Missouri lawmakers say proposed speed limit increase reflects reality on rural interstates

By: Mitchell Kaminski

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) -- Supporters of a bill that could raise Missouri’s rural interstate speed limits to 75 miles per hour say it reflects modern driving habits, despite concerns that it could lead to more dangerous crashes. 

Senate Bill 1408 would allow the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission and the Missouri Department of Transportation to raise speed limits from 70 mph to 75 mph on rural interstates and freeways.

The Missouri House approved the proposal on Thursday by an 82-53 vote. Because the House added amendments, the Senate must vote on the measure again before it can head to Gov. Mike Kehoe’s desk.

State Rep. John Voss (R-Cape Girardeau), who handled the bill in the House, claims the measure is about flexibility, not forcing drivers to go faster.

“It just respects individual rights. Again, we're not making anyone go faster,” Voss told ABC 17 News. “We already have statutes that we did not touch that prevent in excess of 60,000 (populations) on urbanized areas. So this would allow an increase from 70 to 75 in populations of less than 50,000,  which would primarily benefit our rural areas.” 

Voss also pointed to ongoing improvements on Missouri roadways, including the widening of Interstate 70.

“All the major interstates are having work done on them right now. So I-70 will be three lanes,  border to border of brand new concrete, and so I think we'll have road conditions on 70 at least that would support an increase of five miles per hour,” Voss said.  “We've got surrounding states that are also at the 75-mile-an-hour speed limit, and I  just believe it reflects what  drivers are currently doing today.”

However, Rep. David Tyson Smith (D-Columbia), who voted against the bill, argues that while he is not against the increase, the current construction is one of the reasons that now is not the time to pass it. 

“I don't think it's a terrible idea, but now is really not the best time. One, we've got a lot of road construction going on,” Smith said. “Maybe we should revisit this in a few years and see how the data plays out  with what happened in some of the other states.” 

Sen. Jamie Burger (R-Benton), the bill’s sponsor, argued that since surrounding states have already moved in that direction, Missouri should follow.

“I got a friend that does a lot of work in Little Rock, Arkansas, and he's from Missouri. And he's always told me ever since I moved, it's been up to 75  miles per hour in Arkansas. The flow of traffic is better. I think it just tends to be that way,” Burger said. “It’s just time for us to think like the states around us and move to 75 mph.” 

Neighboring states, Kansas and Nebraska, each approved similar speed increases. In 2011, Kansas raised its maximum speed limit from 70 mph to 75 mph, but saw a 27% increase in the total number of crashes that occurred on freeways.

Nebraska followed in 2018, increasing the speed limit on divided expressways from 65 mph to 70 mph, and recorded 45 more traffic deaths in the five years after increasing speed limits compared with the five years before the change.

“Any time people want to pass legislation, the first thing they do oftentimes, they’ll say ‘Look at what other states are doing,’ and they use that as evidence for why we should be doing something,” Smith said. “That has merit, but I don't think it really has any bearing on what we should do, what other states are doing. I mean, in Kansas, as you know, got rid of a lot of taxes and they almost went bankrupt.” 

Opponents also warn that raising the posted limit could encourage even faster driving, in a state that is already prone to speeding. According to the National Road Safety Foundation, speeding is a factor in 29% of fatal crashes nationwide. In Missouri, that number is even higher, with speeding involved in 34% of fatal crashes.

“People tend to go above what the speed limit is,” Smith said. “So if you go up to 75 (mph), you're going to have people going 80 or 85.”

However, Burger believes the advancements in vehicle safety technology, from airbags to crash alerts, make higher limits less concerning than in past decades. 

“Look how far we've come in the technology of automobiles,” Burger said, “ I don't think speed is as much of a problem as distracted driving.” 

Voss echoed the sentiment, adding that law enforcement can help curb some of the dangerous driving habits. 

“It's not going to become Talladega or NASCAR by any stretch of the imagination. And we remain with very tough enforcement penalties,” Voss said. “In addition to the speed limit, there's also careless and imprudent driving. So there's still ways that if a law enforcement officer believes that this is just not appropriate, they can ask you to slow down.”

Beyond speed limits, Senate Bill 1408 also includes a wide range of transportation policy changes, including ending requirements for all passenger vehicles to receive a vehicle inspection, requiring MoDOT to publish awarded project cost estimates online, allowing motorcycles to use multicolored lights, giving school districts the option to offer driver education programs, and closing a loophole tied to enforcement of Missouri’s hands-free driving law.

Voss said he expects the Senate to take the bill back up and pass it before the session ends later this month.