Kentucky.gov

FRANKFORT,KY  (February 1, 2006) – A bill to increase the speed limit on Interstates and Parkways in Kentucky to 70 MPH was reported favorably out of the Senate Committee on Transportation today.

Senator Brett Guthrie (R-Bowling Green) is the sponsor of the legislation. “I’m convinced that we can safely increase the speed limit to 70 MPH,” said Sen. Guthrie, who chairs the Senate Transportation Committee. “If you drive I-65 from Gary, Indiana to Mobile, Alabama the only time you find a speed limit other than 70 is when you’re passing through Kentucky.”

Deputy Transportation Cabinet Secretary Jim Adams testified before today’s committee to the fact that the Interstates and Parkways were designed to accommodate speeds of up to 75 MPH. “We are confident that a speed limit increase to 70 MPH will not compromise safety on Kentucky’s roads,” Secretary Adams said. “We also believe this bill will facilitate mobility of people and products, which would be another plus for Kentucky’s economy.”

“We’ve studied this proposal carefully,” added Sen Guthrie. “There is no evidence in the data from other states that increasing the speed limit to 70 resulted in a corresponding increase in accidents on parkways and interstates.”

So far, thirty-one states have increased their interstate speed limits to 70 MPH.

The bill now moves to the full Senate for consideration.

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