With holidaymakers on their way out of the various states this December, a proposal has been made to increase interstate speed limits in one particular state during December. As per House Bill 112, the maximum speed set on interstate highways will increase from 70 mph to 75 mph. This decision has come at a time when December’s traffic will be at its peak. However, before holiday makers get too excited about the 70 mph to 75 mph increase, it has to be noted that this bill has not gained approval in the state as yet.
The proposal for the House Bill redefining interstate speed
While still in the early phase of legislative review, House Bill 112, entitled “Increase Permissible Interstate Speed Limit,” was filed on February 12, 2025. With this law in place, North Carolina will be given the right to increase interstate speed limits from 70 mph to 75 mph.
For this bill to be passed, it will need to clear the Committees on State and Local Government, Judiciary 1, and even Operations of the House. While the proposal may help considerably to ease interstate traffic flow during the December holidays, the bill still has a long way to go before approval.
With a 25% progression rating, this House Bill is still in the initial stages of the legislative process. There is no indication at present that this law will be accepted, and the law may require further votes before it is accepted.
What is in store for the drivers?
Although House Bill 112 has not been fully embraced in the state as yet, North Carolina is going ahead with the enforcement of two laws:
- Basic speed laws require drivers to reduce their speed based on the weather.
- Absolute speed limit where exceeding the speed limit, even by a mere fraction, could be considered a severe offense.
In North Carolina, most absolute speed limits are set at 70 mph, and exceeding this set speed limit by 15 mph could result in hefty penalties. Some opponents who are against the law feel that even the slightest increase in the commonly accepted speed limit could result in more crashes.
Key considerations to keep in mind with this new law
Changing interstate speed limits can have considerable implications, more so during the holiday times. It has yet to be seen if the bill can withstand scrutiny across multiple committees. It was anticipated that the law, which was initially a proposal put forward in February, would be approved just in time for the holidays. However, due to the legislative timeline, the chances of a December approval are highly unlikely.
Should the law be approved by December, it would require committee approval, passage by both chambers, and administrative action by NCDOT. Key considerations before approval are the assessment of financial implications, the assessment of safety data, and the generation of feedback from the public. As 80 mph signs rise up across Northern interstate, there is one stretch that stays stubbornly slow for now.
The change that North Carolina drivers need to wait for
While North Carolina H112 is still in the very early stages, it will need to undergo legislative review before the adjustment to the speed limit is actually approved. The proposal has, however, attracted public attention with numerous supporters and opponents assessing the feasibility of this new law.
While the speed limit increase could make a considerable difference this holiday season, the public will have to wait longer before the speed limit increase comes into play. For now, North Carolina drivers will have to stick to the 70 mph maximum speed limit. While North Carolina drivers eagerly await the interstate speed change, 80 mph becomes the new reality in one state, as the state raised speed limits in August on select highways.