New Texas Law Allows Variable Speed Limits to Enhance Road Safety
Back in February 2021, a chain reaction of crashing cars on Interstate 35W in Fort Worth occurred. This crash eventually lead to a pileup of 133 vehicles that left 6 people dead. The cause of this massive crash – slippery roads and limited visibility that early morning. Some government officials and legislators believe a bill can prevent similar situations in the future.
“That’s an instance when we know there were conditions that led to a catastrophic pileup. It was studied by the federal government and the national highway agency, and ultimately their findings were that variable speed limits could have mitigated and completely prevented this accident from happening.”
State Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg
A House Bill signed into law back in June, empowers local Texas Department of Transportation engineers to temporarily change speed limits for a portion of a road or highway. This variable speed limit can be applied during various circumstances like roadway construction, roadway maintenance, as well as inclement weather conditions like fog, ice or rain. These modified speed limits would only be in effect when indicated by sign posting. Though there are restrictions, the posted change can only be lower than 10 miles under the regular speed limit.
“If we’re not able to alter or modify the speed limit to reflect the current conditions, safety is in jeopardy. It could be a mobile digital sign that you see, oftentimes used on a trailer, it could be on any of the TxDOT signs, it could actually be a physical sign that is laid over one of the original — it’s whatever communicates to the drivers speed limit change as per state law”
“It could be a mobile digital sign that you see, oftentimes used on a trailer, it could be on any of the TxDOT signs, it could actually be a physical sign that is laid over one of the original — it’s whatever communicates to the drivers speed limit change as per state law”
State Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg
The bill passed the House by a 99-47 vote this year. It was approved in the Senate 25-6.
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