Florida's New 75 MPH Speed Limits Are Closer To Becoming Reality

[thelakelander]

Umm, I already drive this on the interstate now. I'm not as alarmed as the Miami blogger who wrote this story appears to be.

Do you often find yourself cruising Miami's highways and thinking to yourself, "I really, truly wish that everyone on this road would drive even faster"?

If so, you are a maniac probably bent on your own fiery death, and you are also in luck. Because Florida's legislature looks just about ready to approve 75 mile-per-hour speed limits on state highways.

A bill that would raise highway limits by 5 mph passed its final Senate committee yesterday and now heads for a vote on the floor.

SB 392's sponsor, St. Petersburg Republican Sen. Jeff Brades, says the measure makes sense because people routinely break the 70 mph speed limit anyway.

"In certain areas of the state it will better reflect how drivers are actually using the roads, and therefore make it safer because you won't have the variability between minimum speeds and maximum speeds," Brandes tells the Herald.

It's not too difficult to pick that reasoning apart. Anyone with a basic understanding of American highways knows that the speed limit mostly serves as a warning not to go more than 10 mph over that posted number unless you want a ticket. Raising the limit to 75 would simply means more bros in Beemers weaving through mid-morning traffic at a hair under 85 mph.

Appropriations Committee members passed the bill 15-4 yesterday; it now heads for a Senate-wide vote.

http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2014/03/floridas_new_75_mph_speed_limi.php

[chipwich]

This is very sensible increase.  Very good news to see it working towards becoming the new speed limit.

Honestly, I think it will cut down on driving variability, thus reducing the chance of accidents.  Likewise, it is also likely to help shave 10 minutes off a trip to Disney World.  ...and that's an idea we can all get behind.