Highway Speed Labeled ‘Matter Of Life And Death’ Two Montana Legislators Want To Devote Special Session To It

Faced with a surge in fatal accidents, two state lawmakers say a special session of the Legislature should be called to enact a numerical daytime speed limit on Montana’s highways.

“It’s getting to be, in my estimate, a matter of life and death,” said Rep. Joe Quilici, D-Butte. “Our friends and neighbors are dying out there.”

Quilici and Rep. Trudi Schmidt, D-Great Falls, said lawmakers or the governor should call a brief special session to enact the numerical speed limit. Both of them noted the rising death toll on Montana highways this year.

As of Wednesday, 161 people had died on Montana highways, compared with 127 on the same day a year ago. The 1997 total is about 27 percent ahead of last year’s total, and 1996 was an average year.

“If it requires a special session and calling everyone in for one day, to me, it’s worth it, to save a few lives,” Schmidt said.

House Speaker John Mercer, R-Polson, disagreed, saying he is not convinced the rising death toll is a result of the state’s “reasonable and prudent” speed law. He also said any change should be made during the regular session. The Legislature next meets in January 1999.

“There has to be more data to determine if (the lack of a numerical limit) is the problem, and how much of a problem it is,” Mercer said Wednesday. “I don’t think a special session would be a good idea at this time.”

The 1997 Legislature soundly defeated a proposed numerical speed limit.

Attorney General Joe Mazurek, who supported a numerical speed limit during this spring’s session, said he sees no point in a special session unless a majority of lawmakers from each house agreed in advance that they would enact a certain speed limit.

“Without a consensus going in, I think it would be fruitless,” he said.