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House Oks Higher Speed Limits ‘Seventy-Five’s All Right If They’ll Make ‘Em Observe It,’ Says Gov. Batt

By Betsy Z. Russell betsyr@spokesman.com(208) 336-2854

Idaho’s speed limits are headed up.

The House voted 55-13 Monday to send a 75 mph speed limit bill to the governor; it already has passed the Senate.

“I’d say it’s plenty on the high side, but I’m going to sign it,” Gov. Phil Batt said in an interview. “Seventy-five’s all right if they’ll make ‘em observe it. If they give ‘em a fudge factor over that, it’s too dang fast.”

The legislation leaves it up to the state Transportation Board to decide which roads will get which speed limits. But it lifts the maximum from 65 mph to 75 mph for interstate freeways and from 55 mph to 65 mph for state and local roads.

The bill also deletes a section of Idaho law that made it a lesser offense, with only a $5 fine, to exceed the 55 mph or 65 mph speed limit by driving up to 69 mph. That section applied only on roadways that had higher limits before the national speed limit was imposed in 1974.

Rep. Allen Larsen, R-Blackfoot, cited a raft of studies he said show that raising speed limits doesn’t lead to more accidents because people weren’t obeying the lower speed limits in the first place.

“You’re foolish to absolutely set speed limits that aren’t in line with what people drive,” Larsen said.

He also noted that some of Idaho’s neighbors have raised their speed limits. Utah has gone to 75 mph and 65 mph, and Nevada has chosen 75 mph. Montana has no daytime speed limit. Washington has set a 70 mph freeway speed.

“The federal government has given us the opportunity to recognize local jurisdiction,” Larsen said.

All of North Idaho’s representatives voted in favor of the change, except Rep. June Judd, D-St. Maries. Rep. Chuck Cuddy, D-Orofino, missed the vote.

Batt said the legislation “sounds good” and said it’s “probably a logical way to go.”

It takes effect May 1. The state Transportation Board already has asked its engineers to study roadways across the state and report to the board at its April 11-12 meeting.

The Idaho Transportation Department can change interstate speed signs within three to five days after the board makes the call, said spokesman Jeff Stratten.

Other roads may take longer to switch over after the decision is made, he said, because stop-ahead signs, passing lane lengths, and other items all will have to be adjusted to the new speeds.

Work involving new pavement striping requires good weather, he said. The department hopes to have all that type of work completed by July.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Revving up Jim Armitage, state traffic engineer for North Idaho, says the region’s roads are being studied, but here are some preliminary indications on speed limits: Interstate 90 from Coeur d’Alene or Post Falls to the Washington state line is a likely candidate for a higher speed limit, possibly up to 75 mph. So is I-90 through the Silver Valley. U.S. Highway 95 through part of Coeur d’Alene and Hayden is unlikely to see higher speed limits. But further north, Highway 95 may see higher limits.

This sidebar appeared with the story: Revving up Jim Armitage, state traffic engineer for North Idaho, says the region’s roads are being studied, but here are some preliminary indications on speed limits: Interstate 90 from Coeur d’Alene or Post Falls to the Washington state line is a likely candidate for a higher speed limit, possibly up to 75 mph. So is I-90 through the Silver Valley. U.S. Highway 95 through part of Coeur d’Alene and Hayden is unlikely to see higher speed limits. But further north, Highway 95 may see higher limits.