Maryland Delegate Seeks to Pass Speed Limit Bill
By: Ciara Brown
Updated: January 25, 2013
ANNAPOLIS, MD - A bill introduced by Delegate Neil Parrott (R) -Washington, is seeking to give the State Highway Administration the ability to raise the maximum speed limit on interstates, state expressways and some other highways to 70 miles an hour.
"The problem that we have in Maryland is our disparity in speed limits. Many drivers just drive what's comfortable for them," says Del. Parrott.
Parrott believes the new bill would be setting a reasonable and realistic speed limit for the state.
"When we have a disparity in speeds, it creates safety hazards. If the speeds are similar on the roads we have fewer chances of crashes, so that's part of the goal," says Del. Parrott.
If passed, Del. Parrott says Maryland's Intercounty Connector (ICC) would see the most impact. The ICC opened in 2012 in suburban Maryland north of Washington D.C. and extends from I-370 in Montgomery County to I-95 in Prince George's County. The ICC, also called MD-200, is an 18 mile highway with nine interchanges and one intersection.
Currently, the ICC's speed limit is 55 mph. Del. Parrott says the new bill would allow every other interstate and expressway in Maryland to go up to 70 mph.
"After this bill I could see the State Highway Administration possibly raising it to 70," says Del. Parrott.
A press conference will be held specifically on this bill next Thursday, January 31 at 11 a.m. in Annapolis, Md. Senator George Edwards (R) and Delegate Aruna Miller (D) will also be attending the conference.
"The problem that we have in Maryland is our disparity in speed limits. Many drivers just drive what's comfortable for them," says Del. Parrott.
Parrott believes the new bill would be setting a reasonable and realistic speed limit for the state.
"When we have a disparity in speeds, it creates safety hazards. If the speeds are similar on the roads we have fewer chances of crashes, so that's part of the goal," says Del. Parrott.
If passed, Del. Parrott says Maryland's Intercounty Connector (ICC) would see the most impact. The ICC opened in 2012 in suburban Maryland north of Washington D.C. and extends from I-370 in Montgomery County to I-95 in Prince George's County. The ICC, also called MD-200, is an 18 mile highway with nine interchanges and one intersection.
Currently, the ICC's speed limit is 55 mph. Del. Parrott says the new bill would allow every other interstate and expressway in Maryland to go up to 70 mph.
"After this bill I could see the State Highway Administration possibly raising it to 70," says Del. Parrott.
A press conference will be held specifically on this bill next Thursday, January 31 at 11 a.m. in Annapolis, Md. Senator George Edwards (R) and Delegate Aruna Miller (D) will also be attending the conference.
