Statewide, Iowa – A move to raise the speed limit to 60 on Iowa highways where the posted speed is 55 has passed another hurdle in the statehouse.
The bill cleared the Iowa Senate in March of last year and a House subcommittee advanced it this past Wednesday afternoon. Representative Megan Jones of Sioux Rapids says there’s a lot of interest among House Republicans in passing a bill to hike the speed limit.
The Iowa Department of Public Safety is registered on the legislature’s website as undecided on the bill, but Josie Wagler — the department’s legislative liaison — suggested a recent study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety could be a warning sign.
The number of traffic deaths in Iowa last year was the lowest in a century. Representative Jones, who is chair of the House Transportation Committee, says it seems like Iowans are doing the right things when it comes to highway safety.
The State Police Officers Council opposes increasing the speed limit on Iowa highways. The speed limits on the interstates that run through Iowa were raised to 70 in 2005.
KIWA Staff Photo
