Ohio lawmakers propose to increase the speed limit to 70 miles per hours on interstates –five miles per hour above what the speed limit is now.
Why should icreasing the speed limit be so hard? Today, drivers typically drive five to 10 miles over the speed limit anyway.
As students we should be elated about the speed increase, we can get to our destination a lot quicker without having to worry about being tremendously late.
We don’t have a problem with getting to where we need to be a lot faster. Plus, we can navigate around those pesky slow drivers.
With the speed increase, many will take advantage and still drive way over the speed limit. Those who are hesitant about the increase cite that car crashes will increase, but no matter what speed you are going fatalities of the road can still happen.
The problem arises when a driver is going 70 and another is driving 60 miles per hour. The risk of crash-related fatalities increases because of the slower driver, so if everyone is traveling at the higher speed, there’s less risk of suddenly coming up to a slower car and plowing into its rear end.
But accidents do happen.
And so when you’re coming up on a slow driver, we suggest moving into the adjacent lane and passing him or her. There is no point in risking someone plowing into your bumper because of that slow driving 90-year-old.
Many students feel that the speed increase is necessary in certain areas, mainly Interstate 75 due its high level of traffic, but not within the city or local traffic area.
Others have expressed concern that faster speeds means that brakes and tires have to be in optimal condition because the faster you go the hotter the tires get. Not only will having perfectly good tires be a problem, but also an increase in fuel consumption will ensue.
A bill that would raise speed limits on Ohio Interstate highway passed a State House committee with bipartisan support. A similar bill stalled last year in the Senate.
For now, we all have to suffer and drive 65 miles per hour, until the bill is passed.
But always remember, regardless of the speed limit, you will receive a ticket for going 10 to 15 miles over the limit.