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Lawmakers in Florida are seeking to increase the state's speed limit from 70 to 75 miles per hour on certain state highways. However, not everyone is welcoming the idea. As a matter of fact, lobbyists with AAA Club South have made it clear that raising the limit would be a "risky move" given the number of current residents and yearly visitors the state gets.

Fort Myers personal injury attorneys like Randall Spivey and his team at the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., have seen first-hand the pain and suffering that accident victims experience after a motor vehicle accident in which speed was a factor. That said, it should come as no surprise that some people are not supporting the speed limit increase.

The Specifics

HB 761, a bill that was recently voted on and approved by the House Transportation and Highway Safety Subcommittee and the House Economic Affairs Committee, would allow Florida's Department of Transportation (DOT) to increase the speeds on some state roadways from 70 to 75 miles per hour. Now headed to the House floor, the bill instructs the DOT to make a determination with respect to what would be deemed safe minimum and maximum speed limits on all highways that are divided and have a minimum of four lanes.

Depending on the Department's findings, maximum speed limits in lightly populated areas could increase to 75 miles per hour on "limited access highways" and 70 miles per hour on four-lane divided highways. Additionally, the bill would also give the DOT the power to raise limits to 60 miles per hour on other roads they deem safe, as well as allow them to set minimum speeds on specific highways.

Why Do AAA and Certain State Reps Oppose the Idea?

According to data from a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study, speed was a factor in about one-third of all fatalities that occurred due to traffic-related accidents in 2012. In fact, the states with higher speed limits tended to have higher than normal fatality rates when compared with the national average. Based on that information, certain state representatives and AAA have voiced their concerns regarding overall safety, noting that an increase would only make many drivers believe that it would be fine to drive five miles per hour over the new limit--a practice that is commonly done with the current speed limit now.

Naturally, bill supporters claim that a large number of drivers are already driving faster than the posted speed limit of 70 anyway. However, opponents reiterate that Florida could see even more accidents if they join the ranks of Maine by increasing the limit over 70. Florida's Department of Transportation secretary has stated that the agency "would only conduct speed studies in select areas where conditions may warrant an increase," noting that "you want to be closer to what people feel comfortable driving at; that's why you do a speed study and then evaluate if that road is built to handle that speed."

If you or a loved one has sustained injuries due to the occurrence of an accident in which speed was a factor, contact the Fort Myers personal injury attorneys at the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. right away.