One state considered raising its speed limits for some drivers, but the bill did not pass. For decades, speed limits in the U.S. have been a balancing act between getting somewhere fast and staying safe. When the federal 55 mph cap was lifted in the mid-1990s, many areas started going beyond limits higher—sometimes 75 mph, even 80 mph on long, open roads. But lawmakers want to change that. On the other hand, having a special group that doesn’t need to follow the rules might send the wrong message to opposite groups.
Speed limit changes: Each state has its bills
Law enforcement and safety groups aren’t thrilled about higher speed limits. A 2021 AAA study found that faster speeds mean a bigger risk of serious injury or death in crashes. Right now, 18 states let drivers hit 75 mph or more on certain roads, mostly rural highways—including Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Nebraska, North Dakota, and New Mexico.
As the number of accidents is something all states are looking into, searching for the main causes and putting new bills into effect, New Mexico lawmakers proposed lowering the limit for commercial trucks by 10 mph—down to 65 mph—to make sure heavier vehicles don’t reach speeds that could cause greater harm in a crash.
New Mexico tried: The SB 226 didn’t stick for now
Lawmakers in New Mexico were considering a bill to slow down commercial trucks on the state’s highways. If it had passed, truck tractors—the big rigs that haul trailers—would have been capped at 65 mph on highways, 10 mph slower than other vehicles. Drivers who pushed past the new limit would have been hit with a $250 fine, tacked onto the state’s existing penalties. If the law had gone through, it would have taken effect on July 1, 2025. But after making it to the House Judiciary Committee on March 17, the bill stalled—its consideration was postponed indefinitely.
Senate Bill 226 in the New Mexico Legislature had already sailed through the Senate Transportation and Judiciary Committees, but trucking groups weren’t impressed. The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) argued that a speed gap between trucks and cars could actually make roads more dangerous, pointing out there’s little solid evidence that separate limits improve safety.
Warnings from everywhere: Not everyone was onboard with the speed limit
The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) also warned that the bill could create a 10 mph gap between trucks and other vehicles, which might lead to more accidents and heavier congestion. Some lawmakers also worried it could make traffic worse on highways like Interstate 40, where trucks already move at different speeds.
This isn’t the first time New Mexico has targeted truck traffic. Lawmakers previously passed a rule requiring trucks to stay in the right lane on multi-lane highways unless overtaking, with the same $250 fine for violations. OOIDA keeps on pushing for a level playing field, saying roads are safest when all vehicles move at the same pace.
Other states are also acting on speed and road safety
Currently, New Mexico highways allow 75 mph for all vehicles, and trucks are required to stick to the right lane outside cities, except when passing. The bill’s indefinite postponement means that rule remains unchanged for now. As states are taking matters into their own hands, they are free to propose a new bill multiple times a year.
Take Pennsylvania, for example: it is cracking down on distracted driving, banning cellphones and other handheld devices and giving police the power to pull over offenders. And while these rules are rolling out across the country, new ones are yet to come.
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