The Speed Limit is Being Increased – is This a Good Idea for Illinois?

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed a new law to increase the speed limit from 65 to 70 miles-per-hour on rural four lane highways. Is this a good idea?

According Governor Quinn "the limited five miles per hour increase will bring Illinois' rural interstate speed limits in line with our neighbors and the majority of states across America." With drivers already speeding on rural four lane roads, do you think the speeders will not go over the 70 miles per hour speed limit? I for one do not think so.

The new law also includes an additional safety provision, which lowers the limit by five mph at which drivers may be charged by law enforcement with excessive speeding. Currently, the threshold for penalties is 31 mph over the limit. The new law lowers that threshold to 26 mph over the limit to increase safety on Illinois roads.

In time we will see if this new law does what it is supposed to do. The new law is effective on January 1, 2014.