WELLS: Boosted Interstate speed limit will stir drivers' inner leadfoot

Len Wells

It looks like Illinois is about to join 34 other states around the country in raising the rural Interstate speed limit from 65 to 70 mph.

Proponents of the higher speed limit say it will put Illinois in line with our neighbors in Indiana, Missouri and Iowa. One politician said he found a study that motorists are already driving between 72-74 mph anyway, so what’s the big deal?

Opponents of the higher speed limit and the Illinois State Police and Illinois Department of Transportation say it will make Illinois’ Interstates more dangerous and will literally cost lives. I really don’t know who’s right.

What I do know is that if they raise the interstate speed limit to 70, there will be a whole lot more tickets written for speeding on the two-lane roads that connect to the interstates. A few weeks ago, I was zipping along Interstate 64 in Southern Indiana on my way home from Louisville, Ky. It was getting about supper time, so I decided to exit and take a little side trip to French Lick.

Having driven for about an hour at 70 to 75 mph on I-64, I unconsciously kept driving the same speed as I exited onto the two-lane road.

The Interstate 64 interchange had barely disappeared from my rearview mirror when a fancy black Mustang with red and blue lights appeared in its place.

Maybe it was because of my age, or because I was driving a six-cylinder Chevy SUV, I made a split-second decision to pull over right away and not try to outrun the Indiana State Trooper.

Turns out he was a really nice guy. “It’s really easy to forget to slow down after you get off the super slab,” he said as I nervously handed over my driver’s license, registration, proof of insurance, fishing license, duck stamp and a couple of gas station receipts soiled with ketchup.

“Don’t worry Mr. Wells, if the computer shows you’re not a wanted fugitive, all I plan to do is give you a warning ticket.”

Apparently I wasn’t wanted — at least not in Indiana or Illinois, and he graciously handed back the wad of paperwork I had handed him. “Be careful now,” he said politely as he strolled back to his stealthy Mustang preparing to nab another unwitting former interstate speeder.

Once I was back on the two-lane driving 55 mph, it felt like I was crawling. I swear I was going faster the last time I drove an Allis Chalmers tractor through the Carmi Corn Day parade.

Let’s say Illinois lawmakers actually do raise the Interstate speed limit to 70. Motorists will undoubtedly push that to 80 or 85 whenever possible.

If that’s the case, the department of transportation might want to consider adding a third lane for slower drivers like myself as well as old pickup trucks that smoke a lot. That third lane would also be handy for older folks who really have no reason to drive at warp speed just to get home from enjoying a Sunday buffet.

Whatever the speed limit — just be careful out there.


  • Discuss
  • Print

Comments » 3

Pianoguybob writes:

Very well stated, Len!

independence writes:

I had a service repair job where I daily drove a 3 state area about 250 miles daily, and the worst drivers I witnessed on 3 lane freeways are the 'middle lanes morons' who drive well below the speed limit. They actually block 3 lanes by forcing traffic either left or right of them, causing unsafe bottlenecks.

They need to make a requirement that you must drive at least 70 in the left lane, 65 in the next lane, then 60, 55 etc. Below that, then you should be required to drive on a side road or street.

BalancedApproach writes:

Many people are unaware that most cars and trucks achieve maximum fuel efficiency between 50-60 MPH. This is why the speed limit was set at 55 from the late '70s until the early '90s, to conserve fuel as a national goal. Many citizens drive the speed limit or slightly below it for fuel savings and safety. Stopping distance increases with both increased vehicle weight and increased speed. This is especially important on highways, but also during poor weather conditions on the interstates. Speeding rarely cuts travel time by any significant amount. Raising the speed limits, combined with people exceeding these new limits by 5-10 MPH, creates a dangerous variation in speeds between drivers on the roads. Finally, there is no extra money for more lanes on the rural interstates.
