Overnight Split Speed Limits No More

New law unifies state highway speed limits and may raise overall speed limits

Speed Limit Increases On Texas Highways

Posted: 2:40 am MDT September 1, 2011Updated: 7:18 am MDT September 1, 2011

El Paso, Texas -- Nighttime split speed limits are now a thing of the past along Texas highways.

Starting at the stoke of midnight on September 1, nearly 700 new laws from the last legislative session went into effect, including dropping separate truck speed limits and increasing the nighttime speed limit to 70 miles per hour- the same as the daytime limit.

Kenny Forman has been driving trucks across Texas for nearly 25 years and says any increase by a single mile per hour makes a difference.

"If you're traveling 3000 miles and you drive 5 miles per hour faster all the way across you save yourself about three or four hours," said Forman.

He's not a fan of the split speed limits he's seen in other states like California and Ohio because he says it fosters a mentality that isn't safe for both truck drivers and those that share the road with them.

"Everyone gets a mindset where they're thinking 'The truck is driving slow, I have to pass it.' Even though we're going the speed limit."

Fellow Truck driver Needham Babb also says it's a good thing to get rid of the nighttime speed limits and he'd also like to see a higher speed limit on the state roads.

"In a lot of places in Texas it's long, it's straight, it's flat," Needham said. "I don't see a problem with doing 90 miles per hour. I think it's perfectly safe."

It probably won't ever be that fast, but TXDOT is also looking at raising the overall speed limit on major highways and freeways to 75 miles per hour. The new law also allows for an evaluation of state roads, which TXDOT says will probably take a few months.

Some drivers say they worry the increase will also increase the speed of drivers already driving over the speed limit.

"Typically people are going to drive at the speed they're comfortable with," Forman said.

Needham also cautions drivers.

"There's always going to be idiots out there you just have to watch out for them, you can't change people's driving habits."

TXDOT does warn that until the traffic signs in your area are changed to match the new law, it's best to obey the current sign.

If you'd like a list of all of the new laws click here http://www.legis.state.tx.us/Reports/Report.aspx?LegSess=82R&ID=signedbygov

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