AAA Opposes Bill to Increase Illinois Speed Limit

03/14/2010

Studies have shown that traveling faster can put automobile operators at risk.

With this in mind, the American Automobile Association has voiced its opposition toward a bill to increase the speed limit on Illinois highways outside of Chicago to 70 mph for cars and trucks. Brad Roeber, president of AAA Chicago, urged legislators to vote against the bill, saying that the state's highways are not designed for motorists to drive 70 mph.

Rather, many of these interstates are built for speeds ranging from 60 to 70 mph. Poor visibility and weather conditions may make it dangerous for motorists to travel this quickly; therefore the speed limit should encourage them to slow down, according to AAA.

"This law also provides no ability to measure the effects of the just-imposed speed limit increase, which is reckless governing when we're talking about a potential impact in terms of fatalities and injuries," Roeber said.

Driving quickly often decreases the amount of time a motorist has to react to a threat and increases an accident's crash energy. Speed-related accidents account for $40 billion a year, according to research by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and may greatly increase an individual's auto insurance premiums.

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