’t permit a 70-mph speed limit,” he told the Associated Press.