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Illinois House panel OKs bill to eliminate split speeds

The effort to bring uniform speed limits to rural, interstate highways in Illinois took another step today toward becoming law.

The action was well-received by the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, which has fought for passage of the legislation for years. The Association cites federal statistics showing that split speed limits lead to more wrecks.

Illinois law now requires large vehicles to travel 10 mph below the 65 mph speed limit for other vehicles on rural interstates.

The House Vehicles and Safety Committee voted 4-3 Wednesday, April 22, to advance a bill to the full House for the first round of floor consideration. The bill would allow vehicles weighing more than 8,000 pounds to travel 65 mph on highways outside Chicago. The committee added a provision that would exempt the five surrounding “collar” counties. If approved in the House, the bill – SB1467 – would move back to the Senate for approval of changes before it could advance to Gov. Pat Quinn’s desk.

After years of failed attempts to have former Gov. Rod Blagojevich sign legislation into law to change the speed rule, OOIDA and other trucking industry officials are optimistic the proposal has a better chance now of becoming law.

Just how good that chance might be is unclear because Quinn hasn’t taken a position on the issue. In an effort to help push home the uniform speed limit legislation, OOIDA has issued multiple Calls to Action on the matter this year. To read the most recent version, click here .

OOIDA has been in the fight for uniform speeds since the mid-’90s when the Association was able to convince lawmakers that individual states should decide speed limits – not the U.S. Congress. OOIDA pushed for this change in the law with the help of the National Motorists Association, and over the objections of the American Trucking Associations.

Since then, OOIDA has witnessed countless efforts to preserve dangerous variances in the state’s speed limits, most notably from Blagojevich. With the former governor out of the picture, OOIDA is encouraged that the lengthy battle to make the pursuit of uniform speeds an issue about safety instead of a game of politics could soon be over.

“The only speed limit policy that makes sense is to have all vehicles traveling at the same speed. It is a change that is long overdue in Illinois,” said OOIDA Executive Vice President Todd Spencer.

That sentiment is shared by Rep. Jil Tracy, R-Mount Sterling. Tracy, who voted in favor of the bill in committee, says eliminating the speed gap would improve safety on roadways, as well as benefit interstate commerce.

“The continuous movement of traffic would really be a boost for transportation and economic development. Safety would not be hindered,” Tracy told Land Line.

Tracy also pointed out that limiting trucks to 55 mph hamstrings truckers trying to do their job.

“We are impeding his ability to work. We are impeding his ability to move product,” she said.

As of early Wednesday afternoon, SB1467 hasn’t been put on the calendar for consideration on the House floor.

To view other legislative activities of interest for Illinois in 2009, click here .


Editor’s Note: Please share your thoughts with us about the legislation included in this story. Comments may be sent to [email protected] .