Tractors Idaho bill calls for speed-limit change

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BOISE ? Big trucks could drive 75 mph on Idaho?s freeways, just like cars, under legislation introduced in the state Senate Transportation Committee Tuesday at the behest of its chairman, Sen. Jim Hammond, R-Coeur d?Alene.

Idaho?s current truck speed limit on freeways is 65 mph.

?The intent of this legislation, should it move forward, is to enhance safety by having all vehicles on the highway drive the same speed limit, thus eliminating a lot of lane changes that currently are necessary because of the differentiation in speed limits,? Hammond told the committee. His bill would declare that the speed limit for big trucks would be the same as that for ?other motor vehicles,? not only on freeways but also in cities and on state highways.

In Washington, the top freeway speed for trucks is 60 mph and 70 mph for cars. Montana?s current limits match Idaho?s.

State Sen. Tim Corder, R-Mountain Home, who owns a trucking company, said there were unsuccessful proposals in Idaho in the past to move all vehicles to a 70 mph speed limit on the state?s freeways. ?Probably the thing you need to consider is that there are a growing number of those trucks that will not do 75,? Corder warned. ?They?re much more sophisticated than cars; they?re limited by their computers and they?re controlled so they can?t exceed that speed because of our neighboring states that don?t allow it.?

Read more at http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/jan/18/idaho-bill-calls-for-speed-limit-change/
 
 
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