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Texas Law Will Allow Speed Limits to Increase
A new law was passed that will allow the speed limits on Texas roads to be raised to 85 mph for both passenger vehicles and commercial trucks.
January 19, 2012 /Law and Legal PR News/ -- Texas Law Will Allow Speed Limits to Increase
On June 17, a law was passed that will allow the speed limits on Texas roads to be raised for both passenger vehicles and commercial trucks. The law gives the Texas Highway Commission the authority to raise the speed limit up to 85 miles per hour.
The law also requires the Commission to conduct an engineering and traffic study before the speed limits can be raised to ensure that the higher speed limits are safe. The law is applicable to Texas state highways only, as interstate highways in Texas are under the control of the federal government.
Texas had a little more than 500 miles of interstates with an 80 mph speed limit prior to passage of the new law. The speed limit will not be raised throughout the entire 500 miles, but likely on longer, flat stretches of rural roads. While raising the speed limits in these rural areas may make it more convenient for drivers, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety notes that higher speed limits result in an increased number of fatal accidents.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speed contributed to one-third of the fatal accidents on the country's highways in 2009, with 10,591 of the 33,808 fatalities on the roads that year caused by speed-related accidents. And now Texas will have some of the fastest speed limits in the country.
The faster a vehicle is traveling, the more serious the crash and resulting injuries will be. Additionally, the higher speed requires more time for the driver to stop, and the force that is absorbed in the impact is greater, causing even more severe injuries. For victims of car or truck accidents, it is important to work with an experienced attorney. Even minor accidents can result in serious injuries that can have life-changing impacts.
Article provided by Jerry D. Andrews
Visit us at www.dfwinjurylawyer.com
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