During the last months, some North American states have been promoting changes to their traffic laws. From different processes to renew the driver’s licenses, to speed limits, the decisions were taken to improve the security on the streets and highways. Recently, another state approved a new bill that increases the speed limits by 10 mph on I-465 in Indianapolis. This bill intends to go along with the records, which show that 96% of the drivers in that state are usually speeding. Along with these changes, the penalties for exceeding the speed limits in work zones will be reviewed.
A new speed limit and road funding were approved in this state
A research study promoted by the Department of Transportation a few years ago showed that 96% of the drivers in this North American state were going over the speed limits. Once the laws were outdated and due to the necessity to adjust, a bill that intended to change the speed limits was voted on and approved.
Besides the increase in the speed limits in designated areas of the state, the bill also changes the amount assigned to the road funding. It is set to be implemented on or after July 1st.
The I-465 speed limit will be increased to 65 mph
The House Bill 1461 in the Indiana General Assembly was led by Rep. Jim Pressel, and offers a platter of tools local government could use to boost their budgets for roads. At the same time, the bill also eases the establishment of more toll roads, and proposes the change of the speed limit on I-465. Starting on or after July 1st, the new speed limit will be 65 mph.
Changes promoted by the Indiana government are following the same tendencies as other states, which had already promoted increases in their speed limits on roads and interstate highways.
The increase did not appear in the original legislation
Besides the ten-mile-per-hour increase in the law, this change was not part of the original legislation and was not discussed during the legislative session. The bill that was approved, now nominated as House Enrolled Act 1461, is mainly about other road subjects, but the language about the I-465 was added during the process. These changes were approved by the bill author, Republican Rep. Jim Pressel of Rolling Prairie, and signed by the Governor, Mike Braun.
According to some sources, it reflects the perception long felt by drivers and authorities from Indiana that the 55 mph speed limit was too low. Even Pressel was surprised by the change. During the final presentation of the bill, on April 17, he said:
“For those of us who struggle driving 55 miles an hour on 465, it increases the speed limit to 65. There you go”.
Besides the changes made, some city areas, such as work zones and the I-465/I-69 construction zone, will remain with lower speed limits, demanding the driver’s attention. Also, new rules were applied to the traffic law, ensuring penalties for speeding. Drivers who are caught exceeding 11 miles per hour over the posted speed limit in those work zones will receive a penalty.
May it reflect a tendency from US states?
Besides not being a huge change for Indiana drivers, the approval of this bill may reflect a tendency seen in other North American states. Recently, other parts of the country decided to promote changes to their traffic laws, including the speed limit on the roads. Despite most of the US states increasing the speed limits, one specific state decided to lower the speed limit to 50 mph. After an extended discussion, the House Representatives are about to introduce a new legislative bill to make the changes happen.