OLYMPIA, Wash. — A proposal to raise the speed limit to 75 miles an hour was scheduled for a hearing in the Washington state Senate today.
The speed limit would not likely go up to 75 miles an hour in populated areas.
But the proposal does give the Washington State Department of Transportation the option to raise it on the wide-open super slabs in between.
But information we got from the Washington State Transportation Commission says speed is a factor in 40 percent of all traffic deaths.
The proposal would let the Department of Transportation determine where the highways are safe enough to handle 75 mile an hour speeds. Rural areas in eastern Washington are prime candidates.
Gov. Jay Inslee told us he is also concerned about safety, but has spent more time thinking about the congestion that keeps drivers from reaching current speed limits.
“I'd be nice to get a transportation package so we can raise the real speeds from 8 miles an hour to 11 miles an hour on 405,” the Governor said. The general idea has already passed the House with strong support. No word yet on when it will get a vote in the Senate.
KIRO
