Missouri truckers and other drivers could soon spend less time watching the miles crawl by.
Gov. Mike Kehoe has signed a bill that will bring Missouri its first speed limit increase in more than 30 years.
The old nationwide 55-mph speed limit disappeared in 1995. Since then, states have been free to set their own highway speeds.
Missouri currently sets the speed limit at 70 mph for cars and trucks.
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association has long said highways are safer when traffic moves at a similar speed. OOIDA does not push one specific number. Its goal is one speed limit for all vehicles.
Moving forward
Missouri lawmakers have tried before to raise interstate speed limits.
This year, the issue gained new momentum as work moves forward to widen Interstate 70 to at least three lanes between Kansas City and St. Louis.
Lawmakers approved a bill raising the speed limit to 75 mph for all vehicles on rural interstates and freeways.
The change applies to Interstates 29, 35, 44, 55 and 70.
Missouri is now the 20th state to allow speeds of at least 75 mph for some vehicles. It is also the ninth state where trucks can legally travel at least 75 mph.
Neighboring Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma also authorize all vehicles to drive 75 mph. Arkansas has a 75- mph speed limit for passenger vehicles. Trucks are limited to 70 mph.
Sen. Jamie Burger, R-Benton, led the push for the higher limit.
He said the change would help truckers, farmers and small businesses move people and goods more efficiently.
Burger also pointed to advances in vehicle technology. He said newer technology can help make roads safer than they were years ago.
Speed comes with questions
The Missouri Department of Transportation is not sold on faster speeds.
MoDOT warned lawmakers that speeding remains one of the top causes of crashes. The agency also questioned whether higher speed limits would actually make roads safer.
Now that the bill is law, MoDOT must conduct engineering and traffic studies to determine where a 75-mile limit makes sense.
There is no deadline for completing the studies.
For Missouri drivers, the speed limit may be going up. The bigger question is where – and whether the roads can handle it. LL
More Land Line coverage of Missouri news is available.
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