New speed limits are in the work for this one state. This month, significant changes to driving penalties will go into effect across the nation. Driving laws and rules are subject to frequent revisions because of the ever-changing nature of the roadways, which includes traffic patterns, vehicle modifications, and road upgrades. Although they can be challenging to keep up with at times, all of these legislative and policy changes are ultimately meant to keep drivers safe.
Ensuring the safety of all road users
Possibly the most frequently updated and modified legislation policies are those pertaining to road and vehicle laws, especially when it comes to speeding. Approximately one-third of road accident fatalities in 2023 were caused by speeding drivers, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and policies pertaining to speed limits and the fines that go along with them are continuously being reviewed in order to discourage drivers excessively going over the speed limit.
Many local and state governments across the nation are cracking down on drivers who are found speeding, especially those who are found to be excessively driving over the speed limit in order to keep drivers and other road users safe. Local governments are making sure that the safety of their citizens is the top priority on the roadways by enforcing harsh penalties that can reach thousands of dollars and the possibility of jail time. However, in an unusual turn of event, this one state is looking at raising the speed limit.
This state looks to raise the speed limit for drivers
Florida has recently seen significant updates to their road policies and legislation. The state recently passed legislation which not only will increase your associated fines if you are caught excessively speeding, but also says that you can risk jail time if convicted for excessive speeding starting at 30 days.
Another piece of legislation proposed by the senate would see the speed limit across the state by 5mph, meaning that the maximum speed you can drive at would be raised to 75mph. A bill was previously proposed in 2015 to raise the state’s speed limit, however, it was vetoed by the governor at the time, Gov. Rick Scott.
“While the evidence suggests that increased driving speeds are not the sole cause of traffic accidents, they clearly contribute to the increased severity of vehicle crash outcomes in the form of needless injuries and deaths.” Scott said in his veto message in 2014.
If Florida Senate Bill 462 is passed, Florida would become the 19th state in the nation to permit speeds over 75mph. The bill also seeks to clarify multiple existing road laws. While raising speed limits have been linked to increased fatalities, law makers who support raising speed limits argue that raising the speed limit can be beneficial if an influx of drivers are already breaking the speeding laws anyway, and raising the speed limit would create more consistent traffic conditions.
More speeding changes seen across states
Other states and locations have also been working on changing their speeding laws. New York City recently was granted approval to lower their speed limit from 25mph to 20mph, with the city intending to have the while city convert to this new speed limit by the end of the year.
In addition to New York City’s new speeding laws, other changes states have made to their speeding practices include North Dakota’s approval of implementing a tiered speeding fine policy system due to the state raising the speed limit on the interstate. Washington state has also been working on legislation which would see speed-limiting devices be installed into the vehicles of drivers who were convicted of excessively speeding in order for them to have their licenses reinstated.
